Sasaki and Peeps - Volume 3 - Chapter 2

<Territory and Peerage>

After rescuing Mr. Marc and bringing to a close the disputes surrounding the Hermann Trading Company, we returned from the otherworld to modern Japan. There, I spent some time in peace and quiet with Peeps in my apartment, determined to take things easy for a little while.

However, all that was over again in a flash.

A humanoid reptilian—presumably from the otherworld—had, for some reason, appeared on TV news. Section Chief Akutsu had wasted no time in calling me and requesting my presence in the office as soon as possible.

And so here I was in a conference room at the bureau. Aside from the section chief and myself, Miss Hoshizaki and Ms. Futarishizuka were also present. Apparently, they’d been called here as well, and both had arrived before me. Right now, they were sitting next to each other across from our boss, so I took the empty seat beside them. With that, one half of the table—which had three chairs on either side—had been filled.

“Now that Sasaki’s here, let’s get right down to business,” said the section chief, typing something into the laptop he had on the table. A cable was hooked into its external output port, sending his screen to the big display installed in the room. It showed what I’d already seen on TV in my apartment; the announcer’s voice didn’t play and no text ran across the screen, but it was otherwise the same footage.

We watched the few minutes it took for the creature—a reptilian—to fall out of the sky and eventually breathe its last. The video had been taken by an outdoor surveillance camera belonging to a convenience store. While the news program appeared to have omitted some of it, the video the chief played showed everything from the subject falling from the sky to the moment its strength ran out. Once again, I heard the subject’s voice as it came through the speaker in the language of the otherworld.

As soon as the video ended, Ms. Futarishizuka piped up. “Now those are some cheap-looking special effects, hmm?” she said in her usual drawling tones. “It’s all rather pathetic, really.”

“The chief wouldn’t have called us back from our break if those were special effects, you know,” said Miss Hoshizaki, sounding exasperated.

Once he’d seen their reactions, the section chief turned to me. “What do you make of this, Sasaki?”

“Me?” It seemed natural the bureau would wind up handling this situation with the unknown reptilian. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were psychic powers out there that let the user transform into monsters and the like. Miss Hoshizaki had once been attacked by a psychic who could turn his arms into blades, after all.

But why had he summoned only Miss Hoshizaki, Ms. Futarishizuka, and me? There had to be plenty of other bureau members who worked on-site and were free. Wouldn’t it be easier to coordinate if he gave everyone their instructions together?

“Knowing a video like this has been broadcast to the public makes me uneasy…,” I ventured.

“We’ve already taken appropriate measures on that end,” the chief assured me. “Anything else?”

“Could this have been a stray psychic who died from using their power incorrectly?”

“The bureau will be in charge of handling this creature’s remains for the foreseeable future, and while we’re still conducting the necessary investigations, we’ve received preliminary reports that the creature’s structure bears no resemblance to that of a human.”

“I see.”

Then they must have dissected it or something, I thought.

Yet another cause for anxiety. It seemed terrifyingly possible that some sort of illness from the otherworld might escape the reptilian’s corpse, infecting the doctors performing the autopsy and causing a pandemic—a classic disaster-movie formula.

“We’re pressed for time,” the chief said. “So I’ll be brief.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Do you remember the foreign psychic Ms. Futarishizuka brought to us recently? A bureau member’s analysis has shown the language she spoke is almost certainly the same as the one this creature used upon falling from the sky.”

“…Is that true?”

Wait, are you for real? They already know? I wonder who figured that one out.

“I’ll spare you the technical details, but that was the conclusion. At the moment, we’re coordinating with outside research agencies to get a more detailed confirmation. We’ll probably receive word from them soon. If needed, I’ll share those reports with you.”

“I’m amazed you figured that out,” I remarked.

“Well, they sounded rather similar.”

“Wait—You don’t mean to say you’re the one who noticed, do you, Chief?”

“Who else in the bureau knew of her?”

Wow, Mr. Akutsu is incredibly talented. He’s making us underlings look bad!

“I thought for sure Ms. Futarishizuka had shared some sort of information with you.”

Naturally, she’d never voluntarily spill the beans, but I couldn’t neglect to bring her up in this conversation—not when we’d convinced him that Lady Elsa was a friend of hers. I stole a glance at the young girl in the kimono, praying she wouldn’t say anything suspicious.

“That was the reason I brought her here as well—so she could confirm,” explained the chief.

“Ahh, I see,” she said, nodding and keeping her response brief. She must have picked up my signal. She didn’t flinch once, even when the section chief called on her.

“You told me previously that your friend’s native tongue is a minority language,” said the chief.

“That is what I heard, at least,” she answered.

“Where is the language from, exactly? I’d like to know the details.”

“I don’t know that much. We aren’t that close.”

“As of yesterday, you’re an official member of the bureau, like Sasaki and Hoshizaki. I know things are moving rather quickly, but I’d like you to do something for us. I’ll send the video to your phone after this meeting; could you provide a translation of what’s being said in it?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t speak the language, either.”

“…Is that right?”

“Did I forget to mention that last time?”

“……”

The section chief looked like he didn’t believe her at all. He stayed silent, fixing her with a steady gaze.

“There are plenty of people out there with language-related disabilities, are there not?” she continued smoothly. “And everyone wants to get their hands on a powerful psychic, even if they can’t understand her. Anyone with telekinetic abilities has a promising future ahead of them, after all.”

She continued feigning ignorance and giving bold answers to his questions. She had a supreme talent at communicating ideas with her attitude rather than her words, and it made her extremely dependable in situations like these. Clearly, she hadn’t wasted that long life of hers. I was no good at this stuff, so I was really glad to have her with me.

“Oh,” she said, “do you think I’m lying, perhaps?”

“Am I wrong to consider that possibility?” countered the chief.

“How cruel,” she responded theatrically. “Not even those I work with trust me.”

I doubted one could ever have an ally as untrustworthy as Futarishizuka. The chief would definitely have his eye on her after this reptilian incident, and I’d have to be even more careful than before when traveling between this world and the other.

“…Fine, then. I’ll trust you, as your superior.”

“Truly? You will?”

Apparently, he’d determined he wouldn’t be able to get any information out of her for now. Instead, his gaze left Futarishizuka and he looked over each of us in turn.

Then he addressed our next steps, which I had already more or less surmised.

“In that case, I’d like to assign the three of you to investigate the matter instead.”

“What should we do about the psychic recruitment?” I asked.

“Feel free to shelve that for now.”

“Understood,” I said, nodding.

I suppose he intends to let us go free for a while, then try to catch us in a lie.

A moment later, Miss Hoshizaki spoke up, her eyes darting between the section chief and Futarishizuka and me. “Will I be with them, Chief?” she asked.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, the previous incident proved that Sasaki’s power has grown,” explained the chief. “For the time being, I want you to stay together, learn how to best use your powers in tandem, and reevaluate your capabilities for future tasks.”

“All right, sir. Understood.” A smile appeared on Miss Hoshizaki’s face. If she had access to more water in the field, she’d be able to do more with her own power. That was advantageous not only to her, but to me as her partner. As the water tank of the team, I’d have to do my best to keep her supplied.

According to the section chief’s instructions, the investigation of the reptilian was to be started right away—that very same day, if possible. When Miss Hoshizaki heard this, she immediately and excitedly declared we’d be heading directly to the scene.

It was a little past four in the afternoon, and the sun was gradually beginning to set. I suspected she was eager to earn both the overtime bonus and the hazard pay we always got when working outside the office. Hazard pay, too, was increased by a fixed percentage outside regular hours.

As always, this high school girl was hungry for money. She pursued her work with ferocity, ready to take the last train home at night, like a corporate drone who had just signed a mortgage. I could picture her back home, gazing at her savings account balance and grinning like an idiot.

I, on the other hand, insisted we start tomorrow, since the sun was already setting. Heading off now meant we might not get home until after midnight. That would inevitably reduce how much time I could spend in the otherworld.

When our two opinions clashed, Ms. Futarishizuka was the one to throw me a life preserver. She suggested Miss Hoshizaki get a read on the situation in the field while the two of us poked around for information about the minority language from the video.

Miss Hoshizaki, no doubt interested in her new and improved water tank, thought I should go with her. But when I reminded her that we couldn’t let the new recruit work alone so soon after joining the bureau, she finally yielded and left the office on her own.

And so my work was done for the day. With our meeting at the bureau finished up, I left on time and headed back to my apartment.

The idea was to grab Peeps, who was minding the place in my absence, then meet up with Ms. Futarishizuka at her base of operations. Once there, we’d discuss our plans for the near future, and then I would receive the day’s goods and head to the otherworld.

How, and why, had a creature from the otherworld appeared in this one? It made me curious, and I wasn’t alone; Peeps must have been wondering about it, too. Even if the bureau hadn’t directed us to investigate, I’m sure we would have done so anyway. In that sense, we were killing two birds with one stone, which meant I could make my pilgrimage to the otherworld free of guilt.

