Sasaki and Peeps - Volume 5 - Chapter 3

<The Ohgen Empire>

When we arrived in the otherworld, we first paid a visit to Count Müller, as always.

We were becoming more and more familiar with everyone at his estate. While I’d already gotten to know the guards, even the knights who had been so unkind to me when we first met had recently begun chatting with me normally. Happy about this development, we let our guide show us to the reception room, where Count Müller already sat.

The very first thing he did, before we even had a chance to share Lady Elsa’s video letter with him, was sit us down to talk about something else: a purging of Herz’s nobility, spearheaded by Prince Lewis.

Baron Sasaki and Count Müller belonged to the faction supporting second prince Adonis, placing us in direct political opposition to First Prince Lewis’s ascension to the throne. Whichever of the two princes was able to accomplish the most notable feats in this five-year period would become the next king—and it appeared our opponent had finally gotten started.

“Ah. Then Lewis has begun to act?”

“I’ve received word of several Herzian nobles being confined to the royal palace,” explained Count Müller. “The letter from Prince Adonis said that his brother is using their connection to the Ohgen Empire as a pretext.”

The count’s expression was unusually severe. Peeps’s own countenance had sharpened, perhaps unconsciously, as he asked his questions. I stayed silent and watched.

“Which nobles has he confined?”

“The most well-known include Count Helmont and Viscount Lorenz, both from Duke Einhart’s faction. I also saw Count Dietrich’s name on the list, doubtless because he switched to our side after the business with the Hermann Trading Company.”

“And all of them possess territory close to the border with the Empire.”

“Indeed. Their populations remain considerable, just as in your time, Lord Starsage.”

“Could Lewis be after troops or provisions?”

“I believe it’s highly possible.”

“I’m sure he can’t afford to let the nobles supporting him grow weaker. Not now anyway.”

Prince Lewis had declared his intention to go on the offensive against the Ohgen Empire, and he probably intended to procure the necessary military power from nobles opposed to him. Doesn’t that put Count Müller in danger, too?

I had already faced a demand to relinquish the fortress on the Rectan Plains. If Prince Lewis went even further and mobilized our workers, it would be a disaster. The count had sold off most of the things in his mansion to protect his people during the Empire’s most recent attack; it would be too painful to lose those people now to something like this.

Peeps seemed to have the same idea. “But in that case, are you not in danger as well?”

“Nothing has happened yet,” the count assured him.

“Considering his intentions, I should think he’d come for Baytrium first.”

“I had the same thoughts myself.”

Back when Prince Lewis had attacked me while dressed as a woman, I’d willingly offered to give him the fortress. Maybe that was why. He’d come to observe the site himself and seen how well construction was going. It seemed likely he wanted to prioritize the region’s development and had delayed purging the count accordingly.

In contrast to Prince Adonis, who had a fair, upright character fitting of his youth, Prince Lewis was a more slippery type—to use a baseball metaphor, he was always ready to throw a curveball or a slider. I couldn’t deny the possibility that his personality had been warped over the many years he’d been treated as an unwanted child.

“Apparently, over half of the nobles eliminated were supporters of Prince Adonis,” continued Count Müller.

“I doubt Adonis would sit quietly and watch as nobles of his faction were targeted,” Peeps remarked.

“Actually, I just received a summons yesterday to come to the palace…”

Prince Adonis must be ordering his nobles to gather to him. If he’d called on the count, then politically, this could involve Baron Sasaki as well, since I was under his protection. Most of all, taking Peeps’s feelings for the kingdom into consideration, there was no way I could stay uninvolved.

“In that case, should we head to Allestos right now, my lord?” I said.

“I couldn’t possibly ask you to come,” said the count. “Don’t you have your own business to attend to?”

At this, I decided to take the initiative and make an offer myself—I expected the psychological burden of requesting something from the Starsage would be too much for the count.

“Our work has been growing more and more efficient of late, sir,” I told him. “I can maintain it with little effort. You needn’t worry about that. And Pee—er, the Lord Starsage—I’m sure he would be happy to do something for the kingdom if he can.”

Now that we’d introduced long-range wireless communication to Marc’s company, they were basically handling all our business by themselves. Peeps and I now had much less reason to go back and forth between Herz and Lunge. These days, as long as we brought in and sold our modern goods, they’d get to where they were going even without our help.

“We can leave immediately, if you wish.”

“Then please allow me to accompany you, Lord Starsage.”

“Of course. Then as soon as we are all ready, we shall set out.”

Normally, it took several days to travel from Baytrium to Allestos. But with Peeps’s teleportation magic, we’d get there in the blink of an eye.

“By the way, sir,” I added, “there was something I wanted to request before we left.”

“What is it?”

“It’s my belief that in times of crisis, it is even more important to treasure one’s regular routine. Would you like to view the video letter Lady Elsa made for you?”

“Oh, yes, of course. You’re a man of deep consideration—consideration which has helped me many times in the past.”

“I’m honored to hear that, sir.”

My plan to have a nice, long, otherworld vacation now that our work in modern times was done had quickly fallen apart. Still, I had a few days off from the bureau, so at least the worst-case scenario hadn’t come to pass. It was a silver lining, but the only reason I was happy about it was because of how long I’d suffered as a corporate drone.

The judging period to determine the royal inheritance as set forth by the king of Herz was five years. The otherworld would likely get busier and busier as the day of reckoning drew near.

I hoped the final showdown would come much sooner.

We headed for the royal capital of Allestos that same day using Peeps’s teleportation magic, arriving at the count’s other residence instantly. We warped directly into his private room, so no one witnessed our arrival. Looking outside, the sun was still high.

From there, we decided to go straight to the palace to visit Prince Adonis. The convoluted process to secure a meeting with him, which Baron Sasaki would have struggled with on his own, sped by like a high-speed express train with Count Müller’s help. Lately, he’d been the talk of the kingdom among the second prince’s supporters. Once he told the right person we wanted an audience, to my surprise, the prince himself came out to greet us.

Rather than stand around talking, he prompted us to follow him through the palace. Shockingly, he led us straight to his private rooms. This was not what I had expected.

Despite Herz’s prominent decline, the royal residence was a luxury extravaganza. Even the bed had a canopied frame decorated with goldwork. It looked even larger than a king. Everything glittered, from the desk and the closet to all the other furnishings.

We settled down onto an expensive-looking pair of sofas and began our discussion.

“Lord Starsage, Sasaki, thank you for bringing Count Müller here. Your timing is perfect,” said Prince Adonis, facing us from the other sofa.

Nobody else could be seen in the room. Along the way, knights—I assumed they were the royal guard—had surrounded the prince. Now, though, they were waiting in the hallway. The prince had shooed them out, telling them he had sensitive things to discuss with us.

“What would you have of me, sir?” asked the count.

“I assume you’ve read the letter I sent a few days ago?”

“If you’re referring to your elder brother, then yes, that’s the reason for my visit today. And judging by the letter’s contents, I assumed Baron Sasaki was not exempt from this matter.”

“Yes. In fact, Lewis has already begun moving his troops.”

“What…?” The count breathed out in astonishment.

I casually glanced at his face; his eyes were wide with surprise. I even felt Peeps give a little start on my shoulder. Considering the kingdom’s geography, it wouldn’t be long before swarms of soldiers arrived in the count’s lands and at the border fortress.

This sounded bad. I should probably warn Mr. French.

“And Sasaki,” continued the prince, “he has asked me to prepare a meeting between the two of you to discuss the details of what you’ve already decided upon regarding the border fortress. I know not what sort of things you’ve spoken of with him, but I’d like to be informed now, if possible.”

“I understand, sir.”

It wasn’t something I needed to hide, so I informed him of the whole ordeal where Prince Lewis, dressed in women’s clothing, had attacked me. I did, however, leave out minor details about his state at the time, partly to preserve his pride. It might not reflect too well on me, either.

The image of him in full costume flashed through my brain once again, and I could still see him only as a beautiful woman. I started to imagine Prince Adonis—I bet he’d give the same impression if he wore women’s clothes and put on makeup. But I quickly put a stop to these indiscreet thoughts and shook them from my mind. Cross-dressing brother princes, I thought. How deeply sinful.

“Fascinating,” said the prince. “I had no idea that had happened.”

“I apologize for making a decision about the fortress without consulting you, sir,” I said.

“No, I don’t mind. Your actions have likely spared the good count here from my brother’s purge. I had wondered why he wasn’t coming after you both—that’s one mystery solved.”

“You seem to have saved me yet again,” the count said to me. “Allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“I’m honored, sir.”

Prince Adonis’s remark had earned me Count Müller’s appreciation. Come to think of it, I’d been keeping the mess with Prince Lewis a secret from him as well.

As we continued exchanging words, my distinguished Java sparrow asked a question of the prince. “How fare the nobles mentioned in the letter, Adonis?”

“They’re currently languishing in the palace jail. I tried to visit but was forbidden from meeting them.”

“A merciless man indeed.”

“The imprisoned nobles’ domains have been entrusted to the royal family for the time being. My brother has taken advantage of this to muster troops, and now he is moving toward the border. A great number of people and supplies are being shifted, if I’m to believe the reports.”

This all sounded just like what Peeps and Count Müller had discussed.

The count quickly raised a concern. “Sir, is it true that Count Dietrich was in contact with the Empire?”

“I don’t know what sort of connections the count has in the background,” replied the prince. “But perhaps Lewis felt a more forceful display of authority would be forgiven depending on how well his troops perform. While he would lose everything should he fail, if he succeeds, many such scandals would be swept under the rug permanently.”

