Chapter 1 – New Territory

<– Previous Chapter | Table of Content | Next Chapter –>

Independent Calendar Year 431, Beginning of March

“Yahoooo!” Arided exclaimed as she dived into the bed.

It had likely been aired just recently, making the new sheets smell like the sun. It wasn’t just the new sheet either. The mattress, bed, desk, chairs, and dresser――everything in this room, no, the building was new. The new barracks have finally been completed.

“The adjutant and centurions have their own, private rooms! I’ve never felt so grateful about having the position of an officer as today. I kinda would love to have seen Leo, Horus, and Lizad experience this joy as well,” Arided muttered while rubbing her cheek against the sheet.

“…Sis,” a voice as deep as the depth of the abyss answered her.

Arided rose and looked in the direction of the voice. There she spotted Deneb standing next to the door. She was carrying a large backpack and holding a handbag with both hands.

“Is something kinda wrong?”

“This here is my room, you know…?” Deneb barked at Arided who was tilting her head in confusion.

I can understand her feelings on this. If someone had dove in my brand-new bed, I’d have become pissed as well. But――

“As soon as you’ve become his lover, you start to say egoistic stuff and our bonds as sisters have kinda died!”

“This again…,” Deneb said with a sigh and placed her luggage on the desk.

Then she sat down on the chair.

“Still, that’s kinda an incredible amount of luggage. Just what have you brought with you?”

“Newly purchased clothes, underwear, and also books.”

“For you to go this far to be loved by Lord Chrono; your big sis feels like she kinda discovered a new side of you.”

“I think that’s just normal though… By the way, Sis, aren’t you going to carry your own luggage over?”

“I finished doing that while you were lugging around all that stuff.”

“Eh!?” Deneb widened her eyes in surprise.

Arided wondered why.

“In the first place, I don’t have that much personal belongings. If I were to list the important things, it’d be limited to the book I bought at the Picks Company.”

“Book? Ah, that empty one… But, I’ve never seen you buy something.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, this is kinda the reason why a little sister remains a little sister,” Arided raised her index finger and waved it, before breathing out, “I wrote the title, kinda!”

“Just the title? What about the content?”

“I kinda entrusted it to my future self.” I’m sure she’ll be able to write a wonderful text.”

“I think my future sis will say the same thing about the future sis of my future sis.”

“You’re kinda saying some very rude things!” Arided raised her voice and laid down on the bed once more.

“Working, studying, and writing a book on top of that is unreasonable.”

“But, Layla is doing it, so you should try your best as well.”

“Layla is Layla, we are us. Because Lord Chrono has fallen in love with us being idiots, we kinda should remain idiots.”

“Idiots, you say…I’m just matching things with you…”

“Showing potential is part of a lover’s duty, too.”

“You think so?”

“I do, I do.”

“Hmm, Deneb groaned and then looked as if there might be some truth to Arided words.

She’s way too gullible.

“For this reason, let us kinda become no good together, okay?”

“No! I’d hate to be considered a good-for-nothing by Lord Chrono!”

Deneb violently shook her head at Arided beckoning her over.

“Even though you say such things, our bodies kinda want to slack off. And it’s bad for one’s body to hold back too much.”

“Uh, that’s somewhat true, still…,” Deneb sighed deeply and leaned back on the chair. “Layla is quite incredible.”

“D-Don’t tell me, I had my spot taken by Layla!? I’d kinda prefer to be spared from underhanded moves at my workplace.”

“Nothing like that has happened. I’m simply saying she’s amazing.”

“Just as I said earlier, there’s no point in comparing. It’ll only worsen your despair if you look up to those superior to you.”

“I don’t think that we are so far apart from each other that you’d need to call it despair…,” objected Deneb weakly.

It seems like she isn’t aware of being the type who get swept along easily. But, enough of that――

“Which reminds me, where is Layla at the moment?”

“Layla went to inspect the Cad Earldom together with Lord Chrono,” Deneb answered while still leaning back on her chair.

“Layla and Lord Chrono are both tough. So, what are they kinda inspecting?”

“I don’t know that, but since they took Silver with them, aren’t they planning to construct buildings?”

“Silver? Ah, Goldi’s little brother, huh? Even though he just finished the new barracks, he’s already out on his next job; both brothers are kinda tough.”

“I feel like Goldi easily exceeds the level where you’d call him tough…”

“True,” Arided agreed.

Goldi was working from morning until night. He himself seemed happy with that, but it gave Arided an indescribable feeling. As she was thinking about such things――

“Ah!”

“What? Is something wrong!?”

When Deneb cried out all of a sudden, Arided jumped to her feet.