I passed through the common entrance to the apartment complex as I mulled this over. But just as I neared my front door, a voice called out from ahead of me.

“Welcome back, mister.”

“Oh yeah. Hey there.”

It was my next-door neighbor. Dressed in her school uniform, she sat in the same position as always: knees up, with her back to the door of the apartment adjacent to mine. She stared up at me. How many days had it been since I’d last seen her? Thanks to all my stays in the otherworld, I was starting to lose my sense of time.

“You seem really busy lately,” she remarked. “Is it work?”

“Hmm? Oh yeah, I suppose it is…” I then recalled how, the last time we talked, she’d cautioned me about making too much noise. Since then, I’d been keeping my conversations with Peeps to a low volume. “Oh right—am I still being too loud? Have you heard anything recently?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m really sorry for asking about something so weird.”

“Don’t be. It’s best to solve those sorts of problems right away.”

As our conversation began to wander, I held out the plastic bag in my hand. It contained several pieces of sweet bread and soda in plastic bottles, plus a few cans of the latest energy drink as a bonus. I’d bought them all at the neighborhood convenience store on the way home—the shop I’d encountered the magical girl at before.

“Oh… Is it really okay for me to have all this?” she asked.

A day ago, buying this much might have been pretty tough for me. My savings had been tight after purchasing goods to trade in the otherworld. But now that I’d secured Ms. Futarishizuka’s cooperation, I could throw things into my cart at the store without even checking the price tags.

“It seems like I’ll be pretty busy for a while,” I explained. “My whole schedule has changed and we might not run into each other as often, so I thought I’d give you a bit more. Of course, I won’t force you to accept it.”

“…Thank you,” she said, taking the plastic bag into her hands.

Just then, my heart leaped.

And—I didn’t know why—but I started feeling really hot and bothered.

What on earth?

I felt a heat wash over me, like I’d drunk a whole bottle of high-proof liquor all at once. And it throbbed, ever lower, flowing down toward my nether regions.

In short, I was totally turned on. In fact, I was starting to get more excited than I’d ever been before. It was like my body had just decided to floor it.

“Mgh…,” I groaned.

Though my gaze had been on my neighbor’s eyes, it naturally drifted lower. The next thing I knew, I was staring at her chest and thighs—at everything I’d always made an effort not to pay attention to. I gazed at her chest, ample compared to others her age, and at the hem of her sailor uniform skirt, rolled up slightly so as to be even shorter.

“Is something wrong, mister?” she asked.

“N-no, it’s nothing. Nothing…”

What is going on with my body? I hadn’t realized it until she spoke—but I’d taken a half step forward.

This was bad. The word arrest flashed through my mind.

“Anyway, I’m, uh, gonna get going,” I said quickly. “Bye.”

Mentally slapping myself for feeling regretful, I managed to turn my back on her. From there, I fled straight into my apartment and immediately locked the door. The entrance to the bathroom was just inside, and as though I’d been holding in an urgent need to go, I dashed in. No sooner had my butt hit the toilet seat than I frantically cast healing magic on myself.

It was a miracle I didn’t screw up the spell’s incantation. As the magic circle appeared beneath me, it caused a change in my body. That fierce lust that had been so difficult to endure vanished in the healing light.

“……”

After a few more seconds, I’d calmed down, and my mood had returned to normal. My quickened pulse and the heat in my lower abdomen subsided swiftly as well. The sweat that had broken out on my brow, however, was more persistent. It formed beads, sliding down my cheeks and dripping from my chin, proving that the sensations I’d just felt in front of my neighbor had been no lie, no illusion.

What on earth was that? It was like I’d developed a heart problem. Could it be cardiomyopathy? It had dramatically improved when I used healing magic, after all. But I’d never heard of something like that increasing your libido.

“……”

Maybe I’d ask Peeps. Wait, no, that would be way too embarrassing. I didn’t have the courage to tell him to his face that I’d felt uncontrollable lust toward a girl who had only recently graduated from elementary school. In fact, if I did tell him, I was sure it would fracture the relationship of trust we’d built.

No, it wouldn’t just fracture it—it would probably smash it to smithereens.

I knew if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d be speechless with disgust. Inevitably, the police would get involved.

“…I’ll just, er, keep an eye on it for a while,” I mumbled.

I’d have to make an appointment for a thorough medical examination in the near future. I figured dealing with it could wait until after I got myself checked out, at least. And if necessary, it did seem that my healing magic could serve as first aid.

(The Neighbor’s POV)

Today I am blessed with my first opportunity in several days to see the man next door.

He must have been away at work, because when he gets home, he is wearing his usual suit. I call out to him, and like always, we exchange casual greetings. Then, just as he has done each time before, he gives me food as charity.

“Oh… Is it really okay for me to have all this?”

“It seems like I’ll be pretty busy for a while. My whole schedule has changed, and we might not run into each other as often, so I thought I’d give you a bit more. Of course, I won’t force you to accept it.”

“…Thank you.”

He’s holding out a plastic bag, and I take it with both hands.

Then I hear a teasing voice from close by say “Well-loved as usual, hmm?”

“……”

The heckling is coming from just beside the man, though its source—a boy who calls himself a demon—is invisible to him. The boy looks like an elementary schooler, but his clothes and features are striking: He has pale skin, much paler than a Japanese person’s, plus light-brown hair. From his epaulets flows a majestic cape, and on his head sits a royal crown.

His name is Abaddon.

After meeting him a few days ago, I looked up the name in an online dictionary in the computer room at school. Apparently, he’s a demon who appears in a verse of the Christian New Testament, and his name means “destroyer” in Hebrew. There was also something about the “bottom of hell.” It was all pretty dramatic.

I throw him a glance.

“Yes, yes. I’ll keep my promise… There,” he says with a nod, seeming a little fed up.

This promise is what binds the two of us together. I compete in a death game held by angels and demons, and in return, I reap rewards for defeating enemy Disciples. I’ve decided to use my first reward to change the nature of my relationship with the man next door.

Abaddon floats through the air and touches his fingertip to the man’s head.

“Mgh…”

The change is immediately apparent. Not a moment later, the man’s expression transforms as he looks at me.

His eyes widen—and his gaze slides downward. It moves past my neck and toward my chest, then down farther, to the hem of my skirt and my thighs. His clinging stare is exactly the same as the one I received from my mother’s boyfriend the other day.

Yes, this is it. This is what I want. Look at me more.

No, just looking isn’t enough.

I want you to violate me right here and now.

Hurry. Come on, Hurry up!

“Is something wrong, mister?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Nothing…”

Feigning composure as he speaks, he takes a half step toward me. The hand grasping the plastic bag trembles over me. I hadn’t really believed Abaddon when he explained what he was going to do, but this is a pretty obvious reaction, isn’t it?

An image of myself being taken into his apartment and relentlessly defiled flashes across my mind.

I can’t stop the mad beating of my heart.

But right when I’m sure it’s going to happen, he swings around to face the opposite direction.

“Anyway, I’m, uh, gonna get going. Bye.”

As though fleeing from me, he turns and heads for his apartment. Within seconds, he has vanished inside. As soon as his front door closes, I hear the clacking of a lock. The sound rings oddly clear in my ears, making me feel as though I’d confessed my love and been rejected. Perhaps my body is simply lacking something he desires.

“Looks like your sweetheart has some real mental fortitude,” says Abaddon, praising the man. I’m keenly aware of that fact already—that’s why I’m so consumed with passion for him.

But what about my reward?

“Don’t tell me that’s it,” I say.

“Just wait a little longer. I’m sure he’ll come looking for you.”

“He’d better.”

Still settled in front of my apartment door, I wait for him—wait for the moment he shows himself to me again. This time, I’ll spread my legs just a tiny bit more in order to make a stronger impression. Though it didn’t go quite as Abaddon had said, the man’s reaction left me pretty hopeful. I could even feel a little bit of moisture in my own underwear.

“I have to say, though, you’ve got a pretty troublesome personality, don’t you?”

“…You think so?”

“This would be much easier if you’d just ask me to make him fall for you.”

“I believe I explained yesterday that there wouldn’t be any meaning in that.”

“Still, you’re really only aiming to excite him sexually.”

“He has to lose out to his own lust, because then he’ll attack me of his own free will. That’s what will make it amazing. And after he’s finished having his way with me, he’ll suddenly sober up, look at me, and regret everything—and then I’ll console him. It’s very important that things happen like that.”

“Being on the receiving end of all those feelings is gonna be pretty rough.”

“It’ll be fine. He’ll accept me, no matter what.”

“How do you have so much confidence?”

“Because he and I are cut from the same cloth.”

“…I see.”

The two of us would complement one another, filling in for what the other lacked. We’re perfect for each other. So please, I thought, come back and violate me. I’m fully prepared. In fact, you could even kill me in the process if you want. Though, I’d be sad to miss Abaddon’s panicked expression when he realizes his Disciple is dead.

But no matter how long I wait, the man never comes back out of his apartment. Abaddon and I remain there for close to an hour, watching his door.

“Abaddon, how long do I have to I wait for him?”