“Considering the kingdom’s position of late, I believe you have the right of it, sir. However, I feel as though Prince Lewis’s confidence is misplaced. To be quite frank, the idea of him emerging victorious seems very far-fetched.”

“My brother’s zeal for attacking the Ohgen Empire has always been beyond my understanding.”

“I see…”

The prince’s face as he spoke was filled with sincere, deep-seated unease. Though I’d tried to probe Prince Lewis himself on this very topic during his fortress inspection, he’d told me that the plan was top secret. I could imagine what some of the contributing factors were—the golden dragons that had taken up residence near the border—and the existence of a powerful, friendly magician. But it wasn’t enough to make any concrete assumptions.

Once we’d finished sharing information, the room fell quiet. Then came a sudden knock at the door, drawing all our attention.

We heard a voice from outside call, “Adonis, do you have a moment?”

“…Brother? Is that you?” replied the prince.

“I heard that Count Müller and Baron Sasaki have come to the palace. Is that true? If they’re with you, then as I explained, I’d like to talk with them for a few moments. May I come in?”

I knew that voice, too. It was the very man we’d just been talking about: Prince Lewis. His tone sounded friendlier than before—was it because he was talking to a sibling? I suddenly found myself curious about their relationship beyond the struggle for inheritance.

“……”

Prince Adonis’s gaze shifted to the three of us sitting on the other couch. As we moved to get up to welcome the other prince, he waved for us to stay seated. Just as my slightly lifted rear end fell back down onto the sofa, he called back through the door.

“You may enter at your leisure.”

“Oh? All right, then.”

Keeping us seated as the elder prince entered the room was probably a show of power. Adonis was truly a member of the royal family, dealing with politics every day. I’d never be able to pay attention to every little act, every minor motion like that.

A few moments later, the man we’d expected appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, so they were with you,” he said, looking at us.

I glimpsed a few knights outside, probably his guards. One or two of them practically glared at us. Prince Lewis closed the door behind him, though, blocking their view, before briskly walking over. He was the only one who entered.

“You mentioned you had something to speak with Baron Sasaki about,” remarked Adonis. “What might that be?”

“Oh, nothing much,” Lewis replied. “I just wanted to borrow the fortress the good baron built on the Rectan Plains for a little while. The two of us have already come to an understanding. Would you mind explaining the matter to Adonis, Baron?”

An exchange began between Prince Adonis and Prince Lewis. While the former stayed put on the sofa, the latter remained standing. The fact that we were sitting while a person of higher status stood made me uncomfortable. I started fidgeting. Count Müller seemed to share the sentiment; I made out the slight worry on his face at once.

“You can’t possibly plan to throw them in jail as well,” insisted Adonis. “These two nobles are virtuous—they would grind their bones to dust working for the sake of this kingdom. I know you are aware, as someone who has seen their domains.”

“Yes, I understand. But we can’t simply leave the new Rectan Plains fortress untouched—not if we’re going to invade the Ohgen Empire. If we aren’t careful, the Empire might capture it and put it to use as a frontline base.”

“Still…”

“And above all, Baron Sasaki himself has already agreed to this.”

“I’ve already heard from the baron what transpired between you two.”

“Did you?” Lewis’s attention moved from Adonis to me. He seemed determined to get a rise out of me, typical of the first prince. “Oh, don’t tell me—you won’t grant my request unless I change into something else? In that case, I would be more than happy to pay a visit to your lodgings tonight, once I’ve assumed my previous appearance.” He spoke flirtatiously, looking down at his outfit.

Once again, he seemed possessed of a strange, indescribable charm. His modest shoulder width and slender waistline were both overflowing with androgynous appeal. His gloomy-but-attractive countenance revived my memory of that prior, sordid affair.

“I’m very grateful for your consideration, sir, but rest assured, you needn’t go that far.”

“In that case, I’d like you to lend me your fortress.”

I was curious about what kind of looks we were receiving from the count and the other prince. They seemed utterly bewildered, perhaps because I had skipped over that part of my explanation. If Ms. Futarishizuka were here, she’d definitely be making inappropriate remarks.

“As I told you before,” I began, “I am quite willing to do so for the sake of the kingdom. However, I have invested a significant portion of my own funding into the fortress’s development, so I feel I should ask for a suitable amount to be paid back to me as rent.”

“And you would ask that of royalty, would you?” Lewis replied. “You show such promise, Baron.”

“Well, sir, I also need an excuse to give to those in Lunge with whom I’m conducting business,” I added, making use of my relationship with Mr. Joseph. If Lewis was aware of Count Dietrich’s defection, then he probably also knew that Baron Sasaki was backed by the Kepler Trading Company.

“Oh. Is that so?” said the prince.

“It is indeed, sir.”

“…And what exactly do you want, my good baron?”

The prince had caved quite easily to the request of this backwater baron. How handy it was to have a friend in a distant, wealthy country!

“If you’ll allow me to say, sir, there are two things I would ask for.”

“You’re quite greedy compared to Adonis’s other underlings.”

“The first is the lives of the nobles you’ve recently been detaining, sir. Might you agree to refrain from torturing those in the palace jail—and simply keep them there instead?”

“State your second request.”

The reply came immediately. Should I assume he accepted it? I wondered. I’d made this request to try to keep Count Dietrich safe. I didn’t like the thought of leaving him to rot in jail after getting him so involved in our affairs.

“The second is the safety of the fortress and of Count Müller’s lands, sir. I expect that more than a few soldiers will be visiting Baytrium now that they’ve been deployed. I would like measures to be taken to avoid causing problems there.”

Once I’d stated my second request, Prince Adonis chimed in, speaking up before Lewis had the chance. “I’d like to comment on that request as well. While Baron Sasaki made a promise with you beforehand, he is still on our side. Making use of one of ours should come with an appropriate compromise on your part.”

“All right. I’m listening.”

“In order to ensure the baron’s second condition is met, I would like to dispatch some of my own troops there as well. Please allow me the freedom to act within Count Müller’s and Baron Sasaki’s territories until the situation with the Ohgen Empire has calmed down.”

“Oh, what a magnificent little brother you’ve become, offering to support me from behind like this.”

“Will you accept?” I asked.

“Certainly. You may all do as you like.”

“Thank you very much.”

Apparently, we’d gotten him to agree to the second proposal as well. This should all but eliminate any mistreatment Mr. French might face at the hands of the troops, I thought. And we should be able to maintain public safety in Baytrium, too.

“You’d do well to surround yourself with soldiers you can trust, Adonis.”

“I shall,” said the younger prince.

With this brief exchange, Prince Lewis’s visit to his younger brother’s chambers was over. After accomplishing what he’d come for, he quickly left the room. The door closed behind him again, and we listened as his footsteps disappeared down the hallway.

Once we could no longer hear them, the count spoke. “Sir, I sincerely thank you for showing such consideration toward our lands.”

“I can’t let you two carry the whole burden,” the prince replied. “As my brother suggested, I will take a trusted group of soldiers and head toward Baytrium. With the Lord Starsage on our side, I don’t believe we will have much trouble, but we will need some people to handle any minor disputes.”

“You’ll be going personally, then, sir?” I asked.

“That would set the count most at ease, I think.”

“But wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

“There is only so much I can do from the palace. Should matters take a turn for the worse, someone may need to take command of the soldiers on the ground, regardless of their affiliation. I will not sit by and watch—not when my homeland is at stake.”

“Sir…”

Prince Adonis’s crisp, smart delivery was so cool. As usual, his manner overflowed with a strong sense of justice. I recalled the time he had charged into that village as it was attacked by orcs. It seemed his reasons stemmed from neither vanity nor whim, but from true conviction.

Peeps broke into their conversation to remark, “I can’t help but feel like we’re being made to dance in the palm of his hand.”

“That does scare me a bit,” I replied.

“Lord Starsage, what do you mean?” asked the count.

“No, I cannot say anything for sure at the moment. I apologize for bringing it up.”

“I see…”

The sparrow’s words had drawn my attention, as well. But he was right—there was no point worrying about it right now. Prince Adonis had declared he’d ride out personally, and even if the worst came to pass, I was sure we could rouse the dragons and have them return the two nations to their original stalemate.

After that, we traded some light conversation, then brought our discussion to a close.

(The Neighbor’s POV)

Today is moving day.

I don’t really have any belongings to bring into the new house, and while I could blame that on the explosion at my previous apartment, it would only be an excuse. In fact, it had changed nothing.

Right before the apartment was destroyed, I’d gotten Abaddon to fetch my schoolbag and uniform. The former held my textbooks, notebooks, pens and pencils, and gym clothes. Literally all my possessions now hang from my shoulder as I cross the hard floor of the entranceway, both beginning and ending my move.

Futarishizuka is kind enough to show me through my new home. My neighbor met up with us part of the way through, too. I’m very happy. For a little under an hour, the three of us take a look around the house.

Once we’re finished, they promptly leave. On their way out, Futarishizuka hands me a phone. A brand-new one, by the looks of it, with none of the protective film removed. A few entries are already in the address book, starting with Futarishizuka. The other numbers are things like a taxi service and utility companies; after glancing through it, I can tell how I’m supposed to use them.

A little while after the others have left, I try calling one of the entries in the list with a food-related name, just to test it out and have something delivered. It’s the first time I’ve ever eaten sushi in my life, and it’s softer and thicker than I thought it would be. Most of all, it tastes nutritious.

But I can’t find the most important number in my address book. I look and look, but my neighbor’s contact info is nowhere to be found.

