Chapter 2: Jimna Village (First Half)
One month living in Jimna Village. Early afternoon, while fully enjoying my hometown.
"Ceres-kun, lately, you've been playing only with... Lida-chan, haven't you?"
"Hmm, it's true that Ceres has been close with Lida since you were little... but isn't it a little too much?"
When I was relaxing at home, Shizuko-san and Nee-san started saying such things.
It's somewhat scary. Shizuko-san's eyes are set, and I feel like Nee-san might slap me if I talk back.
"Shizuko-san, Nee-san... Lida is my best friend... you know that, right?"
"We know that, but when it's every single day like this, don't you think we'd want to complain?"
As I was talking to the two of them, Sayo-san and Misaki-san joined in.
"Ceres, we are still newlyweds, so pay a little more attention to us!"
"I understand that Ceres-san is kind, and I understand that Lida-san is your best friend, you know? But, who is more important, your best friend or your wives?"
"Ceres-chan, socializing with friends might be important, but Lida-chan is also a retainer. If the Lord, Ceres-chan, plays only with one retainer, you can't maintain discipline..."
It is true that since returning to Jimna Village, I've been doing nothing but playing with Lida.
Actually, the one I played with most when I was little wasn't Zect, but Lida.
It wasn't a romantic relationship; Lida was closer to an inseparable bad friend.
Even though we 'play,' there is no sense of gender awareness; we just race to catch fish or talk at the tavern. Because she isn't ladylike, I can play with her casually.
It was comfortable, and it is a fact that I was playing around idly.
I should apologize for now.
"Shizuko-san, Nee-san, Sayo-san, Misaki-san... I'm sorry."
Lida had brought a fishing rod out of the barn to invite me fishing again today, but sensing the situation, she quietly placed the fishing rod down and ran away.
She's really fast at running away at times like this... Using the Sword Saint skill Godspeed to flee is cheating. Isn't a retainer supposed to protect their Lord?
Nearby were the remaining retainers, Maria and Mel. Remembering our old party days, I made eye contact.
The two of them looked at me. Alright... with this!
"Mama is right. Even though we are generally the same rank of retainer, Ceres is always with Lida and won't spend time with me or Mel."
"That's right!! Always just Lida, it's terrible!"
Aaah! It's like the enemies increased by two!
No, playing with Lida is like playing with Zect—even if I say that, they won't understand.
Fortunately, Marianne-san and her group are out as a foursome.
There are six people here right now. If I don't settle this before they come back, it'll be bad.
"Ceres-kun, apologizing is fine... but what are you going to do from now on?"
"Right, right, I want to hear that!"
"Ceres-san, since you apologized, you do think it was wrong, right?"
"If you think it was bad, then you need not just an apology, but atonement, Ceres-chan!"
The four of them in mother-mode at times like this... they are cute, but a little scary.
Can't be helped, this calls for 'Orcman Style Romance Technique... Number One.'
"Listen well, Ceres. If you ever have a dispute with your wives, propose sharing the bedroom."
"Will that really fix things?"
"Yeah. Usually, guys who have many wives fail by 'making them feel lonely.' That's why sleeping together is necessary. Even if you're just sleeping together, for a woman, it means the time spent together has increased significantly. It's quite effective."
"You're right. It's true, I feel like the time I spent with everyone lately has been very short. I really love and cherish everyone, but I should have shown it properly in my attitude... I'm really sorry... So I thought about it just now, and not spending enough time together isn't good. That's what I thought. So, starting today, I'm thinking of sleeping together with everyone who is my wife, what do you think?"
"Ceres-kun, what does that mean?"
When Shizuko-san said that, the other three wives also tilted their heads.
"We've been sleeping separately until now, but why don't we push all the beds together and sleep as a couple... as a whole family? That way, our time together increases, and we can talk until we get sleepy... how about it?"
Shizuko-san's eyes returned to their usual gentle look. Good, thank goodness.
"Ceres-kun, that is wonderful."
"You really thought about it, for Ceres... yeah, yeah."
"Ceres-san... that sounds good."
"That sounds interesting."