“Hmm. Actually, I’m a little surprised at this myself…”

“Don’t tell me you failed.”

“Your average human really shouldn’t be able to resist such an impulse.”

“……”

After that, we wait for nearly another whole hour.

But even then, my neighbor never comes back through the door.

Once I’d said hello to Peeps in the apartment, we moved to Ms. Futarishizuka’s base. Now that Section Chief Akutsu knew about the warehouse we’d been using on the wharf, we decided to meet up in the high-class hotel from the other day, then travel somewhere else by car. At that moment, we were heading west on the Tokyo Expressway.

I’d decided to mentally shelve the nigh-irresistible base passions I’d felt toward my neighbor for the time being. My considerate pet sparrow had—to my dismay—seen his master rush into the bathroom after getting home and asked if my stomach was feeling all right.

“How much longer until we arrive, child?” asked Peeps.

“Oh, a little under an hour or so,” replied Ms. Futarishizuka. “As long as the roads are clear.”

“…I see.”

“In any case, what do you think of that…that reptilian, was it? What was that?”

“Reptilians are reptilians.”

“Does your world consist of creatures like that swaggering about?”

While in the car, we discussed what we’d heard at the bureau and exchanged information, helped along by Peeps, who had been minding the apartment in my absence. I’d placed him in the travel cage we used when going out together, which I now held on my lap. The car’s rear windows were tinted—a precaution that was hopefully unnecessary.

“Our world is much more diverse than this one.”

“It sounds a little too diverse, if you ask me.”

“Rather than all that, shouldn’t we first consider your boss? Akutsu, you called him? If he is indeed suspicious of us, then I believe we should deal with him soon.”

“Oh, I agree. I was hoping for a curse-buddy.”

If there was one noteworthy thing about this drive, it was the driver—Ms. Futarishizuka herself was at the wheel. That was why we could chat all we wanted in the car, without worrying about anyone seeing us, and even let Peeps in on the conversation. She’d probably taken the driver’s seat specifically for that reason.

But she looked exactly like a little girl, so it was quite unsettling. Actually, it makes me pretty anxious—I feel like we’re gonna get into an accident at any moment. She’d had to slide her seat up as far as it would go.

“What is it? Does something concern you?” Peeps addressed me as I stared at Futarishizuka holding the steering wheel. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him stir, so I lowered my gaze from the driver’s seat to my lap. My eyes met those of my pet bird through the clear plastic guard.

“Huh? Oh. No…”

“Something about the girl?”

“I just didn’t think Ms. Futarishizuka would be driving us personally.”

“Wild, isn’t it? Intense, isn’t it?”

When I said her name, the driver immediately responded, grinning proudly into the rearview mirror. To my frustration, it made her look kind of cool.

As for myself, I hadn’t driven a car for several years. I’d gotten my license while in school, but my life as a corporate drone had only involved commuting from my apartment to the office and back by train—I’d never had time to spend on hobbies like driving. I’d become one of those “papers-only drivers” who carried a license but didn’t own a car. If I took the wheel now, I’d get us into an accident. These intricate Tokyo roads, at least, were out of the question.

“I have a motorcycle license, too. Even managed to upgrade it from the provisional license without taking any classes.”

“Wait. Seriously?”

The way she’d phrased it, she must have gotten her license before state-sanctioned driving schools had caught on. I remembered a superior at my old job bragging that back then, those so-called one-shot assessments had an even lower pass rate than the bar exam. Sitting atop a motorcycle had apparently been a sort of status marker. Personally, I was astonished she’d passed, looking like she did.

“Is it truly so difficult to operate these vehicles?” asked Peeps.

“No, not exactly, but…,” I trailed off.

“Either way, I doubt a sparrow like yourself would ever manage it,” said Ms. Futarishizuka.

“Keep talking like that, and the curse’s crest will grow.”

“Eek! Please, don’t be so unreasonable…”

What’s more, we were riding in a pretty large sedan. It was an imported luxury car—the type with a little goddess ornament on the front of the hood. The whole scene was surreal.

“Getting back to Section Chief Akutsu,” I said, “would it be possible to wait before we use a curse?”

“Why?”

“We don’t know what kind of friends the man has, remember? He’s a government official. He could very well use his power and influence against us before the curse took effect.”

“What was that?” asked Ms. Futarishizuka. “Does that mean you thought I couldn’t?”

“Personally, I would’ve preferred not to have to curse you, either.”

“You got what you deserved.”

“Grrrrr…”

Our situation with the chief also wasn’t as pressing as what had happened with Ms. Futarishizuka. I thought acting now might be going too far. The spell was immediate, so even if we ultimately decided to use it on him, it wouldn’t hurt to wait and watch for a little while first. In the worst-case scenario, we could always have Peeps use magic to put him to sleep, then drag him to the otherworld.

I was much more afraid of what he might do if we pissed him off.

“Then, I will respect your viewpoint on the matter.”

“Thanks, Peeps.”

“I really would like a curse-buddy, though,” commented Ms. Futarishizuka. “Not just one, but two, maybe even three…”

“That said,” I continued, “I don’t feel right doing nothing, so Ms. Futarishizuka, I’d like you to try to get some dirt on him. Can you do that? Apparently, he has quite the connection to your old haunt.”

“Oh, I don’t suppose I’d mind. I’m just as interested as you.”

“I appreciate it.”

For a while afterward, we talked in the car about our current plans, trading banter about this and that. Unfortunately, we couldn’t think of anything to do about the reptilian, and when the car arrived at our destination, we decided that problem could wait until the next day.

The new base Ms. Futarishizuka had secured was in a harbor on the shore of the Sagami Bay, in one of the many warehouses that lined it. Visually, it was no different from before; the warehouse was about as big as a school gymnasium, with several shipping containers inside it.

I stood in the center and took it all in.

Ms. Futarishizuka informed me that the products I’d previously requested—large amounts of sugar and chocolate—had all been delivered in sufficient amounts. She explained I could take as much as I wanted. A closer look revealed labels on the containers stating their contents.

“Another warehouse on a wharf, huh?” I commented. “Are you involved in the shipping industry, too?”

“What do you mean? It’s much more convenient to use sea routes. I’d appreciate it if you put yourself in my shoes, being asked to procure sugar and whatever other odd things you’re after. I was shaking in my geta wondering what impossible request you’d be asking of me next.”

“I see. Thanks for being so considerate.”

That got me wondering—what about maritime products? Thinking back, I hadn’t seen the ocean from Count Müller’s town. If it was a long way away, then I might be able to get a pretty good price for fresh seafood. Maybe I’d propose sashimi or something equally fancy for the more epicurean nobles.

Actually, wait. Didn’t they have freezing magic? In that case, I wouldn’t be surprised if seafood was pretty widely distributed. Either way, I figured I’d consult with the others about likely food products, then decide from there.

“Let’s head over right away, shall we?”

“I’ll leave it to you, Peeps.”

Ms. Futarishizuka saw us off as we departed modern Japan.

After crossing over to the otherworld, we first visited Count Müller. Transporting the goods Ms. Futarishizuka had supplied could wait until after we’d confirmed the current situation. The products would be heading to a Kepler Trading Company storehouse, which meant we’d need to have a conversation with Mr. Joseph. I figured the best plan would be to first get a handle on recent events.

And so, we found ourselves sitting on a sofa across from Count Müller in the reception room of his estate.

“I’m glad you’re here, Sir Sasaki, Lord Starsage,” began the count.

“I apologize for never letting you know in advance of our visits, my lord.”

“Julius, I am sorry for our sudden visitation.”

“No apologies necessary. I’m well aware of your circumstances.”

We traded greetings over a low table. A splendid little tree had been set up on its surface, just like our last visit. As soon as we’d exchanged formalities, Peeps leaped off his perch on my shoulder and landed on a branch. When he saw this, the count’s face lit up.

Well-loved as always, “Lord Starsage,” I thought to myself.

“Forgive me for getting straight to the point,” continued the count, “but there’s something I need to tell you right away, Sir Sasaki.”

“Please, don’t hesitate. We were hoping for news about this world’s situation as well.”

“I’m happy to hear that. This involves the war of succession over His Majesty’s throne…”

With our greetings over, the count quickly gave me the rundown on the otherworld’s political situation. The explanation that followed came as quite a shock.

According to him, Count Dietrich had switched over to the second prince’s faction. When we’d visited last, the count had been in cahoots with the Hermann Trading Company’s president and a thorn in Count Müller’s side. As Müller described it, their families had been at odds with each other since their parents’ generation. The defection came as a total surprise.

In terms of the Kingdom of Herz as a whole, their infighting was no more than a minor kerfuffle between local lords. But now that the succession dispute had begun, and thanks to this first breakaway, their quarreling had become a major topic of conversation in Herzian high society.

“There are plenty of rumors regarding the Kepler Trading Company matter as well,” he told me.

“I see.” I wondered if that, in fact, was the more curious development in the eyes of the Herzian nobles. I recalled how the count had humbled himself before Mr. Joseph—and how even Prince Adonis had followed suit.

