Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyusoukyoku (WN) - Volume 12 - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: 8

12-8 . Under the Sakura Tree

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"It looks grand seen from below isn't it . "

"It sure is . It's eerily beautiful . "

I muttered while looking up at the Sakura tree .

Someone's pulling my sleeve . It's Mia .

The beastkin girls have moved to the borrowed luggage carriage as its guards, so Mia and Lulu have moved to the vacant seats of this carriage .

"Once again . "

"--the 『eerily beautiful』 part?"

"Yes . "

Mie ecstatically closes her eyes and pushes her mouth . When I shift my line of sight to the opposite side, Arisa is also taking the same pose .

Astonished, I seek help to Lulu who's sitting in front of me, but she quietly closes her eyes after blushing sakura-color for an instant .

--You girls, did you conspire for this beforehand?

The carriages arrives at the place Baron Muno is staying unaffected with the trifle inside .

We're missing one carriage .

Apparently, the luggage carriage that the beastkin rode had entered through the back entrance .

"Welcome to the Royal Capital . "

Guided by the way that's formed from the maids who are standing in rows, we enter the mansion .

It seems these maids aren't Baron Muno's servants, but this mansion's .

As the proof, these maids aren't wearing the maid uniforms, but elegant one-piece-type uniforms .

Pina who's in maid uniform is waiting in the entrance hall .

"We have been waiting for you . Chevalier-sama, Karina-sama . "

"It's been a long time . I'm glad to see you're healthy . "

"News about Chevalier-sama's activities had also reached Muno territory . "

We would obstruct the maids' job if we chat too long, so I cut it off appropriately .

Unlike the battle maids I've seen in Muno territory and the Duchy Capital, Pina is acting gracefully like it's natural, "I've been a maid for a long time", while guiding me to the living room .

Checking on the map, Baron Muno and Consul Nina seem to be in the northern conference room of the royal castle . It seems to be quite an exhausting conference, the Baron's stamina has been greatly diminished .

This is the first time I saw the abnormal status, [Overworked] .

"Baron-sama and Consul-sama are currently out for a prior engagement, so please relax in this room until they get back . "

The maids are putting several tea sets and tea-cakes on the table . The tea cakes are of still-warm baked sweets and white-candy like things put on small bowls .

The bell on top of the table is probably for calling the maids . I let the maids who are waiting near the room entrance to fall back .

After a bit, the beastkin girls who have entered from the mansion's back entrance meet up with us .

"Mumwu~? Illegal occupation~?"

"First come, first served . "

Tama is aiming to recapture the lap that Mia has taken .

Today, the positions of these two are reversed . But, I don't think it's something that need to be competed so much . Pochi tries to climb and sits beside me, she doesn't seem to be interested with my lap .

When my eyes meet with Pochi's who's sitting beside me, she smiles, "He" .

That was too cute I involuntarily patted her head .

Now then, I want to talk about our policy from now on, but since Lady Karina is naturally in the room, it's hard to do it .

I guess I'll talk about it once we get to my own mansion I've prepared in the royal capital .

I had prepared a mansion for Chevalier Pendragon use while acting as someone called Akindou when I was delivering the airships and the magic swords here . I've announced that Akindou is the purveyor of Pendragon's house beforehand so it's quite convenient . Echigoya is for big things like airships when I act as Nanashi or Kuro, so I'm making use of Akindou for Satou's businesses .

"Still, even though I had thought that you were strong, I would've never guessed that you would even win against Julberg-shi of Shiga Eight Swords . "

『It was truly splendid . 』

"I'm honored . "

Lady Karina and Raka are praising Liza .

Pochi and Tama look happy like they're talking about them .

Mia who's won my lap from Tama is humming in good mood, unrelated to it .

I don't think that place is that comfortable though . . . .

"But you know, although we've dodged it with the Pendragon Seven Braves thing, won't Liza-san or Master get to become Shiga Eight Swords like this?"

While drinking the cup beside me, Arisa asked anxiously .

Oh good . That [Pendragon Seven Braves] thing wasn't serious . I was sure that she was when I looked at that proud-looking face .

"Pendragon Seven Braves nanodesu!"

"Seven braves~? Karina is included too~?"

Pochi and Tama said so without minding, are they not embarrassed with that name?