“Come to think of it, Fay and the others went with them as well, I hear.”

“What, so it was just about that, huh?”

Arided laid back down on the bed.

“Also, the princess went with them,” Deneb whispered.

“That’s kinda super dangerous,” Arided groaned.

Layla and Princess Tilia both have a relationship with Chrono. Of course, I don’t think it’ll develop into a fight, but――

“I kinda want him to come back safely.”

Arided prayed for Chrono’s safe return. It wouldn’t be all that funny if he were to die over some jealousy after having survived that cauldron of death in Argo.

※

The wagon continued advancing further and further north along the sea. The sea extended in the west while wilderness reigned over the east. It was a bleak scenery, but maybe because spring was near, the air was warm.

It’s really nice and warm weather.

As Chrono thought so on the wagon’s tray――

“What nice weather,” Tilia muttered next to him.

With a slight delay, Layla moved, sitting on the other side of Chrono. His heartbeat leaped, but Layla just stirred a bit.

Chrono breathed out in relief. Even though he was flanked by two beautiful women, he couldn’t calm down. He felt as nervous as being glared at by an enemy army on the battlefield.

What did I do wrong? Maybe it’s because O praised Tilia’s new uniform? Or maybe it’s because I fell asleep while borrowing Layla’s shoulder? I don’t know. I don’t get it at all, but I can tell my mental sanity won’t be able to keep up with this.

Chrono let his eyes wander, hoping someone would be able to calm this feeling of tension. Fay, Alba, Glab, and Geiner had taken some distance from the wagon to watch their vicinity. Sub was giving his undivided attention to driving the wagon. Silver compared the surrounding terrain with a parchment while sitting next to him. Eril was reading a book opposite of Chrono, acting like all of this had nothing to do with her.

It seemed very unlikely that he could hope for any help. When Chrono sighed deeply, Tilia spoke up again.

“I heard the stories, but this place really has nothing.”

“Are you knowledgeable about the Cad Earldom?”

“Well, I’m still an imperial princess after all. Hmph,” Tilia snorted proudly.

“Do you know any special products of the Cad Earldom?”

“I know about its history and origin, but besides that, I only know that it’s dotted with fishing villages.”

“That’s like saying you basically know nothing.”

“Since I’m aware of the history and origin, you can’t say I know nothing,” Tilia sullenly retorted. “If it’s about those two topics, I can answer anything you want to know. Come on, try asking me something.”

“Sure, what’s the origin of the name?”

“Ah, that one’s easy. At the time when the founding king added the Cad Earldom to the imperial realm…although it wasn’t called Cad Earldom back then…he said, 『This place is Cad』.”

“Hmm,” Chrono answered conversationally and thought back on the map of the Empire.

The Cad Earldom is located at the Empire’s northwestern edge. Beyond lies the vast, primeval forest.

“Oh, Cad because it’s the Empire’s northwestern edge, huh?”

“Do you know the meaning of Cad?”

“Yeah, well, it’s Japanese.”

“I see. I’m sure it must be a language abound with implications. So, what does it mean?”

“Err, what would you call the tapered part of a geometrical figure…like for example a triangle or tetragon?”

“Top?”

“No, it’s something simpler.”

“Simpler?” Tilia asked while looking confused.

“Do you possibly mean an angle?” Layla offered timidly.

“Haha, just when I wondered what you’d say, you came up with such nonsense. Right, Chrono?”

“…”

“It’s a lie! Please say that it’s a lie!”

Tilia grabbed his shoulder and shook him when he stayed silent.

“……It is as she says,” he answered after a long, long break.

“N-No way! It’s unthinkable for the founding emperor to go with such a simple name…”

Apparently quite shocked by this revelation, Tilia dropped her head. As Chrono was wondering whether it’d have been better to have lied here――

“Umm, Your Highness?”

“What is it? I’m in the middle of suffering a shock,” Tilia answered Layla’s timid approach with a sulky tone.

“Your Highness, do you…do you believe what Lord Chrono is saying?”

“What he is saying, you ask? Ah…”

Tilia cast a fleeting glance at Eril. It felt like it was a bit too late at this point, but even she appeared to believe that it’d be bad to talk about Chrono coming from another world in front of her watchdog.

“I do.”

“Why?”

“There exists a similar legend in the Imperial family.”

“A legend?”

“…It’s been handed down that the founding emperor was a man with black hair who came here from a different world.”

It was Eril who had answered Layla’s question.

“Why do you know about that?”

“…It’s a fairly famous legend,” Eril whispered.

Tilia secretly touched the dagger at her waist. Chrono suspected that she intended to silence the other girl.