But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, in and of itself. Prince Adonis and Count Müller improving their positions at court and further enabling Peeps and me to pursue our dream of a laid-back life was cause for celebration. The two of us would prefer to keep ourselves sheltered under the protective wings of their authority and influence.

“Because of that, there are rumors about you as well, Sir Sasaki,” added the count.

“There are, my lord?”

“Your knighthood came about through strong encouragement from Prince Adonis’s mother. Then the incident with Count Dietrich and the trading company occurred immediately after that. Count Dietrich himself even mentioned you personally. It’s safe to say that, when it comes to the second prince’s faction, you’re at the center of conversation these days.”

“…Is that so?”

Count Müller seemed genuinely apologetic. Could this be another one of those situations? I could feel the atmosphere in the room bearing down on me now in much the same way as when I’d been knighted. “I’m almost too afraid to ask, my lord, but will we be going to the royal castle like last time?”

“I’m terribly, terribly sorry, but yes. Would you be able to accompany me there?”

My intuition had been spot-on. The count rose from the sofa and immediately bowed to us. I had a direct view of the whorl of his hair—that was how deeply he’d bent at the waist. Even compared to his attitude in the past, he seemed especially humble.

“All I have done is cause trouble for you, Sir Sasaki,” he said. “I am truly sorry for everything.”

“Please, you don’t need to bow to me, Count Müller.”

His apology sounded very pained. Maybe he was conscious of the Lord Starsage perched beside him. In his view, he had embarrassed himself in front of someone he dearly respected; his pride was probably wounded. As the kind of man who bowed his head with zero hesitation, I was a little envious of his attitude—and of the fact he had someone he respected so highly so close at hand.

“One such as myself, who does naught but cling to the goodwill of others, is more than deserving of your scorn,” he continued. “If you wish to cut ties with me after this, so be it. But please, won’t you accompany me to the castle? Please—I’m begging you.”

He showed no inclination to raise his head at my urging, and I was afraid he might stay stuck like that if we left him hanging.

“This is unlike you, Julius.”

“…!”

At my sparrow’s casual utterance, the count’s shoulders jolted in surprise. I could tell his bowed body had stiffened, but he gave no reply.

“Peeps?” I asked. How much meaning had been packed into those few words? I couldn’t tell. Still, it seemed to have communicated something between them.

Unable to sit by and watch, Peeps continued, this time spurring the man to act. “Could you at least give us a few more details?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Do this man and I strike you as so unreliable?”

It was really cool, how they understood each other with so few words. You could tell they had spent a lot of time together. I recalled the portrait of Peeps I’d seen at the royal castle. It had hung in the hallway we’d passed through on our way to see the king. It was an image of my pet sparrow in his previous life, with blond hair and blue eyes—young and yet brimming with majesty and dignity…

“…My daughter—Elsa, she’s been taken hostage,” said the count at last.

Whoa! I thought. What a disaster. Herzian noble society is a complete mess, isn’t it?

“So you were trying that hard to protect us,” mused Peeps.

“…I am deeply sorry for my utter lack of strength.”

The situation was unexpectedly dire. This was far more than a matter of pride for Count Müller—no, this was something much worse. The count had kept his head bowed as he answered, which meant I couldn’t make out his expression. But from the trembling in his voice, I could hazard a guess about his emotional state. This must have been a very difficult choice for him to make.

I felt so bad I didn’t know what to say.

“I am sorry. All of this is my fault.”

“No, it isn’t,” the nobleman insisted. “My powerlessness is the only cause for blame.”

I couldn’t believe Peeps had intuited the facts like that. While I was incredibly impressed, I was also a little envious. This all served to show how deeply the count felt about the Starsage. I didn’t know a thing when it came to magic or politics, but situations like these were different.

“Was it the queen? I am sure it wasn’t Adonis.”

“No. The order was given by Duke Einhart.”

“Ah. Yes, he would do something like that…”

Count Müller had mentioned a name I was unfamiliar with. Apparently, even the second prince’s faction was far from monolithic. Considering the count’s and the prince’s positions, this Duke Einhart must have a lot of influence. I didn’t know what had ultimately caused him to take Lady Elsa hostage, but he’d done so in complete disregard for how the royals might react—and that made me anxious.

“Where is the girl right now, then? In the duke’s territory, perhaps?”

“No. I believe she is in his estate in the capital, Allestos.”

“Did something happen at court?”

“It did, indeed. When we traveled there to give Prince Adonis our respects, my daughter was caught up in one of the court’s disputes. As you can see, I am but a country noble, and so the duke offered to raise and educate her to be his wife.”

Count Müller had grown very close with Prince Adonis over the past few months and was now the most successful noble in the second prince’s faction. It made sense that his daughter would end up marrying into a family of higher rank. Apparently, the duke had taken advantage of that and cooked up a pretext for himself. Lady Elsa is a trusting girl, after all. She would have been pretty easy to deceive.

“Hmm. Duke Einhart has played us, then.”

“…And I was too cowardly to do anything about it.”

The Herzian royal castle sure was a dangerous place. Even though all the nobles were from the same nation, we’d have to be on constant guard. It was like the final dungeon in a game, and the other nobles were like evil spirits, possessed by their desire for influence and running rampant—frightening in a whole other way than a mob of monsters would be.

But this was one time we couldn’t afford to hesitate. “Count Müller, can’t we head for the capital right now?” I suggested.

After all, I was pretty involved in this myself. I’d been having the time of my life in this world, completely dependent on Peeps, and that had placed Count Müller in a difficult situation. Not to mention I’d involved the Kepler Trading Company entirely by my own decision.

“Will you assist us?” asked Peeps.

“Of course,” I replied. “To tell the truth, I feel I should be the one apologizing.”

“I am sorry for involving you in our problems.”

“No, no. I’ve been burdening you at least as much.”

Lately, circumstances dictated that I leave Peeps behind at home while I went out—not to mention how I made him act like a sparrow in front of everyone else. And even when we did go somewhere together, I always put him in a cramped little carrier.

“The time I spend in your room perusing the internet is actually quite fulfilling,” Peeps replied. “And now that I’ve lost my human form, I’ve come to many a realization I would never have before. At the moment, I feel I am spending my time meaningfully.”

“Really? I’m happy to have such a considerate sparrow as my partner, you know.”

“I am glad to hear it.”

As he turned around to speak to me, I felt extremely close to my pet bird. I wondered if the day would come when he’d recover his human form. Looking back on the amazing feats I’d witnessed, I felt like it might well happen in the near future. Still, I hesitated to ask him about it and hadn’t yet broached the subject.

But all that aside…

Is it just me, or is it starting to feel like there’s a new emergency every time we come here?

Count Müller, Peeps, and I headed for the capital of Herz right away. To get there, we used Peeps’s teleportation magic as usual.

One part of the capital featured roads lined with noble estates—even some owned by those with territory elsewhere. It was like Edo in that respect. Along with their estates back home, nobles kept a separate residence near the court. It seemed the higher one’s noble rank, the closer one’s mansion would be to the castle.

The Müller family was no exception—they, too, kept an estate in the neighborhood. It didn’t boast the same scale as their main home in Baytrium, but it was still a grand sight, built all from stone. They had quite a few maids and butlers in their employ as well.

Count Müller had led us here so we could use it as a base for the time being. He also invited us to make use of it whenever we liked in the future.

I was curious about where Peeps had lived in his past life, but when I asked the count, he told me a hostile noble had hit the former sage with levies and now treated Peeps’s old home as his own.

Count Müller wore a pained expression as he explained this. Peeps didn’t seem to mind it one bit, but in my opinion, if Peeps could one day reclaim his house, I wanted to help him do it. Everyone needed a place to call home.

“Oh! Count Müller, you’ve returned!”

“Your Royal Highness? I didn’t realize you were here.”

Coincidentally, Count Müller had another guest—the second prince of the Kingdom of Herz, His Royal Highness Adonis. We’d run into him in a hallway as the count was showing us around the estate. Next to him were knights who must have been serving as his personal guard.

“Those here informed me that you’d returned to your lands,” explained the prince. “I was just thinking of heading for Baytrium myself, in fact. But from the looks of things, I assume the previous matter has been resolved?”

“I prevailed upon the goodwill of these two and brought them here with me.”

The “previous matter” the prince was referring to must have been Lady Elsa’s hostage situation. He threw a glance my way—apparently, he had been apprised of the matter.

“In that case,” he said to me, “I have something to tell you, as well. It’s rather sudden, I know, but I’d like a bit of your time. And I want to tell you two, as well, while I have the chance.”

“Is that all right with you, Sir Sasaki?” asked the count.

“Yes, by all means.”

Once I had agreed, Count Müller led us into another area—the estate’s reception room. The prince’s guard waited in a separate chamber at their lord’s orders. The knights seemed reluctant to leave, but they weren’t about to disobey a direct command from the prince. Now Peeps could join in on the conversation without the fear of being overheard.