Once I’m done with my sushi, I take another look around the house. The furniture and appliances are already installed, and I can start using them immediately. The bath, for example, heats up with the press of a button. There’s shampoo, soap, and some sort of cream I don’t recognize. All of them smell nice.

There are a lot of bedrooms. I figure the biggest one is the primary bedroom, while the others are for children or guests. All of them are very clean, and the sheets on the beds are smooth without a single wrinkle.

The bathroom is even stocked with sanitary items. I pick up a tampon for the first time ever. It’s larger than I expected. These won’t break the hymen, will they? I learned in health and physical education class that they’re safe, but they seem like they’d scrape off the tissue if I put one in. Since I already decided I’d shed that blood with him present, I decide to stick with pads for the time being.

After touring around the house, I venture outside. Unlike urban residential areas, the villas in this neighborhood are located on plots of land several times bigger than the buildings themselves. The one Abaddon and I were given is no exception. From the front entrance, I can’t even see my neighbors’ houses.

With tall trees all around, I feel like I’m completely isolated somewhere up in the mountains. Getting a little uneasy, I pull up the map on my phone, then check the satellite imagery. I see many mansions like ours dotting the hilly woods.

The garage is covered of course, and it’s big enough to fit several cars with room to spare. Nothing is parked there right now, though. Eventually, I spot a single bicycle in the corner. I guess kids don’t get to use cars.

The wide-open yard even has a tennis court. It seems to me that keeping all this maintained must be an enormous task. Even just cleaning the inside of the house would probably take an entire day. Combined with the sheer amount of nature around, it would surely require more than one gardener to tend the yard in the summer. You could probably spend the entire season doing just that.

And so I spend my first day doing nothing except looking around. For dinner, I order delivery again—there’s not really another way to get food. After all, I don’t have a single yen to my name. At worst, we’ll have to do what Abaddon suggested and go up the mountain to find wild vegetables.

After that, I take a bath and finish my day a little early. I’m in bed before midnight.

Time passes. It’s been a little under an hour, I think.

Abaddon, realizing I’m still awake, asks, “It’s been a while since you got into bed. Guess you can’t sleep, huh?”

“No, and if you’ve figured out that much, I’d appreciate some quiet.”

I open my eyes, which I’d kept closed for so long, and search out the demon in my dark room. I find him sitting on the desk chair, looking at me lying in bed. The moonlight coming in from between the curtains faintly illuminates his handsome features. It’s like looking at a painting.

That irritates me a little.

“I thought you could sleep anywhere. Was I wrong?”

“I wish you wouldn’t make weird judgments about me.”

My current sleeping environment leaves nothing to be desired. The bed is nice and springy, and the pillow has great height and firmness. Plus, the bed is big enough for me to stretch my limbs and still have plenty of room. The air-conditioning is perfect, too, and my throat doesn’t dry out, nor do I feel too hot or cold.

I don’t have to listen to my mom’s television programs. No one’s talking outside, and there’s no roar of traffic. The place must be very well soundproofed; it’s really, really quiet.

It’s so perfect, in fact, that if I can’t sleep here, it seems like I shouldn’t be able to sleep anywhere.

“You know, you didn’t seem to sleep very well at the hotel, either.”

“…So what?”

Abaddon’s comment is right on the mark. I had trouble sleeping at the hotel my neighbor arranged, too. It bothers me that the demon is constantly observing me so closely, but he says it’s a necessary part of protecting his Disciple so I’ll survive the death game.

And besides, I know exactly why I haven’t been getting enough sleep.

“First you went to the primary bedroom, but now you’re lying in the smallest guest room in the house.”

“That one is too big. Sleeping alone in there makes me anxious.”

That’s just an excuse. The size of the room has nothing to do with it. My neighbor—the man I could always sense on the other side of our apartment wall—isn’t here. I could go out into the hallway and into the next room, but he won’t be there.

It’s really eating away at me, physically and mentally. The unease and loneliness wake me back up against my will.

I need him.

That big sigh he’d let out right after getting home. Hearing him take a shower in his bathroom. The sound of him accidentally dropping something on the floor. Without any of those things, I can’t feel him.

It’s like I’ve been cut off from the world, and I’m all alone. If only I had something I could reach out to that would make me feel his presence once again…

“Why not take a short walk around the neighborhood to clear your head?”

“You want to go outside?”

“We didn’t look beyond this lot during the day. It’s vital to have information about your surroundings in the proxy war, and it’s more constructive than tossing and turning in bed, right? Maybe you’ll wear yourself out enough to fall asleep.”

“It’s pitch-black.”

“The moon is out tonight. You’ll be okay once your eyes get used to it.”

“…I guess.”

Before today, I’ve never had the freedom to go out for a walk at night, and so I find myself tempted by Abaddon’s suggestion. I don’t want to make trouble for my neighbor or increase my debt to Futarishizuka, but I’m pretty sure I won’t be reported by a neighbor or bump into any police officers.

“Well, all right. But not for more than an hour. Let’s—”

Just as I’m about to say “Let’s head out,” it happens. The already quiet room suddenly grows even quieter. So quiet I almost think I’ve lost my hearing. I can tell because the previously constant noise from the air conditioner has vanished. I notice when I hear the sound of my blanket rubbing against the bed as I shift.

“Oh. Looks like the game’s already started.”

“I guess we didn’t even need to go for a walk, huh?”

I’m wearing a yukata as pajamas right now—it was set out in the bathroom. I take it off, then grab the clothes I brought in from the primary bedroom closet and put them on. Futarishizuka told me I could wear whatever I found in the mansion. She probably got it specifically for me, considering all the underwear is in my size.

Every piece of clothing looks incredibly expensive, so I pick out a pair of jeans—the least pricey item I can find. I also select a blouse and a hoodie that appear comparatively inexpensive. I throw on a plain down jacket over the outfit, hoping the layers will keep me warm in the cold night.

“You had so many choices, and you chose that?”

“If I’d been dressing up for him, I would have taken more time to decide.”

“Still, there’s something to be said about looking good…”

I never thought Abaddon would comment on my clothes.

But everything about this is new to me. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve received new clothing. Now I have a closet full of outfits, and I have to choose. That’s never happened before, and I never imagined it would. I’ve never even worn a bra. The one I picked out was tight and felt awful, too, so I took it back off after putting it on. I’m stunned to learn that the women of the world wear something so stifling.

“I’ve never had to choose clothes before,” I say. “I think this is inevitable.”

“Hmm? I wonder if you’d say the same thing the night before a date with that man.”

“……”

Abaddon’s remark stings. Honestly, I’d figured my sailor uniform would be fine—I’d be taking it off pretty fast anyway.

At least, that’s what I’d assumed until a little while ago.

As I think about it again, I recall all the women who have started showing up in his general vicinity. Futarishizuka, for starters, with her habit of wearing a kimono, and the makeup woman with her sexy suit. Then there’s that blond who sports clothing from brands so famous even I recognize them…

All of them are glamorous. If we have to duke it out, my school uniform, unwashed for several days, will do me no favors. I need to find out what sort of clothes rouse his nether regions and then wear those all the time.

And now that luxury is well within reach. There are a lot of clothes in that bedroom closet.

“If you feel so strongly, Abaddon, will you help me with that tomorrow?”

“Oh. Looks like I said something I shouldn’t have.”

Whatever the case, I doubt these clothes will pose an issue tonight. My neighbor won’t be around, so I don’t really care what I look like.

(The Neighbor’s POV)

We’re in the middle of a proxy war between angels and demons, and an isolated space—its designated battlefield—has just appeared. In response, Abaddon and I start off from our new home. The moment we exit the mansion’s front entrance, I launch myself up into the night sky. I’m hoping to catch sight of the angel and their Disciple.

But I quickly realize this will be much harder than I’d thought. As I could see from the aerial photo on my phone’s map, we’re quite far out in the mountains. The forests stretching down from Mount Asama cover everything, hiding other homes beneath a canopy of trees. Spotting someone out here, especially at night, will be almost impossible.

“I can’t sense the enemy’s presence at all, by the way.”

“Maybe they already decided to retreat.”

“I had the same thought.”

“If they flee into the mountains, we won’t be able to take care of them.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

“Unless they’re a wild boar or a deer, I would assume they’re coming home from work—or trying to, at least. With that in mind, we could try heading toward the station or a busier street.”

“Yeah! Let’s go with that!” says Abaddon, nodding enthusiastically at my suggestion. He’s probably testing me again. “It’s really important to try to get inside your opponent’s mind.”

“……”

This is a simple, primitive human concept—one that goes beyond just the proxy war. And a demon is giving me advice on it? Okay, so empathy isn’t exactly my forte. I also know that puts me at a disadvantage in the death game. Why does human society have to be so complicated?

As I stew over this, I soar through the air, looking for lights on the ground. Before long, I come to an area with what looks like streetlights along a road. Buildings, probably restaurants and stores, stand on either side of the stone-paved street, which has no center line but is wide enough for a car to pass through. Seems like a shopping district for the people with mansions here.

“This must be the area’s main street.”

“It seems a little empty for that.”

“Well, there are no people right now.”

“No, I mean it seems too small for a tourist spot.”

“If you ask me, your old place was positively overflowing with people.”

“You said the last proxy war happened about a hundred years ago, right?”

“Compared to back then, there are people everywhere you look now.”

“Do demons hate people?”

“Oh, of course not. We love people!”

“……”

I wonder what angels and demons are, really. I’ve asked Abaddon before but never got a convincing answer. He just gave me the runaround, saying that if I did really well in the proxy war, he’d tell me. Asking him again would probably just lower his opinion of me. Instead, I peel my eyes, searching for any angels or Disciples.