“What would you do if I told you that Chrono came from another world?”

“…I wouldn’t believe it. And even if I was shown proof for that, I wouldn’t make it public.”

“Why not?”

“…People would doubt my sanity. I would very likely be relieved from my duty as Captain of a Knight Order, let alone my current duty as your watchdog. I’m a noble without territory, so I’d be in trouble without a job.”

“I see. Your sanity would be doubted, huh?”

Tilia hugged her knees while looking downhearted.

“What do you think, Layla?”

“Please forgive me. I would like to believe it, but…”

“…That’s the normal response here,” Eril muttered when Layla answered evasively.

Moreover, she moved her position. Once Chrono looked behind him, wondering what was going on, Fay had moved up to ride right next to the wagon without him having realized. Apparently she had moved up because she didn’t want to remain in the back. Fay cast fleeting glances in his direction. Her eyes were full of expectation.

Chrono wondered what was wrong.

After riding next to the wagon for a while, she seemingly gathered her resolve and spoke up.

“I-It is a place with nothing around!”

“There is definitely nothing here, but it’s fine as long as it has access to the ocean. It’ll allow us to catch fish and gather salt. If we build a port, trade will become possible as well. Yep, since there are various things I want to do, it might be good that there’s nothing here. I’d like to cultivate pearls someday.”

“I-I see. So it is good that there is nothing here.”

Fay dropped her shoulders in disappointment and fell back behind the wagon. Hearing a snort, Chrono looked next to him. There he found Tilia laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’m not laughing. By the way, is it true that you can cultivate pearls?”

“A book in my previous world mentioned that you can create pearls by inserting foreign matter inside a shell.”

“Hoh, so easily…no, isn’t that actually weird? If you could create pearls with such simple methods, wouldn’t they lose their value as gems?”

“They won’t lose their value because they were sold as gems.”

“Even though I don’t really believe it, I’ll assume they became pearls by foreign matters being put into a shell for the argument’s sake..”

“It’s the truth though.”

“I cannot tell whether it’s true or not, so I’m okay with just assuming it. Well, putting that aside, what sort of shell is used for inserting the foreign matter? What size and material properties are needed for the foreign matter? How many years does it take for a pearl to be created after inserting the foreign matter?”

“The shell…would probably be pearl oysters. I think sand is fine as foreign matter. I don’t know how long it takes, but well, shouldn’t two or three years be enough?”

“So you basically don’t know anything, do you?”

Tilia sighed deeply at Chrono vague recount of what he remembered.

“First you’ll need to look for pearl oysters, then you’ll have to investigate the size and material of the foreign matter that would be appropriate for creating pearls, and lastly you’ll need to test how many years it takes to create a pearl. You must also determine a method to grow the oysters for the sake of a stable supply of pearls. It’ll be a big project that will require a decade or more, no matter how you look at it.”

“As I thought, it’s nothing that can be achieved in a brief span of time, huh?”

This time it was Chrono’s turn to sigh deeply.

“I suppose we go with salt then. If it’s salt, it should be doable as long as we build saltpans,” muttered Chrono.

“Lord Chrono, what are saltpans?” Layla asked apologetically.

“A saltpan is something like a place where you create salt out of seawater.”

“How do you make salt out of seawater?”

“If I remember correctly, according to the book I read in my childhood…”

Chrono held his temple, trying to recall the book’s content. Although he’d called it a book, it was actually a manga called History of Japan which he found in the library room of his elementary school.

“First you fetch seawater with a bucket and sprinkle it over sandy soil. After repeating this process many times over, you gather the sand. You add seawater to that sand, creating very salty water. If you then boil this in a pot, you’ll be able to extract the salt.”

“You sprinkle seawater over sandy soil?”

Layla muttered, covering her mouth with a hand as if pondering about this.

“Is something the matter?”

“Yes, you say you will sprinkle the sand with seawater, but won’t the water end up permeating deep into the soil?”

“I think it will? But, I feel like the salt content will stop on the surface…”

Chrono tilted his head in doubt.

‘But, now that she mentions it, I feel like she has a point. If the seawater permeates a meter deep into the ground, it’ll take a lot of time and effort to dig up all the sand. Doubling the amount of seawater to lower the sand to be dug up to a depth of 50 centimeters would be inefficient, too.

“Your knowledge is missing all the crucial parts, you know?” Tilia spat out.

“Sorry,” answered Chrono while scratching his head.

“Wouldn’t you just need to make sure that the seawater doesn’t permeate underground?”

The one asking was Silver. He had likely finished checking the topography around here. He rolled up the parchment and moved to the load-tray, sitting down there with a thump.