Nee-san seemed convinced too; she stopped her intimidating stance with arms crossed from earlier and sat in a chair with her legs crossed. Sayo-san also blushed and relaxed her mouth.
Misaki-san's sharp glint from earlier subsided, replaced by her usual intellectual smile.
Seeing that state, I stroked my chest in relief.
As expected of Orcman. I have to thank him when I go to Cohane.
"That sounds good."
"Yeah, I think it's good."
Why are Maria and Mel smiling and agreeing?
You aren't wives, you are retainers, so you won't be sleeping in the bedroom together, right?
"You look happy, but Maria and Mel aren't wives so you're in separate rooms. To make up for it, I'll go shopping with you, so please forgive me with that."
"""Eehhhhh—!"""
I don't understand why they are so disappointed.
"It can't be helped... understood."
"There are lots of things I want, so I'll have you buy them for me!"
For some reason, the two of them turned their faces away from me with a hmph. I feel like they are radiating an aura of 'I am in a bad mood.'
Can't be helped. I have plenty of money to spare, so it's fine.
"Got it, you can be a little extravagant."
The two of them turned back to me. Their mood seems to have improved a little.
However, Misaki-san quickly interjected with a proposal.
"Since it's a special occasion, let's all go on that shopping trip together. Okay, Ceres-chan?"
Maria and Mel became grumpy again and started complaining to the four of them, including Misaki-san.
"Wait a minute Mama, that's immature."
"That's right! Misaki-san and Mother get to sleep together every day so isn't that enough!"
Hearing those words, the smile vanished from Sayo-san's face, and she stared at the two with somewhat angry eyes. Looking at the two who flinched at that, she slowly opened her mouth.
"Mel-san... is it fun to disturb your mother's newlywed life? Mother will get angry..."
She isn't calling her Mel, but 'Mel-san.'
When she gets angry, Sayo-san uses '-san.'
"...Mother. You're right, yeah, it's definitely more fun with everyone."
Sweating, Mel answered with a smile as if trying to smooth things over.
Mel can't win against Sayo-san in angry-mother mode.
"Oh my, oh my, good girl."
It's really immature but... I find this jealous side of her cute too.
◆◆◆
The talk finished, and I was relaxing drinking tea with the six of them.
Then, suddenly the door opened.
"Haa, haa, something terrible has happened, Ceres-sama."
"It is terrible, haa, haa, Ceres-sama."
Frey-san and Marianne-san came back out of breath.
Especially Marianne-san, who doesn't usually run.
"What on earth happened to make you so out of breath..."
"Ceres-sama, the former Hero Zect invaded my... the Imperial Castle."
Ha?! Zect, did he lose his mind?
Because Maria and Mel had surprised expressions, conversely, I was able to stay calm.
I don't think Zect would do something like that without a reason.
"So, what is the status of the damage?"
"The Royal Castle is half-destroyed, and there is great damage to the Empire..."
"Were there deaths?"
"Strangely enough, it seems there were none."
What. No one died?
"In that case, Zect probably didn't do anything evil. Isn't the cause likely on the Empire's side?"
"Ceres-sama... the castle was half-destroyed!"
Frey-san raised her voice and refused to back down, but I was convinced Zect was in the right.
"Frey-san was originally a Sword Saint, so you should understand, right? If a Hero fought seriously, even if it wasn't a massacre, there should be deaths in the thousands to ten thousands. If that hasn't happened, Zect must have held back significantly."
I am a Yellow Dragon so I'm an exception, but for humans to stop the Four Jobs, they have to push with overwhelming numbers.
Most likely, even the Saintess, who has the lowest combat power, could annihilate a Knight Order.
If he finished it without a single death, it means he held back properly.
"Even so, the castle is half-destroyed and knights are injured... don't you think that's too much no matter what?"
Well, Frey-san isn't a childhood friend, so she doesn't know Zect.
"Listen, okay? Frey-san... Zect has bad habits with women, and his personality isn't good."
"I knew it, so he definitely did something bad..."
"But, he is still a Hero. He's an ally of justice! So he wouldn't do something like that without a reason!!"
"That's true, my son is an idiot and half-baked human, but he wouldn't do something that bad. A petty villain is the extent of it."