We move past the area with streetlights, toward Karuizawa’s train station. I’d already checked its location on my map, so I knew that if we went south, we’d end up there. The Shinkansen apparently runs through this station, alongside a local line. If we go farther south, we’ll reach a highway.

“I don’t see any signs of them.”

“Yeah. Me either.”

As we search around, everything suddenly changes—all the people come back.

I can hear the cars and trains from below again. I may be new to this city, but the sudden appearance of things moving with the passage of time—rather than just the bright lights shining at fixed places—vividly conveys the fact that the isolated space has disappeared.

“Oh, looks like they got away from us. That’s too bad.”

“I guess it was a coincidence after all.”

“Maybe they got cold feet after seeing your acquaintance put up such a fierce fight last time.”

“Should we check with our informants?” I ask, remembering the angel and Disciple we captured the other day. I doubt we’d get much from them, though.

“If we ask them now, the others might learn our new location.”

“Then let’s wait awhile. By the way, we’re sort of floating in the sky for everyone to see.”

“No need to worry! I already concealed us.”

“Thank you.”

My neighbor and Futarishizuka asked me to keep secret everything related to the proxy war and all the strange, fantastic phenomena that come with it. Apparently, their job is to make sure the public never catches on to strange occurrences like these.

For most of the years I knew him, my neighbor’s routine always stayed the same. Recently, however, it has changed significantly. Apparently, his work schedule is a lot more flexible now. Knowing he isn’t simply spending time at some woman’s place brings me great relief.

“Should we go home?”

“I think so.”

We didn’t get anything from this isolated space. But our search gave me a better idea of the neighborhood layout and surrounding terrain than our originally planned walk would have. And it was a good change of pace, too. I think we’ve done enough for now.

We fly back home to the mansion the same way we came. Unlike the ever-lively city, I don’t need to worry about any tall buildings or airplanes around here. The light from the ground is weak as well, making for a very pleasant stroll through the sky.

After that, I go back to the bedroom and change into my pajamas. As I lie down in bed, I fiddle some more with the phone Futarishizuka gave me. I see a notification icon in the corner of the screen, and when I press it, it sends me to a news website with a summary of the day’s notable events. It has a big list of links to articles on topics like international relations, entertainment, and sports.

One of them in particular catches my eye. It’s titled Who and Why? Notification of the Commencement of a Death Game.

Seeing a term that’s recently grown very familiar, my fingertips move on their own, tapping the link to view the article’s contents. Apparently, a strange social media account is making the rounds in the news.

“Futarishizuka mentioned that these flat pieces of metal are essential for surviving in today’s human society. If you don’t mind, could I have a turn with it?”

“……”

When I don’t reply, Abaddon drifts over to me through the air, then peers at the screen from right next to me.

Ignoring him, I tap a link inside the article. A social media app boots up. It’s already logged in to my own account, which I mostly use to keep tabs on my neighbor.

Until now, I used the computers in the school’s tech room for this. Now that Futarishizuka has given me a phone, though, I can constantly check in on him. Unfortunately, he hasn’t posted many updates recently. This makes me sad, as his fan.

“That is one mangled corpse, eh? Looks like they were half eaten by a wild animal,” says Abaddon, looking at the app on the phone.

The screen shows a photograph of something I’ve seen before: the body of the dead Disciple I ran across on my way to school before meeting Abaddon. His stomach is sliced wide open, and his ribs are protruding out of his body. There are no organs to be seen inside.

The account in question has posted several things in a row. Each of them has a photograph attached, and all of them depict someone’s outlandish end. The picture I opened was one of those. The others are unfamiliar to me.

A lot of people are slamming the account in the comments for posting such gruesome content. One of them doubts the photos’ veracity, suggesting they were made with computer graphics.

All the posts have the same external link in them. Tapping on it switches back to the browser and displays a website.

The first thing I see is the title at the top—Notification of the Commencement of a Death Game. The exact same as the article posted on the news site. Several grotesque images are displayed, all unedited, just like the social media profile. The provocative term death game, and the site’s setup, like a teaser for some kind of event, has garnered the public’s attention. The creepy, over-the-top design looks just like a promotional site for a horror movie. Even someone like me can tell it probably cost a lot of money.

I scan the page but don’t find an email address to contact.

“Hey, this is one of those ‘website’ things, right? I know what those are!”

“Yes, Mister Smart Demon. And would you happen to know what its creator is trying to do?”

“People do this stuff because they stand to gain something from it, right?”

“You mean like someone who wants to end the game quickly?”

“Assuming it’s not some show-off, that sounds pretty possible. They could also be trying to scare the other participants or let the world know about the existence of angels and demons. There are a lot of possibilities.”

“……”

From the time stamps on the social media posts, I can tell that the website just hit the news this afternoon. Due to the extreme imagery, I figure their account will be removed soon. Did the news pick it up because it was being talked about? Or is it being talked about because the news picked it up? I’m filled with suspicion, now that my knowledge of the world has grown after meeting Futarishizuka.

“This proxy war may wrap up sooner than we expected.”

By “we,” Abaddon probably means the other demons and angels. He mentioned the previous game lasted for most of the twentieth century. Information technology is far more advanced than it was back then, and people travel and connect much, much more often. The environment Disciples are now living and dying in is sure to be even more relentless.

I put the website’s title into a search engine. A major anonymous forum has a thread going about it, with people doing their own investigations and sharing opinions. All of them are off the mark for now, but there’s no telling how that might change.

“I’ll ask Futarishizuka tomorrow,” I decide. “She might know something.”

“I think that would be better than trying to puzzle it out on our own.”

“I agree.”

Leaving my phone on the nightstand, I bury myself under the blanket.

Once our discussion with Prince Adonis in his private chambers was finished, we used Peeps’s teleportation spell to return to the town of Baytrium. Count Müller accompanied us on the return journey as well, while the prince stayed behind, saying he needed to ready his troops.

And so we found ourselves back at the count’s mansion, once again discussing matters in the reception room.

“I’d like to prepare the town for the arrival of Prince Lewis’s soldiers,” said the count, addressing both of us. “It is a selfish request, but would you allow me some time to do so?”

“I understand. The situation has developed very quickly, and there is a lot to do. Should you need anything, please don’t hesitate to rely on us.”

“Oh…! I’m so grateful to hear that.”

Count Müller seemed overjoyed at Peeps’s thoughtful words. He definitely won’t take him up on it, though, I thought. He’s probably just happy Peeps said something nice to him. I bet that’s why Peeps is always helping the count without telling him. Personally, I was pretty envious of their relationship.

“Do you two intend to stay in town for a while?” he asked.

“Actually, I have something in mind I’d like to do.”

Hmm? I thought. That’s the first I’m hearing of any plans. I’d assumed we’d be relaxing in our usual lodgings. “Peep—er, Lord Starsage, are we going out somewhere?”

“You needn’t constantly correct yourself,” said Peeps, shooting me a sharp look from his perch on the little tree atop the low table. “Just call me Peeps.”

“Yeah, but we’re in front of Count Müller and everything, so…”

“It feels strange having you refer to me so respectfully.”

“…All right, Peeps.”

In this world, the little sparrow was once revered as the Lord Starsage. While he put on a show of modesty, the truth was that he was rather happy about it. In the course of our time together, I’d become privy to a few such secrets, and he was probably hesitant to put on airs around me. If I’d been in his position, I’d probably have told him the same thing.

“This is merely a suggestion, but perhaps we should pay the Ohgen Empire a visit.”

“What?” I said. “Why? Do you want to pick a fight with them?”

“No, I wouldn’t go that far. It would just be a stroll through town to get a look at the place, really.”

“So then, you want to go sightseeing?”

“You may think of it that way if you wish. I would like to bring you along, if you agree.”

“Me? Why?”

“Actually, you would be the crux of this trip. Depending on how matters progress, our nations could wind up in a large-scale war. Your world has a saying—Know thy enemy and know thyself, and you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. I want to learn more about this potential enemy.”

“I see.”

He even used the internet to read up on Sun Tzu? He’s like a super strategist now. I was beyond thankful for how much thought he was putting into things.

I’d actually been curious about the Ohgen Empire’s culture, too. With the Starsage by my side, I probably didn’t have to worry too much about taking a look around. Of particular interest to me was their local cuisine.

An envious expression flashed across the count’s face, just for a moment. He probably wishes he, too, could go on a trip with his beloved Starsage.

“But are you sure we’ll be okay?”

“They don’t know your face. You could walk around as you are, and they would be none the wiser. But considering the possibilities, you may want to hide your face and skin color. I wanted to discuss that with you as well.”

“In that case, I’d be happy to go with you.”

“Thank you. I know this was a sudden proposition.”

“No, not at all. I’m grateful you’re thinking so far ahead.”

“In that case,” said the count, “should anything occur in Herz while you’re away, I’ll contact Mr. French and the Marc Trading Company. If I happen to be absent, please go to one of them.”

“Understood, my lord,” I said. “Thank you for going to the trouble.”

And with that, our plans to visit the Ohgen Empire were settled. The otherworld was busy in more ways than one, but we couldn’t forget our true goal as the days went by: our precious life of leisure. We must treasure our moments of luxury, eating delicious food and sleeping in a nice, soft bed every night.

After saying good-bye to Count Müller, we returned to our lodgings in Baytrium. The two of us were the only ones in the suite. I sat on one of the two sofas, facing my pet sparrow as he hovered in the air. The plan was to do something about my appearance, quite distinctive here in the otherworld, so that others wouldn’t perceive it. Peeps was now instructing me on the details.