The count and I sat on a sofa, next to one another, and the prince sat alone across from us. Since he hadn’t had the time to procure a little tree for Peeps, the sparrow remained in his usual spot on my shoulder.

“Sasaki, the plan is to grant you the rank of baron.”

No sooner had we entered the room than Prince Adonis got straight to the point. Apparently, I was to receive a promotion not just in Japan but here as well.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t simply celebrate this change in status. I got the feeling promotions in this world were more like when you were made a manager in name only, had your salary actually decrease, and were forced to work more overtime.

Besides, why am I being promoted? I thought. I don’t remember doing anything in particular. “I’m sorry, sir, but may I ask the reason why?”

“You’ve worked with the Kepler Trading Company to establish a business of your own in the Republic of Lunge, correct?”

“Well, yes…”

“My mother was made aware of it by Count Dietrich. She must want to make sure she has you under her wing as one of the nobles of this country. My father, too, is keen on the idea. He may have been reluctant in the past, but his concern regarding the Ohgen Empire’s invasion must be more pressing now.”

“Even so, sir, is it all right for them to grant me a rank so easily?”

“The problem is the land you will be granted.”

“You mean I won’t be given a role in the court, sir?”

“The current consensus is to give you land in the Rectan Plains.”

“Wha…?”

The count’s expression changed at the prince’s words—his eyes opened wide in shock.

I remembered hearing the name Rectan Plains. It was where the Ohgen Empire’s forces had been stationed—and where they had attacked the Kingdom of Herz. The image of Peeps blowing the whole place to kingdom come was still burned vividly into my memory. Apparently, Count Müller’s lands shared a partial border with the plains, as well.

“At a time like this, what is he supposed to do with such a territory, sir?” asked the count. “It doesn’t have any small settlements, much less any towns or villages. How is he supposed to collect taxes?”

“All reasonable questions, Count Müller.”

“And that land is meant to be a buffer zone. Does it even count as part of our nation?”

“It appears my father intends to take control of it as a prize for our victory over the Ohgen Empire. I can easily imagine him bequeathing it to you, then telling you to create a moat or two in the region to stave off any more emergencies for the time being.”

“B-but, Prince Adonis, isn’t that going too far?” asked the count.

“I am opposed to it, of course.”

“Forgive my rudeness, sir, but was this your mother’s idea?”

“No. Apparently, it came from my father and Duke Einhart.”

I’d heard that name from Count Müller before we came to the capital. If he was able to hold in-person planning meetings with the king of Herz, he must have been in a very high position. And then there was the whole hostage situation.

Given my position, knowing someone like that was discussing my status was terrifying. The only thing supporting me was the sensation of Peeps’s talons gripping my shoulder through the thin fabric of my suit.

“Duke Einhart is close with my father. And frustratingly, he has the most authority out of anyone among my supporters. No amount of discussion will convince my father to consider our opinions. I tried asking my mother, but she hasn’t gotten anywhere with him, either.”

“Did it occur to them that Sir Sasaki might leave Herz over this?”

“Duke Einhart probably wouldn’t mind that, personally. I hate to constantly speak ill of my own family, but my father has been coaxed into the duke’s camp. Perhaps he believes the situation urgent enough to warrant acquiring the Rectan Plains as soon as possible—in spite of all the dangers.”

“…I see, sir.”

“And that,” continued the prince, “is why I decided to pay a personal visit to explain the situation…”

For Duke Einhart, this was probably a means of keeping Count Müller, who had begun to distinguish himself in the second prince’s faction, in check. By stationing us along the border with the Ohgen Empire, he would make it easier for himself to act in court. I felt like a self-made executive manager who had defied the board of directors and was being relegated to some remote corner of the country.

This must all be part of the infighting within the second prince’s faction. That was probably why Count Müller had asked me to come to the capital with him—although it seemed like he hadn’t been informed of everything.

On the other hand—though the prince hadn’t said this exactly—the king of Herz seemed pretty spooked by the Ohgen Empire. In that light, if we used this future work in the Rectan Plains as leverage, even we might be able to gain some sort of concession from the king.

“Is this truly such a problem?”

As I mulled this over, Peeps spoke up. Until now, he’d been watching over the proceedings in silence. In contrast to the anguished tones of Prince Adonis and Count Müller, the bird spoke quite indifferently. As his words implied, he didn’t seem to mind this at all. Maybe that was why everyone turned to stare at him.

The distinguished sparrow returned their gaze and continued. “No citizens in the territory? Why, that’s a good thing. It saves us the trouble of managing them. In fact, we’ve gained a plausible excuse to distance ourselves from the court. We should take this opportunity to withdraw.”

“But what about your duties as a noble…?” asked the count.

“We can simply build a moat or two. And take a long time with it—several years, perhaps. If we’re working hard out on the frontier, they won’t be able to criticize us, will they?”

It seemed Peeps was thinking along the same lines as I was. From a Herzian noble’s point of view, this treatment was positively humiliating. But for the two of us, who wished for a relaxed, leisurely life away from all the hustle and bustle, this was perfect. In fact, inadvertently getting assigned some duty in the court was a far more disagreeable prospect.

“In addition, if we throw some money around, your lands will profit as well.”

“Y-you needn’t worry about my situation…,” stammered the count.

Partly thanks to our deal with the Kepler Trading Company, our pockets were lined with gold. If we weren’t out to climb the ranks of nobility, then as Peeps said, it wouldn’t be a bad choice to build some moats and secure our position in the kingdom for the time being.

Still, I’d be lying if I said I had no doubts. “Won’t the Ohgen Empire meddle in our business, then?” I asked.

“Oh, they will. I’m certain of it.”

“Isn’t that…bad?”

“It will be fine. I have an idea.”

“…Really? Just remember, if your true identity gets out, it won’t matter what we do.”

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about that ever since the previous incident.”

Well, if Peeps said so, everything was probably fine. As an outsider, I obediently closed my mouth. Prince Adonis and Count Müller appeared to come to the same decision, and no more objections were raised.

We spent that night at Count Müller’s estate, and the next day, Prince Adonis took Peeps and me to the castle. Normally, it would have taken quite a bit more time to receive an audience with the king, but with an introduction from the second prince, we got in faster than a bullet train. In fact, we were permitted to meet him that same day; no doubt the prince had negotiated it with the king some time the previous evening.

Owing to all that, we eventually arrived in the waiting area connecting to the audience chamber—the same one we’d visited previously. It was about fifteen meters square and contained some gorgeous construction and furniture. This room was a stark contrast with the reception room in Count Müller’s estate, still emptied after his family’s financial losses.

As before, we had to submit to a pat down. After that, we passed through the hallway reserved for those entering the audience chamber.

On the way, I saw that Peeps’s portrait was still there.

“……”

“What’s wrong, Sir Sasaki?” Count Müller asked me as I turned to look. As always, his perception was quick and sharp when it came to the Lord Starsage.

“Oh, nothing, my lord.”

I’d just been thinking that, in the portrait, the Starsage’s hair was a very vivid, neat blond… I wondered how the count would respond if I was to broach the subject. Instead, however, I simply brushed it off and continued down the hallway.

When we arrived in the audience chamber, we saw that many nobles had already gathered there, just as before. Under their imposing stares, we proceeded toward the empty throne. Then, alongside the count, I knelt on the floor and lowered my head. After waiting a short time in that position for His Majesty to enter, we heard a voice from above.

“You may lift your heads.”

When we did, we saw that someone now occupied the throne—the King of Herz.

The man appeared to be in his fifties, and he cut a fine figure, with stern, pronounced features that contributed to a sense of awe and majesty. I wished I would age as gracefully. His silver hair—a trait he shared with Prince Adonis—was particularly striking.

The queen sat next to him. She, too, looked the same as before—a woman likely in her midthirties with pretty, symmetrical features. She wore an amicable smile, but she was also the sort who would gladly impersonate a maid to uncover private information on her guests.

What piqued my curiosity even more, however, was the man standing right beside the royal couple. He hadn’t been present last time. Like Prince Adonis, his hair was silver. His melancholy features, however, were a stark contrast to the prince. His hair was long for a man’s, too, and it hid one of his eyes. In short, a typical gloomy character. Still very good-looking, though.

Not just any noble would be standing in that position. Could that be Prince Adonis’s elder brother? I wondered. As I mentally cycled through several possible titles the man might have held, the king addressed us.

“Count Müller, I do apologize for the frequency of these visits.”

“Please, Your Majesty, there is no need for apology.”

The king and the count began exchanging pleasantries as I watched in silence. The casual way the king spoke despite his frightening countenance seemed to demonstrate his trust in Count Müller. It appeared the man was sincere in his joy at Prince Adonis’s safe return from the battlefield.

“Thanks to you,” said the king. “Adonis has been absorbed in his martial training of late. He practices with the sword at every opportunity. He appears quite taken with the skills you displayed on the battlefield, Count. Would you do him the honor of overseeing his training?”

“To instruct His Royal Highness in the ways of the blade would be a far greater task than I am worthy of.”

“Oh, I don’t think there’s any need for such humility between us. Please, Count Müller.”