Shizuko-san nodded as she said that... but wait, 'petty villain'? Is she still dragging out the quarrel they had?
"Zect is scared of Shizuko, so he won't do 'truly bad things.'"
Nee-san also stated flatly with a serious face.
"Yeah, yeah, Zect-san has a bad personality, but he won't commit true evil."
"Right. Since Zect-chan was chosen as a Hero, he shouldn't do such a terrible thing without a reason."
Sayo-san and Misaki-san have also known Zect since he was a child.
There is a minimum level of trust.
He really has many unpleasant sides.
But... at his core, he is a 'Hero.'
It was reckless, but he challenged a horde of dragons, and though he lost, he fought Mamon too.
Because he's that kind of guy... I can believe in him.
"You're right, he is a Hero despite everything."
"That's true."
Maria and Mel nodded too. There are things you understand because you are childhood friends.
"So, what happened? If Zect fought, the result must be out already, right?"
"What is frustrating is that my father, the Emperor, apologized and apparently issued a proclamation stating, 'Those who disparage the S-rank Adventurer Zect and his slave shall be sentenced to one year in prison.'"
What, so that's it?
"That slave is a woman, isn't she?"
"It seems so."
"So, the details must be written in that proclamation... can you show it to me?"
I took the proclamation Frey-san was holding, and upon seeing it, I understood everything.
Shizuko-san, Maria, and the others also peered in to look at the proclamation.
"Oh my, that's just like that boy."
"If this is it, then it can't be helped, I guess?"
Following Shizuko-san and Nee-san, Sayo-san and Misaki-san nodded as if they understood.
Frey-san was looking at us as if she were seeing something strange.
Marianne-san next to her was doing the same.
"See, he did it for a slave girl. That's all it is."
It's Zect; surely the slave girl was the cause for him taking action against the Empire.
Something like that, right?
Maria and Mel must have had the same thought as me, as they looked at each other.
"But, to half-destroy a castle for just one person is too excessive."
I understand what Frey-san is saying but... I understand Zect's feelings.
"You think so? Then I'm the same. If the companions here met with the same fate, I might do the same thing. So he isn't wrong."
Probably, even Shizuko-san and the others would do the same thing if I met with a terrible fate.
"When I meet with a terrible fate, Ceres-sama would do the same thing as Zect. That is what you mean, correct?"
Marianne-san, your face is red and you look incredibly happy.
"Even Marianne."
Well, from the perspective of Frey-san, whose family castle was destroyed, it's unbearable.
"Then I will ask Frey. If Ceres-sama met with a terrible fate, would you not draw your sword?"
Frey-san put her hand to her chin and thought.
"...I would draw it, certainly. ...Can't be helped... Yeah, I might do the same thing..."
"Then, you cannot blame Zect either."
"It can't be helped... I'm convinced. Well, in the Empire, strong men are respected. Precisely because we are family, I shouldn't complain endlessly."
"I'm glad you're convinced."
I was worried, but Zect is living like Zect...
I'm glad he seems healthy. Hang in there!
◆◆◆
Frey-san's story ended.
Today, all eleven of us went out to the town.
"Sharon-san, if there's anything you want, you can buy whatever you like."
Since Sharon-san might hold back due to her position as a servant, it would be better to tell her beforehand.
"Is it really alright?"
"Yeah. I don't really think about you being a servant or anything, so you can buy whatever you like."
But, this is Jimna Village... surely they won't be selling anything that significant anyway.
"Ceres-kun, is it okay to say things like that?"
"Shizuko-san, this is Jimna Village. No matter if it became a town, I don't think they sell anything that expensive."
"Is that so? Ceres, it seems this isn't the Jimna Village we know anymore."
"Come on, Shizuko-san, Nee-san, don't scare me."
"But, Ceres-san. Sharon-san went into a jeweler with Marianne."
Jeweler? Since when was there such a thing...
However, perhaps because they were her disciples, Sayo-san and the others call Marianne-san and her group by name without honorifics even though they are royalty, while using '-san' for Sharon-san.
Even though our family has no hierarchy, from the outside, it must look like a mess.