“Magic that can change your appearance?” I asked.

“Indeed.”

His explanation essentially boiled down to shapeshifting magic. It could change your skin and hair color, as well as mess with your height and facial features. When done well, you could become a totally different person. It was every bit as awe-inspiring an otherworldly fantasy as the going-to-work spell or the laser beam spell.

“What difficulty level would this fall into? You know, the ones you taught me about. I think they went from beginner to intermediate to advanced to the really amazing stuff beyond that, right?”

“I believe it would be correct to identify this as part of the ‘amazing stuff beyond that’ category.”

“Huh. I thought so.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, I mean, it’s incredible, isn’t it? You can turn into someone else.”

“It’s not as flashy as large-scale attack magic, but it is as you say. Depending on how one uses it, one may exert great influence upon the world. It would be a simple task to switch places with an authority figure and manipulate people, for example.”

“Wait, has that actually happened?”

“I’ve read several historical documents detailing such occurrences.”

“It would be awful if someone misused it.”

“Still, as you’ve just pointed out, the spell is very advanced and cannot be learned so easily. In my opinion, it would be even more difficult for you to master than the teleportation magic you so long for.”

“It’s even harder than that? I can’t begin to imagine.”

“One could even grow a tail or scales—or masquerade as another creature entirely. The spell’s difficulty varies based on what form you wish to take. In my subjective opinion, it seems the further one strays from their original form, the more difficult it is to accomplish.”

“It sounds really versatile. Almost scarily so.”

“Regarding its origins, it is said that this spell was created by higher species of dragon and demonfolk so that they could interact with humans. In that sense, the ability to disguise oneself as another creature could be taken as the spell’s true essence.”

“I see.”

I was fascinated. What a uniquely otherworldly backstory, I thought. Here, there were plenty of highly intelligent races other than humans. And since those other races’ life spans and physical abilities surpassed those of humans, civilization, especially when it came to magic, wasn’t necessarily driven by human development. There were probably all sorts of spells out there that even the Starsage was unaware of.

“This spell is also thought to have major effects on the caster.”

“Well, outward appearance is everything in the end.”

“Exactly.”

Using this spell to change yourself into an attractive person could single-handedly lower life’s difficulty level. Considering the culture on Earth, where the word romance came up even in economics, some people might consider such magic more precious than the going-to-work spell.

And when those around you started treating you differently, it changed you. The same thing happened when you advanced from elementary to middle school or moved up in the workplace. Even small changes in position like those could easily transform a person’s words and actions. I assumed those were the kind of “effects” the bird was referring to.

And now that I knew of such a spell’s existence, I couldn’t help but worry. “That sounds pretty intense. Are you sure you should show it to me?”

“I like to think I have a good eye for people.”

“Hearing that from you scares me even more.”

“I could even teach you the incantation if you’d like.”

“I’m grateful for the offer, but I’d like to shelve that for now. I want to keep working on the going-to-work spell for the moment. And I wouldn’t want to jot it down somewhere and then lose it for some villain to find.”

Since this was a dangerous, higher-than-advanced spell, Peeps couldn’t use it by himself. It would put too much of a strain on his little sparrow body. I, on the other hand, would be able to use it without his assistance.

I wanted to refrain as much as possible from learning any spells that were too powerful for my master to use himself. Considering what I knew of the sparrow, I felt like I shouldn’t learn them—especially the spell to cross between worlds. For starters, they were all super dangerous.

“I expected you to say that, and you did.”

“How many people in this world can use it?”

“In terms of humans, almost none. A person has to be taught by a greater dragon or the demonfolk just to learn the incantation. That in itself is quite demanding. And there are many barriers to using it, even beyond sufficient mana and mental image control.”

“In that case, I feel even more strongly about my decision.”

As we spoke, something suddenly occurred to me. When we got back to modern Japan, I would print out the incantations I’d saved to my computer and delete the files. I couldn’t risk a virus leaking all the data on my drive. It might even lead to someone attacking us. In fact, such an attack could have already happened without my knowledge. My boss at work, for example, seemed very good at that sort of thing.

With that in mind, I was convinced our new home would need to have good security. Recently, I’d gotten to know people in the SDF and even people from other countries. I had a sneaking suspicion that the attack on my neighbor’s apartment wasn’t wholly about her.

“In any case, I wanted to request your assistance when using the spell.”

“You don’t even need to ask, Peeps.”

After seeing me nod, the bird landed on my shoulder. I heard a stream of murmured words from beside my ear. A moment later, a magic circle appeared at my feet with a vwrrr.

“Any requests?”

“As normal as you can. I don’t want to stand out.”

“Very well.”

It was like asking for a certain haircut at the barber. While I kind of wanted to experience what it was like to be attractive, our mission was to sightsee in the Ohgen Empire. The most important thing was having average, forgettable features.

Though I’d like thick, abundant hair, I thought. Enough to put product in.

I swallowed that request back down, however, and a moment later, my body appeared to radiate light.

“Peeps, uh, I’m getting a little worried,” I stammered.

“It will be fine. You’ll be able to handle this.”

“Huh? What is that supposed to—?”

I felt something warm spread from my core to my extremities. It felt like something was clinging onto the surface of my skin, but I couldn’t check more closely because the light got stronger, blocking my view. I couldn’t look directly at myself.

After a few moments, there was an even brighter burst of light. I shut my eyes. At this point, I just wanted Peeps to get it over with—whatever he was doing. It reminded me of letting a doctor probe your stomach with a camera at the hospital. Giving up your dignity as a human, you just lay on the operating table, feeling like a fish on a cutting board.

How long did I spend like that? To me, it felt like ages, but it probably wasn’t that long, really. As I sensed the light fade through my closed eyelids, I heard a voice from my shoulder.

“What do you think about this? Check yourself in the mirror.”

“Oh. Uh, right.”

Now that Peeps was finished with his work, I opened my eyes. The room itself was no different. Actually, that wasn’t strictly true—everything looked a little bit lower than before. Following the sparrow’s instructions, I went to the tall mirror in the corner of the living room and placed myself in front of it.

“……”

The first thing I felt when I gazed upon my reflection was surprise.

It really was someone else standing there. In fact, I felt myself go stiff, like a dog or cat seeing themselves in the mirror for the first time. As I moved my arms and legs, so did the person in the mirror.

As Peeps had promised, I now looked exactly like a denizen of this world. My skin was white and my features more pronounced. My hair and eye color had changed from black to light brown. I seemed to be a little taller, too. The shape of my body appeared to be basically the same as before, but I felt like my belt hung a little more loosely.

Everything above the neck was, from my point of view, pretty attractive. But living in Baytrium had taught me that people commonly had faces like these, so I figured I was only suitably attractive rather than very attractive.

What interested me more was my hair. There was a lot more of it now, though it was about the same length. I brushed my bangs up with my hand. There was a weight to them. The hairs on my head now felt so much more reliable—dependable, even.

“As you can see, I kept you a man. However, I made you look a little younger so that people are more willing to overlook breaches of etiquette. I chose a hair and eye color common in the Empire, as well. Tell me if any of it bothers you.”

“This all feels very, very strange.”

As Peeps had said, I now looked around twenty, basically college age. Younger than Count Müller but older than Prince Adonis. With my body now different, I could feel a change in how well my suit fit. But Peeps appeared to have taken that into consideration, too. I should still be able to wear it without issue. And my feet were the same size, so no problem there.

“If there’s anything you want me to adjust, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“No, no! This is amazing. It’s more than enough.”

Nobody would ever link me to Herz’s Baron Sasaki like this. I’d be able to waltz into the Ohgen Empire with impunity.

Witnessing the transformation spell in real life, however, raised a question in my mind.

“Peeps, couldn’t you use this spell to become human again?”

“While my appearance might be human, my true identity would still be that of a bird. The change is but temporary. It also consumes mana to use the spell and maintain it. One needs to constantly supply the spell with mana while transformed.”

“Will I revert to normal if I move too far away from you?”

“You should be able to spend a little under an hour apart from me without issue. More than that, however, and there’s no telling when you’ll revert. If such a separation is likely, it would be best not to use the spell at all.”

“Oh.”

I was with the sparrow at all times whenever I was in the otherworld, so that restriction wasn’t too concerning. As long as things went normally, I doubted the spell would ever end unexpectedly. That said, it’d all be over if I was arrested under false charges and thrown in prison like Mr. Marc, or something like that. In modern times, where we often split up, frequent usage probably wasn’t in the cards.

“Also, the target of the spell is sometimes physically unable to handle the effects, and their body breaks down.”

“Wait, what?”

“By receiving my mana, you have become an elite human, so I doubt you’ll have any problems.”

“Uh… Oh. You know, I kind of feel like I could have just worn a hood or something. Though it’s a little late for that now.”

To me, magic like this that affected the body still felt a bit like some old-timey herbal concoction the elderly woman down the street might make from boiling plants—the kind you worried might harm more than help. But since the caster was the mighty Starsage himself, I had faith nothing would go wrong.

“Other than the physical and magical limitations, I believe it worthwhile to remain as a sparrow considering the nature of our relationship. Still, if you would insist I should take on human form, I will gladly reconsider.”

“Oh, well. In that case, I’d like to respect your decision, Peeps.”

He was right. When I thought back on everything that had transpired since meeting him, I’d probably get weirded out if my pet bird suddenly became human. In his previous life, he was seriously attractive. If I had to live with him in that state, it would definitely wear me out. I was sure of it. It seemed to me that Peeps treasured our current relationship in the same way I did, and that was the reason for his hesitance.