“To receive such words directly from you, Your Majesty, will honor my family for generations to come.”

But that conversation lasted only a moment. The king bestowed his next remarks upon yours truly. “Moving on, I have something to ask of you, Knight Sasaki.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am at your command.”

I felt the eyes of all the assembled nobles focus in on me. Their expressions had been pretty caustic when it came to Count Müller, but they looked at me like I shouldn’t be there at all. The shift in attitude was obvious, even from the few I could see out of the corner of my vision.

“I’ve heard rumors you have established a business in the Republic of Lunge through the Kepler Trading Company. I also hear that its president, Sir Joseph himself, came to visit our nation last month.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have indeed established a trading company in another nation.”

My honest affirmation was met with murmurs of utter disbelief from the surrounding nobles, creating a stir in the audience chamber.

“Diplomatic relations such as these are extremely valuable to our kingdom,” said the king. “Naturally, those who take up such a task must be given an appropriate position. Thus, Knight Sasaki, as of today, I bequeath to you the rank of baron. You will now aid in foreign policy and diplomatic work within the court.”

This was similar to what Prince Adonis had told us—but it was also a little different. He had said I would have my own territory, not a role in the court.

Not a moment later, one of the nobles present raised their voice. “Your Majesty, while I will respect any decision you make, is that role not beyond his position?”

“Duke Einhart, what is this all of a sudden?” asked the king.

“Our relations with the Republic of Lunge are certainly important, Sire. And this knight did, in fact, establish a trading company in the republic. However, that was all he did. He has made no contributions to our kingdom.”

“…I see your point.”

Even among the nobles present in the audience chamber, this man’s dress was especially grand. I pinned him as being somewhere in his fifties, and his bushy white hair in particular looked like some baroque-era composer. Judging by what His Majesty had said, this man was Duke Einhart.

“He may even damage our great kingdom’s reputation.”

“Indeed. Your concerns are reasonable, Duke Einhart.”

“In that case, I would beg our beloved and revered king to reconsider.”

“Hmm…”

The king began to ponder Duke Einhart’s words. The nobles’ attention now turned to the two of them.

In contrast, my attention was on Count Müller, who was kneeling on the floor next to me. I tried to tell him telepathically This isn’t what Prince Adonis promised! However, his eyes were fixed ahead of him, and he showed no signs of having noticed me. Personally, I didn’t want anything to do with a job in the court.

Eventually, the king gave his response.

“Then let us do things like this,” he began. “I shall grant Sir Sasaki the rank of baron. As for his lands, I shall bestow upon him part of what we acquired in the previous war—the Rectan Plains. It borders on Count Müller’s territory as well. I’d like you two to collaborate and help bring prosperity to our kingdom.”

And in the end, a familiar place name made its way into the conversation. After making a show of thinking it over, the king of Herz had proposed this as a “replacement” plan, and Duke Einhart nodded at the decision. At this, the nobles present flew into a chorus of conversations.

Apparently, this had been their intention all along. I was glad I hadn’t jumped to conclusions. Perhaps their exchange had partly been to curtail dissent among the other nobles. I could easily imagine that being the reason for the two of them to stage a compromise.

The intricate power balances of Herzian nobles were far too involved. I found myself curious how someone like Section Chief Akutsu would fare if he was thrown into this mess.

“Baron Sasaki, I believe it would be wise to build, say, a defensive bulwark or two.”

Without wasting a moment, Duke Einhart put in his request—or rather his demand, which already exceeded what Prince Adonis had suggested. When he said bulwark, how large a defensive wall did he mean, exactly?

“It should be an easy task, if the stories about you and the Kepler Trading Company are true, don’t you think?”

In place of the king, the duke started nitpicking at me. Considering this was happening right in the audience chamber, maybe Herz’s royalty had less authority than I had thought. The nobles really threw their weight around, didn’t they?

At the same time, their conversation had made me think the king might truly have high hopes for us.

“I will go to any length to fulfill this task and meet your expectations,” I said. Either way, that wouldn’t change our plans. I’d give my full agreement, as we’d discussed.

But it would be a shame to let things end like this. We’d been lucky enough to see Duke Einhart. I wanted to try to use the public works project in the Rectan Plains as a pretext to solve Count Müller’s problem at the same time. I’d gotten Peeps’s approval on it, too.

“To that end, Your Majesty,” I said, moving my gaze from Duke Einhart to the king, “may I implore you to hear me out on a certain matter?”

“Hmm? Speak, then.”

All eyes gathered on me—the nobles’ gazes seemed to say Oh, what is it this time?

“I hereby pledge that until this bulwark in the Rectan Plains is complete, I will not return to the capital of Allestos. I swear to carry out this task for the prosperity of the Kingdom of Herz. So I beg of you, Sire, please return the color to Count Müller’s life.”

“S-Sir Sasaki…,” cried the count.

No less than the Lord Starsage himself had said this would be fine. It was time for me to strut my stuff.

“You!” roared Duke Einhart in immediate protest. “How dare a mere knight implore His Majesty for anything!”

I’d assumed that since he had been chatting with the king, I could do the same. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case. The glare he’d just turned on me was absolutely petrifying. I may have been a noble, but the difference between a knight and a duke was considerable.

Still, if I gave up now, who knew when I’d get another chance to express my opinions to Duke Einhart? This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—I had him in front of a whole bunch of other people. Plus, I could draw the king, who presumably outranked him, into the discussion.

I continued to look at His Majesty, my stare pleading.

Finally, he responded. “Color? What might you mean by that?”

Yes! It seemed like he’d hear me out. But in this atmosphere, I couldn’t talk for long. “I would beg of you, Sire, to confirm the particulars with Duke Einhart.”

“…Hmm,” said the king, throwing a glance at the duke.

Man, I thought. I’m not coming anywhere near this place again, even after the bulwark is done.

Then the king lowered his gaze to his feet, pretending to think about something or other. The difficult look on his face persisted only for a moment, however. When he looked up again, he gave his reply—approval. “Very well. As you are so favored by Adonis, I shall grant you this request.”

The king nodded, and that was when the surrounding nobles really started to make noise. The comments that reached me were infinite in their variety. So many different reactions: Some were simply astonished, while others voiced their disapproval.

For now, I’d just be thankful. “I offer my sincerest gratitude for your generosity, Sire,” I answered, bowing deeply, still kneeling on the floor.

A moment later, a youthful voice came from directly in front of me—one I hadn’t heard before.

“How curious, that you would go so far.”

His voice sounded exactly like Prince Adonis’s. For a moment, I thought it was the second prince himself. In his clearly articulated words, however, I could detect a very slight difference in tone. Confused, I raised my eyes slightly. When I did, I saw who it was out of the corner of my vision.

It was the gloomy character with the silver hair who had been standing near His Majesty.

“What is it, Lewis?” asked the king.

“Nothing, Father. Please, pay me no mind.”

If the king was his father, that made him a prince. Judging by his age, the first prince. Though the second prince seemed rather sociable, this young man appeared, from head to toe, to be the opposite. I had heard that for a long time he had been treated as an unwanted child, so maybe his upbringing had influenced his appearance. Still very good-looking, though.

As soon as the prince finished speaking, the king gave his parting words, and the day’s audience ended without much incident.

After our audience with His Majesty, we returned to Count Müller’s estate. He insisted we stay the night, and we accepted his gesture of goodwill. We could bring our products to the Kepler Trading Company the following day. Ms. Futarishizuka had set up a base for us, which gave us some leeway in how we handled things back in Japan.

Soon, it was suppertime.

We’d only had a few moments to relax in the guest room before one of the maids employed at the estate showed us to the dining hall. The moment we exited the corridor and entered the room, we encountered Lady Elsa.

She was already seated at the table, but as soon as she spotted us, she burst out of her chair with a clatter and started shouting.

“Baron Sasaki! I… I heard from Daddy what happened!”

“Lady Elsa,” I replied. “I see you’ve returned to the estate.”

I was surprised by how quickly she’d been returned. According to Count Müller, she’d been a hostage. Had His Majesty discussed it with Duke Einhart immediately after our audience? Otherwise, I couldn’t imagine why the duke would have released her. The Kingdom of Herz was rife with corruption, but maybe the current king was unexpectedly trustworthy.

“And I have you and your familiar to thank for all of it, don’t I?” she said.

“Well, most of the credit should go to my familiar, my lady,” I said, sparing a glance at the bird on my shoulder. I’d just followed Peeps’s suggestions.

“Your familiar is so tiny and cute—and yet so amazing. I couldn’t believe my ears when Daddy told me you asked His Majesty to intercede with Duke Einhart.”

“I believe Prince Adonis may have explained the situation to His Majesty in advance.”

“I still think what you did was splendid!” exclaimed the youthful princess happily.

It really must have been tough, being separated from her family like that.