"Ceres-san, it seems Jimna Village didn't just become beautiful..."
"Ceres-chan, over there, and over there!"
Because Sayo-san and Misaki-san said that in surprise, I looked closely at the streetscape.
Certainly, it is completely different... Not only have the shops become beautiful, but the number of shops itself has increased, and every shop is magnificent.
"Ah, there's the trash! Shizuko! Look!"
In the direction Nee-san pointed. No way, Sector-ojisan!
What terrible timing.
"Oh my, oh my, the trash really is here... Paralyze."
Shizuko-san's face distorted just a little as she unleashed the magic.
"Ugyaaaaah, my limbs are numb—"
Sector-ojisan crouched on the spot, his limbs trembling in small spasms.
"Wait, Sector! Hey Sector, are you okay, hey!?"
Chiwa ran up with tears in her eyes.
Well, I guess the grudge hasn't completely disappeared... Can't be helped, I should intervene.
"Sector-ojisan, are you okay?! Shizuko-san, using magic out of nowhere is uncalled for..."
"Oh, isn't it Ceres... and Shizuko..."
Sector-ojisan stood up unsteadily with Chiwa lending him a hand.
"Ufufufu, long time no see... Sector. It's Paralyze, so rest assured. The numbness will wear off soon."
Shizuko-san's face is pitch black. It is the face of someone completely angry.
"What are you doing all of a sudden!? Casting magic on a public street like this is irrational!?"
Chiwa stood in front of Sector-ojisan with her arms spread to protect him.
Her tail fur is standing on end, so I can tell she is quite angry.
Well, Chiwa's argument is correct, but for me who knows the circumstances, there is nothing I can do.
As I was thinking about how to explain, Sector-ojisan opened his mouth, albeit shakily.
"No, Chiwa... that over there is my former wife... I sold her as a slave... This much is natural."
Chiwa looked at us with teary eyes.
However, precisely because Chiwa has been a slave, she probably understands the cruelty of that act. She says nothing, and her tail droops down dejectedly.
I feel like Shizuko-san's eyes returned to their original calm color.
Her mouth also seemed to relax.
"Fuu... that's enough for now... Right now, you are making that child properly happy, aren't you? That child's belly... she is pregnant, isn't she?"
"Ah... that's right... I'm really sorry."
"It's fine now, see you later!"
Shizuko-san must have settled her feelings in her own way.
She is smiling at Sector-ojisan with a gentle smile.
I know because I've watched Shizuko-san since I was little.
This smile is not a smile directed at a husband.
It's the smile after finishing a lecture to Zect when he did something bad as a child.
It is a smile of forgiveness that says, 'It can't be helped.'
"Ah..."
Sector-ojisan scratched the tip of his nose as if embarrassed.
"Um... I was sorry!"
Chiwa bowed deeply beside him. Relieved to be forgiven, she started wagging her tail.
"It's not something for you to apologize for, so don't worry about it. Ufufu, do your best. Next time you come, show me the baby."
Saying that, Shizuko-san smiled.
"Yes... thank you very much."
Sector-ojisan and Chiwa bowed many times and left...
It wrapped up as a good story... you think?
Even so, Sector-ojisan did a penance that turned his hair white before...
Was even that not enough...?
I have to be careful not to make her angry too.
"Ceres-kun, what's wrong? You look pale, are you okay!?"
"What's wrong? Ceres... having such a pale face?"
"Ceres-san, are you feeling unwell? Are you okay?"
"Ceres-chan... are you alright?"
"I just remembered getting scolded together with Zect in the past, so don't worry about it."
I remembered that because everyone is gentle and beautiful and rarely gets angry, when I do make them angry, it is incredibly scary.
"Ceres-kun... was I that scary?"
"Ceres?! I was extremely gentle, wasn't I!"
"I have no memory of getting angry at Ceres-san."
"I also have no memory of getting angry at Ceres-chan."
I almost never got scolded alone, but I often got dragged into it because of Zect and Lida.
Because I end up throwing out a lifeline, I always get caught in the crossfire.
"I never thought it was scary. It's imprudent to think this while being scolded but... I thought, 'She's beautiful.'"