Besides, with Mr. Akutsu’s eyes on me, having this otherworld visitor in the guise of a small bird was extremely convenient for us. It’d be a mess if he were to suddenly and unexpectedly revert to his bird form in front of a third party.

And since this spell was beyond the advanced level, he would need me around to cast and maintain it.

“And besides,” I added. “I don’t really think we want this world knowing the Starsage is still alive.”

“Indeed. I’d prefer to refrain as much as possible from assuming my prior form here.”

Peeps appeared to understand that point as well. Still, sightseeing in the Empire with him in bird form seemed likely to cause problems. I doubted that many people walked around with a bird on their shoulder all the time—although I had seen one or two even in Baytrium with animals that must have been pets.

“But I still have reservations about you staying like that during the trip.”

“Yes, I suppose I should falsify my appearance as well.”

“If you stick to flying around the general vicinity, it should be okay. But if I go around with you on my shoulder, it’ll draw a lot of attention, even if I look like a completely different person.”

“Indeed. Then I shall take on a different form.”

“Oh, I actually had an idea for you…”

This was the chance of a lifetime. I was not going to pass it up.

Ever since he’d mentioned transformation magic existed, I’d had my sights set on one thing in particular. I was conflicted about using him to fulfill my own desires, but if he didn’t care one way or the other, then I felt better about making the suggestion.

He agreed without even appearing to think about it. Light radiated from his body, just as it had with mine.

Immediately, I felt a heavy weight on my shoulder. As my knees buckled and gave out, the source of the light smoothly descended to the floor. I felt something brush against the hem of my pants, and my excitement soared.

Finally, from out of the brilliant white light appeared a grand, majestic dog. It was big and beautiful and had golden fur.

This is the best.

“What do you think?” he asked, craning his neck to look back at the rest of his body. Apparently, he could still speak normally, just like when he was a sparrow.

I found my eyes drawn to his tail, which wagged as he spoke. We’d looked at pictures and watched videos online once before, so he’d probably based his design on those.

“Peeps, that’s amazing. The Starsage never fails to impress.”

“…Is that so?”

I wanted to kneel down and hug him so badly. He was still the Starsage on the inside, though. If I did that, it would be beyond uncomfortable. Maybe I rushed things a bit, I thought. This is so tantalizing.

“You look just like a real golden retriever!”

“I am aware of your particular love for this type of creature.”

Oh, crap, I thought. He knows. I must have been staring at him too much. I’d have to be careful about that. “Sorry, Peeps. I know this was a strange request.”

“Not at all. I have no issue with you choosing my form. If we are to eat and sleep under the same roof, it will be easier for us both if I do so in a form that suits your liking. After all, I chose which form you would take as well.”

“Thank you, Peeps.”

We briefly discussed our sudden changes of appearance and decided there were no issues to address. When he needed to use me as a medium to cast magic, like with the world-crossing spell, he’d probably touch his front paw to my leg like he did a few moments ago, or I’d put my hand on his back.

“If you feel there are no problems, we should head directly for the Ohgen Empire.”

“You know where we’re going already?”

“I thought we would first visit a domain next to the border with Herz. It lies adjacent to your territory in the Rectan Plains, and I expect many of the soldiers in the previous attack passed through there.”

“That sounds perfect, Peeps.”

I’d been curious about what it was like over the border for some time now. And our destination was also a vital military position previously used by over ten thousand soldiers. Since Prince Lewis had decided to go on the offensive, that would likely be his first target.

“What’s the place called?” I asked.

“The town is named Erbrechen.”

With my questions for the distinguished sparrow—or rather, the stately dog—finished, we finally set out to do some sightseeing in the neighboring country.

Using Peeps’s teleportation spell, we jumped straight from our lodgings in Baytrium into Empire territory in the blink of an eye. We reappeared in a field by a road near the town of Erbrechen. Walking the rest of the way on foot, we entered the settlement via the proper procedures, paying the per-person tax and entering under a false name. Just as I had done to explain the sparrow, I told them the dog was my familiar and was able to pass right through the gate without any questions. Now I could pretend to be a traveler and take in the sights.

I’d also changed clothes back in Baytrium to something a local would more commonly wear. To pay the fee, I simply used the gold coins I’d received in the Republic of Lunge during our business dealings. After getting inside, I exchanged them for Ohgen Empire currency. It went smoothly, since the Republic was in the Empire’s good books.

“This is a nice town, huh, Peeps?”

“……”

As soon as we were in, we stopped in a big open space—the town square, probably—and looked around. An endless stream of people and carriages were coming and going nearby. The ground beneath our feet was paved with cobblestones, cut precisely to fill in even the smallest gaps. The buildings facing the road were made of stone, too, all of them sturdy looking. I saw quite a few tall structures—four stories or higher. The place must have been fairly wealthy.

Walls surrounded the whole town, but people lived outside of them, too. As far as I could tell from a quick check as we entered, they used the surrounding area for vegetable gardens and orchards, with a veritable rainbow of plants growing in them. They also seemed to be actively trading with nearby villages, as I could see roads extending from the town in four directions.

“This place is a lot bigger than Baytrium, huh?”

“Woof!”

“Huh…?”

“…Dogs cannot talk.”

“Oh. Right.”

Peeps’s unexpectedly doglike behavior surprised me. As a sparrow, he could whisper into my ear in secret. He must have decided it wasn’t possible to do the same as a dog and replied in a way he deemed suitable. A moment later, he’d whispered an explanation to me, confirming my suspicions.

We left the square and made our way to a narrow lane between two rows of buildings. After making sure nobody was around, I squatted down next to him, and we had a little strategy meeting as I pretended to be a dog owner merely checking on his pet dog.

“In any case,” I said, “we should probably set up a base of operations.”

“There is an inn near the center of town used primarily by nobles and wealthy merchants. That would be a good place to secure a room. However, it has been some time since I’ve been here, so I’m not familiar with each and every shop. It may be interesting to walk around and observe a bit.”

“That’s a wonderful suggestion, Peeps.” This was exactly the kind of relaxing activity we were after.

With the stately dog leading the way, we walked to the center of Erbrechen. This area seemed even wealthier than the outskirts. It looked like a lot of people from the upper classes, mostly nobles, had homes here. Their dwellings dotted the street, giving the place the air of a high-class residential neighborhood.

The two of us took a short walk around, enjoying the sights. I felt slightly guilty thinking this, but the way Peeps’s tail swung left and right as he walked a step or so ahead of me was simply the best. And the way his little paws lightly tapped along the stones—if I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn I was dreaming. He looked beautiful, with his lustrous fur blowing softly in the breeze, every bit as dignified as his surroundings.

I continued like that for a little while, enjoying the artistic collaboration of dog and townscape, until eventually we came to an inn. It was magnificent, even compared to the other buildings in the area, with a pretentious gate in front. Peeps’s explanation seemed to be on the mark; it looked like the kind of place rich merchants or members of the aristocracy would patronize.

When we approached, they treated me as a servant, and when I told them I wanted to borrow a room for myself, they naturally made a sour face and said no—even after I promised to pay for several days in advance. Only when I mentioned running a trading company in the Republic of Lunge did they give me leave to stay, though they insisted that if there were any problems on the premises, the inn would not be liable.

After hearing all that, I thought maybe we’d slipped up a little. Such things weren’t a big deal in the town of Baytrium, but maybe the gap between commoners and the nobility was more pronounced here. The town was physically big and hosted a large population of upper-class individuals, so quarrels with commoners were likely a frequent occurrence.

My stately dog offered the following advice: “Should that happen, resolve it with money. We have more than enough.”

Every once in a while, I caught a glimpse of the Lord Starsage’s more daring side, giving me a sense of his true dignity. Though I’d exchanged a good lump of money for Imperial currency, I’d kept a number of Lungian gold coins with me. Even subtracting my investments in the land development project and payments to Ms. Futarishizuka, we were only accumulating more money by the day. Still, this was a very different kind of spending than I was used to.

“Now that we have such a posh room, I’m very glad you made this suggestion.”

“Then you’ve no need to be hesitant. I believe I quite like this place as well.”

The suite we’d been brought to really was luxurious—even more so than our inn of choice in Baytrium. Though the layout and floor space were about the same, the interior decorations and furniture were extremely intricate in design. Even the wooden chair frames were carved like sophisticated works of art. The tiny chiseled details didn’t have a speck of dust in them, and the chairs themselves were so shiny they practically glowed. I could tell from a glance that maintaining it all must have been incredibly difficult.

They hadn’t made a fuss about me bringing my familiar in, though I got the impression that if he broke anything or made a mess, I’d have to pay them a hefty fee.

“If the room is like this, just imagine what dinner will be like.”

“What will you do while eating? Turn into a person?”

“This form will do just fine. We don’t know who could be watching.”

“If that’s how you feel, then I have no objections.”

And if he wolfed down his dinner in dog mode, and I had to wipe off his mouth with a napkin… Oh, wouldn’t that be wonderful, I thought rudely, despite knowing he was a person on the inside. I was also looking forward to seeing him as a dog, sitting in a chair to eat.

Perhaps because I’d never seen him in human form, I always thought of Peeps as a bird first and foremost. I even got the feeling I could see his silvery sparrow form behind the golden retriever now and again.

“I’ll go ask them to bring our food to us here,” I offered.

“I apologize for causing so many issues.”

“No need. I’m the one who asked you to take that form.”

Leaving Peeps in the living room, I walked down the shared hallway. Descending from our third-story suite to the first floor, I headed back to the front desk where we’d checked in. Thankfully, the same person was behind the counter, so I asked them about our food.