“Normally,” she continued, “a low-ranking noble making a direct request of His Majesty during an audience would be grounds for arrest! I had no idea you were so courageous. So well, I…”

“……”

Apparently, my actions had been more extreme than I’d imagined. No wonder Duke Einhart was so out of sorts. Hearing Lady Elsa’s words, I broke out in a cold sweat—hours after the fact. But I supposed there was no point worrying over what was already done. In the end, everything went well, so maybe I should just be happy about that for now.

But I need to be way more careful in the future, that’s for sure.

“Thank you, Baron Sasaki,” she said. “For saving me!”

“Please, don’t mention it. We’re very happy with how things turned out as well.”

Aside from Peeps and me, only Count Müller and Lady Elsa were in the dining hall. The count probably wanted to secure as much time as possible to talk with the Lord Starsage; his wife and son didn’t know the distinguished sparrow on my shoulder could speak, after all.

“Lord Sasaki,” said the count, “I’d like to thank you as well.”

“Please, you don’t need to be so formal. We’re more than happy we were able to help.”

“And you don’t need to be considerate toward me just because my daughter is with us…”

After exchanging greetings, Count Müller invited us to sit down at the rather large, circular dining table. The chairs were spread out around it at equal intervals, forming a square. Next to one of them was a little perch.

The food was brought out immediately. Once the party of maids confirmed everything was ready for us to eat, they gave little bows and exited the room. As long as the door—which probably led to the kitchen—was closed, nobody would overhear our conversation. Owing to that, Peeps was free to join in.

“By the way, Lord Sasaki,” said Count Müller a short while after we began to eat, “regarding the issue of shoring up the Rectan Plains’s defenses…” His eyes kept glancing over at the sparrow as he spoke. It seemed like he was going to broach the topic of our future work. I, too, wanted to get a read on the situation as soon as possible.

As for the bird in question, he was hopping around on the table’s surface, deftly using his beak to peck at the thinly sliced meats stacked on his plate. If he was going to that much effort, he must have a high opinion of the food.

“Is there something on your mind, my lord?” I asked.

“If possible, I wanted to ask about your immediate plans,” he explained.

“And what will you do with that information?”

“I would very much like to assist you, if you’ll have me.”

“We’re only creating a few walls. It won’t take that much time or effort.”

“Still, I am concerned any carelessness might invite the Ohgen Empire’s wrath…”

I was concerned about the same thing. Peeps had told me he’d handle it, but I couldn’t help being curious anyway. After all, this would greatly affect the lives of whoever we put to the task. The count, for his part, presided over a town not too far away.

“There’s nothing you need worry about. I’ll handle everything myself.”

“Still…”

“This time, however, we will need just a few extra hands. If you might aid us with the procurement of materials and such, it would be a great help. I shall contact you when the time comes. I might send a messenger, depending on how things play out.”

“Understood. I would be more than happy to offer my assistance.” A smile broke out on Count Müller’s face.

Whoa, he looks positively elated. Was it because the Starsage had asked him for a favor? Peeps did have an aloof side to him, after all.

“Daddy, what’s all this about?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“How come you’re being so polite to Sasaki’s familiar…?”

As the youthful princess looked on in confusion, Count Müller grew nervous.

Come to think of it, while Lady Elsa knew the bird could talk, she didn’t realize the Starsage was alive. She must have been wondering why her dad—the one with the most authority in town—was humbling himself so much before a bird. It was a heartwarming father-daughter scene, and as an unmarried, middle-aged man, it made my heart feel just a tiny bit empty.

Naturally, my attention focused in on the bird I’d only recently adopted.

“……”

No, I couldn’t get greedy. It was so long ago that I’d decided to adopt a bird and visited that pet shop. Back then, I promised myself that one day I would cup my pet in my hand and pet it with my thumb. At this point, however, even just petting him on the head seemed an impossible task. I wondered if he’d get mad at me if I suggested getting him a sibling.

“…What is it? Something on your mind?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Is that so? Well, all right.”

And just like that, we leisurely passed the rest of the evening.

We spent the night at Count Müller’s estate, and in the morning, we set off from the capital. Our destination was the Rectan Plains, which we’d be reaching with—as always—sparrow magic.

The reason for our trip was to eliminate any concerns regarding relations with the Ohgen Empire—as Count Müller had pointed out the night before. We’d been planning to visit the Kepler Trading Company for business that day, but Peeps himself suggested we carry out this task first. I assumed he had a whole host of concerns on his mind as well.

“That gigantic hole is still there, huh.”

“It was too much of a bother to fill it back in.”

We were currently flying through the sky. Below us was the big hole—the one the Starsage had previously created with his magic. Over ten thousand Ohgen Empire troops had been stationed in this area, and the memory of how they were obliterated in less than a few minutes was still fresh in my mind. And now there was a huge hole in the grassy plains where the soldiers had disappeared. It was so deep you couldn’t see the bottom; looking at it terrified me.

“Should we just leave it like that?” I wondered aloud. “I feel like it would be dangerous…”

“My plan is to use the hole as part of our response to the Ohgen Empire.”

What a vague response. Were we going to construct a humongous pitfall trap? No, no. Such a scheme would be unbecoming of the Lord Starsage. Just covering the top of it would be an enormous project—probably just as difficult as building a bridge over a great river.

“…What are you thinking?” I ventured.

“The hole is perfect for large-bodied monsters to nest in, don’t you think?”

“Sorry, but the only creatures of that size I’ve ever seen are orcs.”

“Now that you mention it, that is true…”

Well, and the reptilian we saw on the news. To prepare for my future life in this otherworld, it would probably be a good idea to learn about its representative fauna, at least. I wondered if there was a zoo here, or some similar facility. If not, then I’d love to at least peruse an illustrated field guide. I’ll ask Count Müller at some point—I bet he’d have one in his storehouses or something.

“What I’m getting at is this—our monsters will be more similar to my current form.”

“Similar to you, Peeps?”

“Familiars. I was thinking of using a few to curb the Ohgen Empire.”

“Oh, I get it.”

The word familiar had been popping up ever since I’d first visited this world. Familiars—creatures that were absolutely obedient to their master’s instructions. According to previous explanations, any wild animal or monster you captured or called forth using summoning magic, then put under your command, was considered a familiar. Apparently, some who tried to rein in things more powerful than they were fell victim to counterattacks, however.

“I’d like to hold the Ohgen Empire’s troops far away from the border for a while by having a wild dragon take up residence in the hole. That way, the two of us can remain behind the scenes while still maintaining the area’s safety as the bulwarks are constructed.”

“What? You can just tame a dragon like that?”

“It depends on the type of dragon.”

Dragons, huh? That made me super curious—these were dragons we were talking about! I’d encountered much upon first coming to this world that seemed straight out of a fantasy novel, but the word dragon just hit different. When people talked about fantasy worlds, it was all about dragons, and when they talked about dragons, it was all about fantasy worlds. The two ideas were joined at the hip.

If it was possible, I wanted to have one as a pet. Even just a small one. Maybe one that could fit in the palm of my hand and made cute little squeaking noises.

“As far as I can see, the Ohgen Empire’s forces haven’t made any moves to return here. I can’t sense anyone inside the hole, either, so let’s send a few in right away. With this much space, we could place several here without causing an issue.”

“Will nearby villages be all right?”

“I’ll command them not to attack people.”

“This magic sounds surprisingly adaptable.”

“That depends on the power of the caster.”

As we made light conversation, a magic circle appeared in front of Peeps. At the same time, another of a very similar design appeared just above the great hole. I figured the creatures would appear from the second one.

My heart started to pound with anticipation. What sort of dragons would he summon?

As if in response to my excitement, things began to develop below. Once the magic circles had appeared, Peeps began to incant a spell. As he finished, the magic circles began to pulse wildly with light, like a heartbeat.

Meanwhile, an image materialized above the second circle. The silhouette looked like something you’d find in the results of an internet search for the word dragon.

It had a pair of large wings, a longish neck, plus a head sporting a huge jaw and magnificent horns. Its body had thick flesh, and it walked on all fours, just like a dinosaur. Golden scales covered its entire body. The dragon had a very western design—like the one on the flag of Wales.

Right after it was summoned, its jaw turned toward the sky and opened wide.

Roooooaaaaaaar!! came its loud cry, echoing all through the area.

It made my ears hurt, to put it mildly.

The dragon itself was about the size of an apartment complex. It would have been able to crush an entire shed or small dwelling with ease. Even one of its eyes, now turned to look up at us, appeared bigger than my head.

It seemed a little too big to keep as a pet.

In fact, it was downright terrifying. It seemed like it might charge us at any moment.

“Peeps, that’s a really strong-looking dragon…”

“Any weaker variety would simply be exterminated by the Empire.”

He was right—you’d need nerves of steel to pick a fight with something that looked like that. I’d definitely take the long way around. At any rate, I doubted my intermediate lightning magic would stand a chance against it. I’d need stronger spells, and several of them, to prepare—plus friends who would help me escape if it didn’t work out. Actually, if it was going to require that much effort, I’d rather not try it at all.

“Yeah, I can’t imagine anyone defeating that dragon.”

“Not true. Assemble enough people, and it would be surprisingly possible.”