"""Ceres (-kun) (-san) (-chan)."""
The four of them blushed and fidgeted.
This should be fine, probably.
Now that the four of them were in a good mood, I turned my eyes to my other companions.
A little distance away, Frey-san was forcefully pulling Lida's hand while smiling.
What lies in that direction is probably the weapon shop. Setting aside Frey-san, Lida, who doesn't want to fight right now, doesn't need a weapon.
"Um, I don't really have an interest in weapons..."
Lida gently refused and tried to shake off her hand but... yeah, looks impossible.
"Lida is a former Sword Saint like me, right? You are a retainer, so you have to at least look at weapons. Come on, let's go. Ceres-sama, I'll go look at the weapon shop with Lida."
Lida is looking at me as if she wants help but...
I feel like I'll be told not to spoil her, so I'll ignore it this time.
She abandoned me and ran away earlier, so we're even.
I waved my hand with a smile and saw them off.
"Well then, Maria, shall we go to the church?"
"I wanted to go shopping today..."
Maria is making a very reluctant face. However, Cecilia-san doesn't seem to care about that at all.
"You are a former Saintess too, right? Aren't you curious about the new church? Since we're here, let's go pray. Well then Ceres-sama, we're off."
Cecilia-san forcibly dragged the reluctant Maria away.
They are fellow former Saintesses, so it's better not to interfere.
The ones left were me, Shizuko-san and the other three, and Mel.
"Is there anywhere everyone wants to go?"
"Let's see, I'd like to go to the convenience store... how about it? Ceres-chan."
Isn't that Shūto-ojisan's place...
"Um, Misaki-san, you aren't going to do anything, right?"
I think it's okay, but remembering Shizuko-san and Sector-ojisan just now makes me worried.
"Ceres-chan is a worrier. I won't do anything. I just want to see if that lazy bum has changed even a little."
"In that case, shall we go? It's a pretty convenient shop."
Convenience stores don't exist in other places, so it might be good to have them see it.
Besides, I honestly want to see how much of my ideas have been reflected.
◆◆◆
We walked as a group of six to Shūto-ojisan's shop.
"This is that person's shop... isn't it quite something?"
I understand why Misaki-san is surprised.
The shop that was a small general store has become a large building about the size of a shop in a city.
It has roughly the scale of a larger convenience store from my previous life.
When we went inside, although far from a real convenience store, it felt like a 'General Store' with a good selection of goods.
Since this is open 24 hours, it must be convenient in this world.
"It's done better than I thought... amazing."
"Oh, isn't it Ceres-kun? And Misaki and everyone... Amazing, Ceres-kun, marrying all four... you look quite happy."
Shūto-ojisan came out from the back of the store.
The nostalgic smile I saw when he used to teach me studies.
And he looks incredibly happy somehow.
"Shūto-ojisan, thanks to you... Oh, Charlotte-san isn't working today?"
"Hahaha, actually we found out there's a baby in her belly. We're playing it safe and having her rest today."
Charlotte-san too, huh.
I'm really glad they look happy.
"You've become quite enthusiastic about work. I'm glad you look happy."
"Ah. I'm glad Misaki looks happy too, more than anything. Is Maria not here today?"
"That child went to the church today."
"Well, she is a former Saintess, so it must be tough."
"That's right. Even so, you've increased the number of products considerably; it's amazing."
"Quite something, right... It was Ceres-kun's idea. If you come here, you can buy whatever you want 24 hours a day. Furthermore, the main attraction is the bento and sweets made with recipes taught by Ceres-kun and Kazuma. That's right, since you came all this way, I'll brew some tea so take your time in the back."
"You are going to brew it?"
Shūto-ojisan has learned to brew tea too.
"Well... not to brag but... my current wife likes it, so I learned."
"Heh, that Shūto."
"Haruka-san, even I can change, you know."
"You're right... my bad."
After being treated to tea and cake, we left the convenience store leaving Shūto-ojisan, who still seemed to want to talk more.
When leaving the shop, we received souvenirs packed into four large bags to the brim... honestly, it's a bit burdensome.