Typical of such a posh establishment, they were very flexible when it came to eating arrangements. We’d be able to have meals in our room, just like I’d suggested to Peeps. They told me they’d contact me once the kitchen was ready.

A little while later, as I was heading back through the third-floor hallway, I heard people arguing. As I rounded the corner, I saw who it was.

One of them was a man in luxurious clothing, likely a noble. He appeared to be in his midforties and had scary features. He stood a whole fist taller than my current form. Right now, his face was twisted into a scowl as he shouted at the person standing across from him.

That person was a woman wearing a simple robe. She had gorgeous blond hair through which I could see a sharply pointed ear. She was about my height—tall for a woman—and the rest of her body gave off a very feminine charm.

“You’re nothing but a commoner. And yet you dare refuse an invitation from a noble?! You were the one who bumped into me. The situation clearly calls for an act of good faith, does it not? Or do you want me to scold you for your rudeness in a more public place?”

“As I said, I do apologize, sir.”

“You think you’re getting off that easily? Well, think again.”

The two of them were fighting right in the middle of the hallway, and our suite was a little farther beyond. They were really at each other’s throats, making their presence known, and so to my regret, any attempt to simply ignore them and go past would be blatant.

Without much of a choice, I stopped walking. Their words continued to pelt my ears.

“Might I confirm this with my superior?” asked the woman. “He’s just in that room.”

“Any master of a servant dressed like you is far below my status, noble or not. If he came out here, it would only be to bow in reverence to me. Do you really wish to force such an unsightly deed upon your master?”

“No, that was not in any way my intention, sir.”

“Then why not settle down and come to my room? I’ll give you world-class treatment.”

Apparently, this man was really determined to get with this woman. Just like Herz, the division between nobles and commoners seemed absolute in Ohgen. And considering my current position as a commoner, passing right in front of the noble to get to my room would only be pouring more fuel on the fire.

But I wasn’t sure when this would be over, and I didn’t really want to wait. What are my options? I recalled the Starsage’s words. Unfortunately, it looked like the opportunity to act on them had come already.

Interposing myself between the two of them, I said, “Please excuse my rudeness, my lord. Might you have a moment?”

“What? Who are you?” replied the man with a glare.

I returned it with a smile, then continued—though with my facial structure now changed, I wasn’t sure if I was smiling properly. “My name is Hans Schmidt, sir. I run a trading company in the Republic of Lunge.”

“Hans Schmidt? Never heard of you. What’s a foreign merchant like you doing here?”

The name I’d just given him was a fake one Peeps had come up with for my new form. I’d used the same name to check in here. Though it was easy to forget about my disguise, seeing the color of the skin on my hands as I raised them to talk reminded me of the transformation spell. Have to make absolutely sure I never say the name Sasaki.

“I’m in town sightseeing, sir, and just arrived at this inn earlier today. My plan is to enjoy the area starting tomorrow, so naturally, I’d like these lodgings to remain a comfortable, easy place to stay in.”

“Make your point.”

“If I may, sir, you appear to be much grander than even those of note in my own nation. I am certain you must come from a well-known family. And although I’m here on pleasure, I believe building relationships with those such as yourself would be very valuable.”

I took a few Lungian gold coins out of my pocket, then took the man’s hand and pressed them into it. I’d put these aside for just such an occasion in response to Peeps’s advice. Didn’t think I’d be counting on them right away, though.

“I’d heard the rumors,” said the man, “but it seems Republic merchants truly do live only for their profits.”

“Oh, not at all, sir. I personally don’t have much yet to my name.”

“That wasn’t a compliment. Any merchant of this nation worth his salt would agree that the price you wish to pay for this elf is far too cheap.”

Never mind, I thought. It didn’t help. He’s not a noble for nothing. I doubt a few gold coins will be able to placate him.

I figured the reason was the elfin beauty who had caught his attention. Everything about her was perfect, from the shape of her body to the features on her face; anyone would have turned to look if they’d noticed her out in town. I could sense how enthusiastic the man was about bringing her back with him—by fair means or foul.

“If I were in your place,” the man continued, “I’d offer at least three hundred gold coins.”

I wanted to say “I’m sorry, let’s just call the whole thing off” and flee back into my room. Three hundred? That seems a little steep. Yeah, he definitely has some intentions toward this elf.

“What say you, Republic merchant?”

At this point, maybe it was better to push the limit and loyally adhere to the advice Peeps had given me. It wouldn’t technically be wasted money, since I’d be buying my position at this inn. The man would be staying here for the time being as well, so it seemed important to create a temporary power balance with him.

And so the war of the wallets began.

“In that case, sir, please look at this,” I said, taking out the Lungian large gold coins I’d brought separately from the regular ones in case I needed to make a large purchase in town. According to Peeps, just like Herzian currency, a Lungian large gold coin equated to one hundred regular gold coins. And now I was holding four of them out to the man.

“Oh?” said the man, clearly interested.

Peeps, what do I do? I pleaded in my mind. I’m wasting all our money. I didn’t want to use it for something like this.

If things continued, I was going to suffer a huge and unnecessary loss. Compared to the profits from my dealings with the Kepler Trading Company, however, it was almost trivial. In fact, if some pickpocket had swiped the coins from me on the street, I wouldn’t have even been bothered.

But I’d never spent money like this before in my life. It made my stomach hurt.

Unexpectedly, the man wasted no time in responding. “Well, then I would offer five hundred.”

What? Why?! The man took five big gold coins out of his pocket and held them out to me. I’d never seen coins like these before, but based on the situation, they were probably Ohgen large gold coins. No, they had to be. Why was he offering them to me? Shouldn’t he be giving them to the girl he wanted to take home with him?

I couldn’t back down now. We were practically auctioning off the elf woman at this point. If I withdrew, she would end up having to go with the man.

Desperate times called for desperate measures. I brought out ten large gold coins—everything I had with me. If I wanted any more, I’d have to ask for Peeps’s help and either go back to Baytrium or to Ms. Futarishizuka’s warehouse. Praying this was enough to make him cave, I feigned calmness and said, “Then I will add another five hundred to your offer, sir. One thousand Lungian gold coins. How does that sound?”

“I…,” the man began, before closing his mouth again.

There was silence for a few moments. The elf in question watched to see where this would go, not saying anything.

Eventually, the man spoke again. “I realize now that your feelings for the elf are no sham.”

His stern expression suddenly relaxed, and he lowered his arm. I was curious as to the nature of this realization of his.

“To think I’d wind up chatting about elves in a place like this.”

“What…?”

Chatting? I thought. I was very grateful that he seemed willing to resolve the matter calmly and intelligently. But his reaction and words were a lot milder than I’d expected. The way he looked at me now was nothing like a moment ago, when he’d been more than willing to fight. Even the wrinkles on his forehead had disappeared.

“You seem to be quite the philanderer. I can sense your feelings toward elves.”

“……”

It bothered me to be treated like some kind of skirt chaser right in front of the elf woman. I couldn’t think of a good response.

In the meantime, one of the doors along the hallway opened; it was only a few steps farther down.

“What’s all this noise about?”

Out of the suite appeared a man who looked to be in his midthirties. He was about a head taller than me and looked very strong. He wore a uniform, tightly fitted, and you could make out his rippling muscles beneath it. His slicked-back blond hair and blond mustache looked really suave. He had a lot of medals hanging from his shoulders and chest, too. He reminded me of Mr. Yoshikawa from the SDF. I wondered if he was an important military figure in the Ohgen Empire.

A moment later, the noble confirmed my suspicions. “General Troy!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“Hmm? Oh, if it isn’t Margrave Bertrand,” replied the general, looking surprised. “Good day, my lord.”

“How long has it been, man? I can barely even remember.”

It seemed like the two of them knew each other. And considering how quickly the newcomer had straightened his back, the man hassling the elf really did appear to be in a higher position than him.

I was surprised, too, to hear he was a margrave. I’d picked a fight with someone much stronger than I’d expected.

Though I was in a luxurious hotel in an upper-class neighborhood, I was a little confused as to why people like this were walking around alone. Even Count Müller always took his knights with him when he left his mansion.

The elf’s eyes were wide; she seemed similarly surprised. It appeared she hadn’t realized who she was arguing with.

“I’ll be staying here in town for a while on work, sir,” explained Troy.

“Really? That’s the first I’ve heard about it,” replied Bertrand. “What’s a national hero like yourself doing out here on the border, then?”

“Unfortunately, sir, that information is classified by the military. I deeply apologize for my late greeting, Margrave. May I pay a visit to your main residence in the coming days?”

“No, I wouldn’t want to take any time out of your busy schedule. Instead, I’d like you to press forward with the task you’ve been given.”

“…Thank you, sir.”

From their conversation, I gleaned that Margrave Bertrand was the noble presiding over this region. That also made him my neighbor just across the border. I was curious, too, about the awe-inspiring title he’d given to the general—national hero. I’d have to ask Peeps about it later.

As I mulled this over, they ignored me—an outsider—and continued their conversation.

“By the way, Margrave, this woman is my aide,” continued Troy. “Thus, any mistake she has made is my own mistake. It seems she bumped into you in the hallway. Allow me to express my utmost apologies.”

“Oh, so this elf is a retainer of yours?”

Both men’s attention shifted to the elf, who continued to wordlessly watch them speak.

“I say this to protect her honor, sir,” began the general. “But her position is not what you might believe. I think very highly of her magical abilities. Would you be willing to let this matter slide?”