“How do you intend to achieve that?”

“You just need to build a framework with concrete and spread the sand on it,” Silver nonchalantly answered Tilia’s question.

“What are you going to do about the expenses?”

“Well, those will be quite high… Oh, right. You can use clay to lower the costs, I’d say. You dig up the sand in a spot intended to become the saltpan and build a clay foundation. Afterwards you put the sand back in and you’re done.”

Silver presented a new idea. But, apparently still having some concerns, Tilia pulled a complicated expression while furrowing her eyebrows.

“Would that work?”

“I can only answer I don’t know as long as we don’t try it. I’ve never seen anything like a saltpan after all.”

“I know that you can get salt by boiling down seawater, but it’s not that easy, is it?” Tilia grumbled.

“But, I know how to do it, so I’ll manage somehow as long as I don’t give up.”

“You’re strangely positive about this, aren’t you?”

“If you take my stubbornness of not giving up from me, there won’t be anything left, you know? By the way,” Chrono looked in Silver’s direction, “did you find a location suitable for the construction of a port?”

“Not at all. It’d have been great if there was a bay, a river mouth, or an area surrounded by shores from three sides, but all the terrain offers is a curve of the shoreline. Moreover, that place is slightly far away from deeper waters. With this it’ll be hard to create a wharf.”

“Figures. They’d have built a port long ago, if there had been some suitable place for it, I guess.”

Chrono dropped his shoulders while Silver weakly shook his head.

“I thought it’d be great if I could build a port, but it looks like it won’t go that easy.”

“You just told me, 『If you take my stubbornness of not giving up from me, there won’t be anything left』, and yet you’re already giving up?” Tilia asked while looking appalled.

“Even I cannot do anything about the topography.”

“No, you can actually do something about the terrain,” Silver objected.

“But, that will be expensive, no?”

“It shouldn’t cost that much. First off, about the location. I think the base of a peninsula would do. Next, about the wharf…it’d be best to draw it.”

Silver took paper, quill, and ink out of his pocket and drew something looking like an inverted L. It was a schematic drawing of the shoreline at the base of a peninsula. He furthermore drew the same graphic inside the first graphic, connecting the two with lines. It resembled an outlined character quite closely.

“Just like this you drive wooden stakes into the parts where you want the wharf to be. And then you draw out the ocean water.”

“How are you going to draw out the water?”

“You use a pump. You know what that is, right? That log-like construct. There’s something like a screw inside that and if you turn the wheel, it will scrape out the water,” Silver explained while gesturing as if turning something.

“How do you plan to get wooden stakes?”

“There’s a primeval forest in the north, right? We’d just need to get the wood from there,” Silver casually answered Tilia’s question.

“Once you draw out the water and reinforce the ground, the wharf will be finished.”

“Didn’t you say that a place with a shoreline on three sides is needed for building a port?”

“That issue will be resolved by building a breakwater.”

Silver added a vertical line to the graphic, turning it into something like 冂 .

“You just need to throw stones into the water for it to become like this. It’ll require a fairly big amount of stones, but we will somehow manage if we quarry the big rock close to the Yellow Ochre Temple.

“Eh!?” Chrono cried out reflexively.

In response, Silver looked at him quizzically, “Is there some problem?”

“Isn’t that rock an object of worship?”

“Is it?” Silver asked back with a confused look.

Chrono looked at Layla.

“Please forgive me, but I don’t know much about these things.”

“No, don’t mind it. If I get back to the city, I will as――ouch!”

Tilia had elbowed him.

“What do you want?”

“Why don’t you ask me?” She returned a question with a serious look.

He hadn’t asked her because he didn’t think she’d be knowledgeable about it, but――

“Do you know something about the rock close to the Yellow Ochre Temple?”

“I don’t even know that you can find a rock there,” Tilia responded as if it was only natural.

“Why did you want me to ask you then?”

“Because you didn’t ask me,” Tilia pursed her lips, looking sulky.

“That’s the general idea behind how I plan to build a port. What do you think?” Silver asked

“…I leave it to you,” Chrono answered after worrying about it for a short while.

If he had to be honest, he’d need to admit that he couldn’t imagine the work site and the completed port. Having said that, he was aware that he lacked the knowledge allowing him to meddle in this topic. For this reason, he thought it’d be best to believe Silver and leave things to him.

“So it sounds like we’ll be able to build a port one way or another.”

“About that…,” Silver spoke up awkwardly in response to Chrono’s remark of relief.

“Is there some problem?”

“…Right now it’s March. It’s the time when the farmers till their fields.”