Well, that's just like Shūto-ojisan.
After leaving the shop, Misaki-san showed a relieved expression.
Perhaps she was relieved seeing Shūto-ojisan working properly.
"Could it be, Misaki-san... were you worried about Shūto-ojisan?"
"Oh my, Ceres-chan, are you jealous?"
"That's right, maybe I was a little jealous."
"It's not like that... I was just curious if he was managing to live properly, that's all."
I can understand worrying if it was the old Shūto-ojisan...
"Certainly, that makes sense."
"See?"
I'm really glad that the ill feelings between Misaki-san and Shūto-ojisan are gone.
◆◆◆
Hawawawawa, why am I at a jeweler with Marianne-sama...
I was originally a casino dealer, you know!?
To go further, technically I'm supposed to be a slave...!!
'Sharon-san, if there's anything you want, you can buy whatever you like.'
Ceres-sama said that kindly to me but... I never expected a jeweler.
Normally, one would think of shopping at a nearby store... what should I do?
"This necklace is incredibly beautiful... it is very good."
"As expected, you have a discerning eye. That is a supreme item even in our shop..."
"In that case, I will take this."
"Thank you very much."
Setting aside the Royal Capital or the Imperial Capital, no matter if this is the Hero Ceres-sama's town, they shouldn't have items of that level.
Because I worked at a casino for celebrities, I have some eye for goods.
I thought so but... why is there something like that here?
The necklace Marianne-sama purchased costs six thousand gold coins (approx. 600 million yen).
"Sharon-san, I possess Appraisal, so I guarantee there are no issues with the 'quality of the goods,' they are top-tier! Sharon-san is also a servant attached to me, so let's buy lots of things you like."
"Yes, I will choose."
But, I don't have the courage to buy as I please.
Because just that one necklace is worth my entire lifetime's wages.
I moved to the corner near the entrance where items can be purchased for silver coins to two gold coins.
Even so, for a commoner, these are expensive items, but...!!
"Sharon-san, there aren't very many good items over there... Only over here are things of value."
No, certainly I understand that, but there are no items under five hundred gold coins over there.
No matter if I was told I could buy whatever I want, I am a slave, and a servant... I can't buy such expensive things.
It is a different order of magnitude from the luxuries I indulged in before.
"But... everything is expensive."
"Sharon-san, you do not need to worry about that. It is true that you might feel hesitant making Ceres-sama buy them, but you are a servant attached to me. Here, the Royal Family will pay with a bang! I am a Princess and first in line to the throne. Go on, you should choose whatever you like, as much as you like."
"Um... I'm sorry, I was a commoner... I don't know what to do."
"I suppose that is true... However, you are attached to the 'Hero Ceres-sama,' me, the Princess, and the Imperial Princess Frey. In a sense, it wouldn't be strange to call you the pinnacle of servants. You need items befitting that status."
"But, a commoner like me cannot choose such high-class items."
Hearing that, Marianne-sama's expression changed.
"That is certainly true; I apologize for being inconsiderate."
"Um..."
"I, as your master, should have prepared these things for you. Fortunately, this jeweler has a selection comparable to the Royal Capital. For now, please select three necklaces and five rings, each around two thousand gold coins."
"Certainly, please wait a moment."
Saying that, the clerk brought several necklaces and rings over to us.
"I believe items around this range would be suitable."
"......"
The moment I saw them, I knew they were all expensive items.
Most likely, items that even the nobility class couldn't easily buy.
"Such expensive items are disproportionate for me!"
"You think so? But they will become necessary from now on. It can't be helped; Appraisal! Hmm, this is just right. Let's go with this... Shopkeeper, we will take this."
"Thank you very much... I will prepare them then."
"Please do."
"Um... is it really alright?"
"Alright or not, they are necessary items for going to official places in the future, so there is no need to worry. Naturally, it seems there isn't a shop selling dresses, is there? I will buy those for you next time."
"Thank you very much."
Come to think of it, I forgot that most of the people I serve are amazing people.
I might get used to it eventually, but... will I really be able to get used to this life?
To me, everyone 'lives in a different world.' I truly think so.
Post a Comment