“Wait, really?”

“But the sacrifices would be great. I doubt the Ohgen Empire would try to force an attack. Even if their troops were able to eliminate the dragon, if they tried to invade in their weakened state, they’d be in for a rough time of it.”

“I see. So it’s kind of like a bouncer, in that sense.”

“Exactly.”

Personally, I’d prefer neither side to suffer. I doubted the dragon wanted to get hurt, either. After its initial roar, it had turned rather docile as it watched us floating overhead. Judging by behavior alone, it was basically a well-trained dog. And when I thought about it like that, I started to find it sort of cute.

“Our little buddy has some gorgeous golden scales, huh?”

“People mainly call dragons of this variety golden dragons.”

The faint sunlight reflected off its scales, making them sparkle. Outside the hole, they’d probably shine even more.

“It reminds me of the portrait of you I saw in the hallway leading to the audience chamber.”

“…You saw that?”

In his lifetime, Peeps had been a very handsome blond. That was how the portrait had depicted him, at least. The sparrow’s response to my casual remark was rather disappointing. Maybe I’d stirred up some lingering regrets about his former body. Or maybe there was another reason. Whatever the case, it seemed wise to give the topic a wide berth. That was a little insensitive of me. Sorry, Peeps.

“Come to think of it, you’re going to summon a few more, right?”

“I would feel uneasy with just one. I’d like to summon another two or three.”

“They won’t fight with each other or anything, will they?”

“Unless something very out of the ordinary happens, I can simply instruct them not to.”

After that, he called forth two more similar dragons, successfully completing our work in the Rectan Plains for now. If they were a little smaller and cuter, I might have wanted to come back and check on them—but these dragons were a little too rough and scary, so I decided I’d keep my distance.

For now, I’d just trust Peeps and leave them be. The Ohgen Empire’s armies wouldn’t come anywhere near such terrifying creatures.

Once we’d finished our work on the Rectan Plains, we headed for the Republic of Lunge to visit the Kepler Trading Company and deliver goods we’d promised. After asking for Mr. Joseph at the main store’s entrance, we were promptly shown to a reception room. Luckily for us, the man seemed to have returned from the Kingdom of Herz.

“I’m glad to see you again, Mr. Sasaki,” he said.

“Thank you for making the time to visit us. I know you were busy last month.”

I’d gotten pretty used to this sort of exchange. We traded words over a low table between two sofas; Peeps was on my shoulder.

I wasted no time delivering the goods I had promised them. Recently, I’d been bringing more of the items I had previously brought in using a rucksack or a shopping cart. It was extremely difficult to carry them all at once, so we’d begun to use a storehouse nearby. It had been provided by the Kepler Trading Company and allowed us to securely store our wares.

Time still flowed at significantly different rates here and in the modern world. Even just transporting wares over several trips caused multiple hours to pass here—and sometimes a whole day would go by. I was thankful to have somewhere with restricted entry for this task.

“Before you ask,” I said, “I brought the more unwieldy goods, like the sugar, to the storehouse we discussed previously. Would you mind confirming delivery? I’ll be staying in town until then.”

“Of course. I’ll have those in charge check on it.”

Mr. Joseph clapped, and someone immediately came along. After a few whispers from Mr. Joseph, the man hurried back out of the room. I wondered if he was going to have the goods checked while we were talking. The only thing left was to deliver the products we had on hand, like the simple electronic devices—calculators, first and foremost—as well as other manufactured goods we thought might be in high demand in this world.

“I’m happy to see you again as well, Mr. Marc,” I continued. “I see the color has returned to your cheeks.”

“Yes, and thank you so much for everything you did last month, Mr. Sasaki.”

Mr. Marc was sitting next to Mr. Joseph during our visit. Perhaps it was my lingering impression of him locked in a jail cell that made him seem so happy and energetic now. Even the clothes he wore appeared to be several degrees fancier than when I’d first visited him at the Hermann Trading Company.

“How is the Marc Trading Company doing?”

“Extremely well, thanks to Mr. Joseph. We plan on opening a branch in Baytrium in the coming days, too. I’d like to use it to coordinate with the Hermann Trading Company to support you and Count Müller.”

“That’s very good to hear.”

“Oh? Will you be needing something in the near future, then?”

“Actually, I wanted to discuss that with the two of you.”

Well, wasn’t this conversation moving along swimmingly? I felt a little bad since we’d just met each other again, but I needed to discuss the homework Duke Einhart had given us during our audience with His Majesty—all that stuff about building defensive structures along the border with the Ohgen Empire.

Peeps and I had already determined how we’d go about it. I, Baron Sasaki, would put in a personal order with the Marc Trading Company, asking them for help procuring the necessary material and labor. Then they’d probably subcontract the Hermann Trading Company for the actual work. With the latter’s roots in Baytrium, I trusted it wouldn’t be difficult.

“Such, er, drastic measures once again…,” stammered Mr. Marc.

“Could I possibly ask for your help with this?” I said.

“Will you be receiving support from the Kingdom of Herz or neighboring feudal lords?” asked Mr. Joseph. “If not, I’m pretty sure the Ohgen Empire’s troops would simply trample it. And our company doesn’t have the military might needed to oppose the Empire’s regular soldiers.”

“We already have that handled, actually,” I assured him.

I’d been waiting for this point to come up and explained what we’d just finished preparing—for some reason, several very large wild dragons had taken up residence near the border on the Rectan Plains, but they wouldn’t attack anyone from the Kingdom of Herz, so workers could labor at a nice, leisurely pace without worrying about the Empire.

“As you all know, the Kingdom of Herz is in decline,” I continued. “However, I have poured no small amount of capital into the country, and I would like to stay there for the foreseeable future. So won’t you lend me your trust?”

This was for Peeps’s sake, too, so I was ready to really plead with them.

At my words, Mr. Marc looked surprised. “Dragons to curb the Ohgen Empire…?”

“I apologize. I am aware of how odd it sounds.”

“No, no. If you say so, I believe it. All right. Count Müller has done a lot for me as well, so please allow me to repay my debts to you both.”

“Thank you for understanding,” I replied.

Great! We’d gotten him to trust us. I wouldn’t have trusted me, had I been in his shoes. Dragons along the national border? It sounded totally crazy.

His staid reaction was shared, however, by the one listening in at his side—Mr. Joseph. When Mr. Marc nodded, Mr. Joseph continued, without so much as a hint of doubt about the dragon situation.

“Do you intend to take an aggressive position regarding the Ohgen Empire, Mr. Sasaki?”

It was only natural he would ask such a question, but I would prefer he not draw any hasty conclusions. I had zero intentions of getting into a fight with the Ohgen Empire.

“Oh, no, of course not,” I said. “This is merely for our own financial benefit.”

“Really?”

“It wouldn’t be good for the Kepler Trading Company if the Empire goes into decline, would it?”

“What a carefree statement. It both fascinates me and makes me hesitant.”

Maintaining relations with other countries had to be far more profitable than palling around with us. I wasn’t about to ask to be first place in his book—in fact, I’d give up second and third place, too. I had no desire to start throwing my weight around. I merely hoped we could continue our friendly relationship, even if we were more of an extra business partner for him.

“Is that point of view related to the nature of your products, Mr. Sasaki?” asked Mr. Joseph.

“I’d appreciate it if you saw it that way,” I replied.

“Then I understand. I’ll give Mr. Marc what assistance I can render.”

“Are you sure, sir?”

“We’ve gotten a lot of inquiries and orders for the products you’ve sold us in the past. If you would do us the honor of providing them wholesale in the future, we can expect significant profits. I look forward to the Marc Trading Company’s success as much as anyone.”

“Well, all right then.”

We even managed to get Mr. Joseph’s backing—I hadn’t expected that.

And so once again, today’s dealings ended harmoniously.

The day after we finished our business with the Kepler Trading Company, we headed for Baytrium, the town governed by Count Müller. We explained to those at the Hermann Trading Company and Mr. French what we’d talked about with Mr. Marc the day before.

None of this had much to do with Mr. French, but I wanted to apprise him of the situation just in case. And when I did, he said—very firmly and fervently—that he wanted to help us out. I supposed a lot of his enthusiasm came from the thought of performing a service for his town.

I also told him to ask Count Müller if he needed anything. They weren’t completely unknown to one another, and if I could get everyone on good terms, then there wouldn’t be any unexpected problems—at least, not around Baytrium.

As for our finances, we entrusted Mr. Marc with all the large gold coins we had on hand—five hundred—about half of what we’d earned so far. Peeps said we should be fine with about that much for the time being. Maybe we’d be able to start the work in earnest when we next visited. We were more than ready to hole up in Count Müller’s territory for the next few years, using the bulwarks’ construction as our excuse.

Thinking about it like that, things were going fairly well. But as we flitted about from place to place, before we knew it, several days had passed. I didn’t even have time to practice my magic during our stay. Next time, I wanted to come for more of a vacation and enjoy this world. Peeps was in agreement.

As our conversation began to wander, we decided to return to the modern world.