Lady Karina tilts her head after hearing Arisa .

"Liza will surely be, but they won't recommend Sa, Satou right? If it's swordsmanship, aren't Pochi and Tama stronger?"

"That's not true at all nodesu!"

"Master is stronger~"

Pochi and Tama deny that while shaking their heads .

"But", and so Lady Karina looks unconvinced .

She's been thoroughly beaten by Pochi and Tama in the Labyrinth City's mansion .

From Lady Karina's perspective, I probably am not comparable to the two .

" . . . . I-is that so . "

I wonder what?

My crisis perception kicks in when I see Lady Karina who has seemingly consented about something while looking down .

I can't see her face, but the corner of her lips feels like Arisa's when she's laughing "Guheguhe" . Although there's some difference with hers looking slightly more refined .

"Satou! I understand well what you feel!"

She declares so while looking at me happily .

That must be a misunderstanding .

I couldn't said that since her whole face is smiling gleefully .

"H-hey . Isn't Oppai-san misunderstanding something?"

"Nn . "

"That seems to be so . "

Arisa whispers to my ear .

Looks like Mia and Lulu think the same .

I asked Nana who was feeding Shiro and Crow, and she gave her opinion, "Rather than misunderstanding, it's mis-recognition from maidenly revision, so I conjecture . "

There's a high possibility that Lady Karina misunderstands that I will, "lose on purpose", in the fight to hide my true strength .

It looks like it'd become troublesome if I don't quickly dispel the misunderstanding .

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"This is the kingdom-style sakura salmon meuniere . "

A person wearing butler-like clothes says so after putting some refined-looking salmon meuniere dish on the plates before us .

This salmon has pink scales like sea bream so people call it [Sakura Salmon] .

It seems to be often eaten during the sakura blooming season as a good luck charm in the Royal Capital .

"Pochi-chan, don't start by stabbing it with the fork . Use the knife properly . "

"I can eat this much in one bite nodesuyo?"

"It's awright even without a knife~?"

"It's not alright!"

Teaching Pochi and Tama manner seem difficult for Lulu and Arisa .

"Shiro, you hold it like this . "

"Like this? Crow?"

"That's right . "

Shiro is being taught the table manner by Crow, they master it without great difficulty .

The corners of Nana's eyes are coming loose as she sees the two . They look like a mother and her daughters, but age-wise, Nana is actually the younger one .

While giving a sidelong glance at them, I talk to Mia who's looking at the meuniere with a grim face .

"You too try eating it Mia . "

"I hate fish . "

"The bones are few, eat it while thinking you're being deceived . "

"Mumwu . "

Mia scowls at the meuniere .

Groaning while holding the fork on your mouth is a breach of manner, but it's hard to point that out since it looks cute .

"Mia, fork . "

"Nn . "

After appreciating it for a bit, I pointed it out to Mia .

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The Baron and the others haven't come back even after we've eaten the dinner and taken a bath .

The Baron's parameters shown on the map are looking dangerous . His stamina has become zero and alternating between fainted and awakened .

I want to give him nutrient and stamina recovery magic potions . Unfortunately, I can't readily show up there since only upper nobles and their associates are allowed to attend the conference .

I hand over some healing potions to Pina . I want her to give it during the conference's break .

At that time I conveyed to her that we would like to leave today, but she tearfully entreated me, saying that Consul Nina had instructed her to absolutely keep us here .

It couldn't be helped, so I was going to take everyone in a night tour of the sakura trees, but it was stopped too .

Because they don't have the mean to contact us .

"Satou . "

"What is it Mia . "

"Called . "

I went to the balcony to enjoy the night sakura tree there instead, but Mia who was already there said so to me .

Mia is looking at the huge sakura tree .

"Do you want to go to the base of the huge sakura tree?"

"Nn . "

Mia is looking unusually serious .

"Arisa, sorry but could you contact me with Telephone when the Baron has returned . "

"Okkey . I'll join Mia's sleeping together session once . "

" . . . . Okay . "

I put a Carved Seal Board for [Return] magic in one corner of the room .

Sleep-sharing huh, Arisa is unselfish . Sexual harassments are forbidden of course .

Leaving Pochi and the others who look like they want to tag along, I go with Mia toward the base of the Sakura tree .