“You’ve always been too serious. Would it kill you to have a little fun in life?”

“It’s all part of gaining the citizenry’s support, sir.”

Apparently, General Troy had overheard most of what had been going on outside his door. I assumed that he’d lost his first chance to come out and interrupt when I intervened. But it seemed he hadn’t realized who exactly had been arguing with the elf.

“In any case,” said the margrave, “I’d rather not have a repeat of that tragedy.”

“I fully understand your concerns, Margrave. The quarrel between two great war criminals at the time placed us in a very uncomfortable position. I’ve also heard of the large dragons nesting near the border, so for the time being, we will be proceeding with utmost caution.”

The “tragedy” he spoke of was probably the time Peeps completely obliterated the Imperial army with that spell. All those soldiers, gone in an instant—it was still fresh in my own memory as well. And it seemed like they already knew about the dragons living in the resulting hole.

“I certainly hope so,” Bertrand said.

“I beg your understanding, sir.”

“Someone who lives this far out doesn’t have much of a choice but to understand.”

“Not at all, sir. Your presence as overseer of these vast lands is like a central pillar supporting the entire Empire. Without the abundant crops grown here, the central regions would starve.”

“I wonder if I’d get better treatment if I let that happen.”

“You jest, sir.”

I sensed humor creeping into their conversation—as well as a note of tension between border areas and the central regions. This was a glimpse into the power structures of the Empire. If Prince Lewis invaded, which force would he end up meeting first?

I came here to sightsee, I thought. Not to think about politics.

“Well, fine then,” said the margrave. “Seeing you has spoiled my fun anyway.”

“I’m terribly sorry for that, sir.”

But their conversation didn’t last much longer; Margrave Bertrand soon turned his back to the general.

Then his eyes darted over to me. “Do as you wish with that elf, Schmidt.”

“……”

I could have done without such a provocative comment; the general’s full attention was now on me as well.

As I wondered how to respond, the margrave took off down the hallway, his feet clicking loudly along the floor. He hadn’t taken the large gold coins I’d offered, either. It had been a total waste of time and effort for both of us. As the outsider here, all I could do was tilt my head in confusion. Eventually, the man turned the corner and was out of sight; we all watched him leave in silence.

Eventually, once his footsteps could no longer be heard, the elf addressed me. “You bought a night with me for one thousand Lungian gold coins, didn’t you?”

“No, no,” I said quickly. “Even a thousand gold coins would be far from enough to deserve your charms.”

“Oh? I can’t say I would mind such an arrangement.”

Her attitude was totally different from when she’d been speaking with Margrave Bertrand. I really had no desire to become close with the aide to an enemy nation’s general, however. Said general had even mentioned she was skilled in magic. If she somehow caught on to Peeps’s existence, we’d be in a heap of trouble—especially since we had rooms in the same inn.

I’m definitely at the bottom of the food chain here, I thought. I’d really like to excuse myself.

“You know this merchant?” asked Troy.

“No, not at all,” replied the elf. “I must say, though, merchants from Lunge seem quite rich—no sooner had this one seen me than he offered ten large gold coins in exchange. If even the lesser-known merchants are this wealthy, the famous ones must be something else.”

“You’ll have to excuse me,” said the general, “but I, too, know of no merchant named Hans Schmidt.”

Well, of course not, I thought. We just came up with that name a little while ago. I had made sure to confirm with Peeps that no one influential had the same name.

It was time for some evasive maneuvers. I couldn’t put any more of a burden on Mr. Marc or Mr. Joseph, after all. “I call myself a merchant, sir, but as you can see, I am quite young and still trying to make my fortune. I’ve been on a trip around the world for pleasure—though I am always keeping an eye out for business opportunities—and it has brought me here to this town.”

This was the story Peeps and I had agreed on. And it was technically accurate, too. I wasn’t really lying.

“Well, I doubt a border town like this will provide many such opportunities,” remarked the general.

“I’ve been considering crossing the border into Herz, sir.”

“Now wouldn’t be a good time for that. You should wait—for your own sake.”

“You think so?”

“There have been repeated skirmishes between our two countries of late. Though if you still wish to go, I won’t stop you.”

Despite this being our first meeting, General Troy was acting quite considerate toward me. It appeared he’d correctly guessed my real intentions—I’d simply wanted to help out the elf. In which case, my next move was to thank him and be on my way. I’ll just fade away into the background now—that’s probably best. I was worried about the duration of my transformation spell now that I was away from Peeps, too.

“Thank you for the warning, sir,” I said. “In that case, I believe I’ll take in the sights here, then turn back around.”

“That would be for the best.”

“Hmm? But I thought you’d taken a liking to me, Lunge merchant,” the elf chimed in.

“I already have the world’s greatest blond waiting for me in my room, ma’am, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Oh, how coldhearted.”

I bowed to the elf and the general in turn, then left. Unfortunately, it looked like I wasn’t as good at using my money as Peeps was.

After parting ways with the Ohgen Empire big shots, I practically fled back to my room. I went through the suite’s front door and straight to the living room.

There I saw Peeps lying on the sofa. He was napping, his body flat against the wide seats, head up on his elbows. He twitched in response to my return, then smoothly picked himself up, facing his upper body toward the room’s entrance.

Did he do that on purpose, or was it natural? I wondered. Either way, it was incredibly doglike, and I was overwhelmed with affection.

“I’m back, Peeps.”

“That took some time,” he said. “If they’ve refused, we can always go out.”

“No, they said they’d deliver the food to our room.”

“Very well, then.”

“I actually wanted to ask you about something completely different.”

“What is it?”

“Do you know of a General Troy or a Margrave Bertrand?”

“Both nobles of the Ohgen Empire. Why?”

“Well, I just ran into them in the hallway.”

That earned a shudder from the stately dog’s tail. His current body was a lot bigger than a sparrow’s, so every little movement he made stood out much more. His flowing blond mane swayed. Apparently, my earlier encounter surprised him as much as it had me.

“That sounds alarming,” he said. “Did you verify that it was really them?”

“They called each other by name, so I’m pretty sure.”

“I see…”

“Is there anything about them I should know?” I asked, settling down on the sofa next to Peeps. I caught myself reaching for his back and just barely managed to stop in time. He was still the Starsage inside. It didn’t matter what gender a person was—sexual harassment was sexual harassment. I couldn’t allow it.

Whether or not he had any inkling of the internal conflicts plaguing his useless owner, Peeps launched into an explanation. “Margrave Bertrand is the one who controls this area, including this town. That would make the two of you neighbors across the border. And that would also make him the kingdom’s first opponent should Herz make trouble with the Empire.”

“Then he’s also the head honcho here?”

“Though this town is fairly large, it isn’t the largest in his domain, where he usually resides. A different noble, serving directly under the margrave, has control here.”

“Uh-huh.”

It seemed that what I’d gleaned of the Empire’s affairs through the margrave’s conversation was correct. Getting a look at both of their faces now was a major win for me. The trip to Ohgen had already proven worth the effort, as had the work that went into our transformations.

“General Troy is part of the Imperial military’s top brass. While he is of common birth, he has more than made a name for himself through his exploits in war, achieving noble status on his own merit. Everyone in the Empire knows his story.”

“He was pretty big—and his muscles were out of this world. He looked like a real warrior.”

“That is why he holds the trust of both the military and the people, and why he is frequently used as the public face of the nation. I believe his presence foretells imminent Imperial action.”

“You think he knows about what Prince Lewis is up to?”

“It’s quite possible.”

If it had been only the margrave visiting, he could have been merely observing his territory. But with the general staying here as well, plus his elfin aide, it would be dangerous to assume it was all coincidence. I got the very real feeling that something was about to happen.

“The Empire maintains a frontline base called Geschwür between this area and the border. Should the prince deploy his troops from your fortress, that will be his first destination.”

“General Troy told me not to get too close to the border.”

“Then I believe it is likely something is afoot.”

Maybe we should check on that base in advance, I thought. But now General Troy and Margrave Bertrand knew my face, and I’d already said I wouldn’t go near the border. If we decided to head that way, we’d have to figure out a new plan, like using the transformation spell again to give ourselves different identities.

“An elfin woman was with the general—I think she was his aide. Do you know who she is?”

“An elfin aide? No, not even I have that level of familiarity with the Empire.”

“Sorry for throwing all these questions at you.”

“What did she look like?”

“She was about as tall as I am now and had gorgeous blond hair.”

“Unfortunately, that isn’t much to go on…”

“If I run into her again, I’ll ask her name.”

“We know who she reports to, so you needn’t go out of your way. Mistakenly revealing our identity to her would place us in a bad situation. Of course, if you’re interested in her in another way, then far be it from me to stop you.”

“Oh, uh. That’s not what this is about at all.”

Peeps seems to know a lot about other countries, I thought. I wonder if he’s used this transformation spell in the past to infiltrate the Empire and do some kind of spying. Considering his penchant for daredevilry, I expected a bit of undercover work was trivial for him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suggested we come here to sightsee.

“Speaking of identities,” I said, “it was definitely a good idea to have you transform us.”

“Indeed,” Peeps replied. “I had no idea we would encounter such people.”

“Now what? Should we look for a different place to stay tomorrow?”

“No, we should stay for at least as long as you paid for. If we panic, it will only make us look more suspicious. They believe you’re a Lungian merchant now, yes?”

“That’s right.”

“Then let us simply enjoy our tour of the town for the next few days.”

Audacious as ever, I thought. But thanks to Peeps’s boldness, I was able to keep composed as well.

And so, just as we’d planned, we decided to take our time and see the sights in town for a while.