He had asked Silver, but the one answering was Eril.

“Well, that’s how it is. The folks, who came to earn some money during the slack season, went back to their farms. Of course, some people remain in the city, but we have those folks work on repairing the old barracks. If we postpone the repairs, they could build the port, but…”

“That’s a bit… We have to get ready in order to take in new subordinates,” mumbled Chrono.

At present, he was having Bertil handle the transfer formalities for the soldiers who had followed him to the bitter end during the retreat battle. Those soldiers numbered 550.

If we add those soldiers to the ones currently stationed in my fief, they’ll amount to 1371, no, 1350 because 21 of them are cavalrymen. Either way, we cannot accommodate all of them in just the new barracks. It’s indispensable to repair the old barracks in preparation for their transfer to the Erakis March.

“Can’t you somehow work around this?”

“It’s nothing that could be solved by simply adjusting the shifts. We’re fundamentally lacking people.”

“We could ask my subordinates to help with the work, but…”

“It’d be great if that’s an option, but would it be alright to do so?”

“I’ll try to ask Mino about it once we get back to Harshel.”

“Please do.”

Though I think it’ll be in vain, Chrono muttered in his mind.

※

Around the time when the sun had sunken and the surroundings had become dark, Chrono’s party arrived at the main gate of Harshel. Carriages waiting for their turn to enter the city were forming a line outside the city. As soon as Sub stopped the wagon at the end of that line, Silver jumped off the load-tray.

“I’ll go back to the new barracks. I gotta think up a blueprint on how to build the port.”

“Good work and thanks for today.”

“I’m an architect after all. As long as you let me do my job, I’ll go anywhere. See you later.”

“Yep, see you.”

Silver turned his back on Chrono and started to walk towards the new barracks.

As they were waiting for their turn, White and Gray ran up to their wagon.

“Lord Chrono, welcome back.”

“We, properly work.”

“Good work out there. Thanks for always doing this.”

White and Gray happily wagged their tails when Chrono thanked them. Suddenly feeling that something was off, Chrono noticed that their tails’ wagging was less energetic than usual.

“Are you two okay?”

“”…””

Both remained silent. Just moving their eyes, they looked at each other.

“We, good!”

“Run around, garden, happily!”

They posed like bodybuilders do.

“Both of you, make sure to not strain yourself too much, okay?”

“”…Got it, won’t be unreasonable.””

Both dropped their shoulders as if having used up all their power.

“By the way, where is Mino?”

“”Adjutant Mino, guardroom.””

“Thanks.”

Immediately after Chrono thanked them, their wagon started to move.

After a short while, Layla spoke up, “What are you going to do next, Lord Chrono?”

“I’ll meet with Mino and ask him whether he can spare some of our subordinates for the port construction.”

“And after that?”

“I’ll walk back to the marquis’s mansion.”

“I have told you so before, but Harshel is still dangerous,” Layla said with a meek expression.

I guess she’s right. I’m not cautious enough.

“Sorry, but can I ask you to guard me then?”

“Yes, please leave it to me. I will escort you to the mansion safely, even if I have to pay with my life for it.”

“Hmm, then I’ll stay back as well.”

“――gh!”

Layla looked at Tilia, clearly startled.

“Is something the matter?”

“I think it might be better for you to head back first, Your Highness.”

“Hah. And here I was wondering what you’d say…even though I may look like this, I’ve graduated from the military academy as the top student. I can also use divine arts. I can turn the table on any lousy criminal,” Tilia declared proudly.

“There is still the unlikely chance that something could happen,” Layla answered, obviously having resolved herself.

“Wouldn’t it be better for me to be present in such a case?” Tilia stated as if it was only natural, causing Layla to groan.

At that moment――

“In this case, I shall handle Her Highness’s protection as guard.”

“It’s not like I need a guard or anything, but well, I guess it can’t be helped.”

Fay had nominated herself while riding next to the wagon. Contrary to Fay’s expectations, Tilia approved of Fay guarding her. Apparently Tilia was genuinely worried about Chrono. Layla pulled an expression as if not knowing what she should do.

“Haha,” Sub laughed. “If the three of you stay back as well, I’ll park the wagon and wait for you.”

“Could you please do?”

“Aye, count on me. Alvar, Glab, Geiner, you guys head back first.”

“””Ayeees!”””

The three answered and then rode past the wagon. Sub parked the vehicle in front of the guardroom and Chrono got off the load-tray.

“Okay, I’m going to talk with Mino for a bit, so please wait for a moment.”

“In that case I will also――”

“I’ll go as well.”

“I shall follow you!”

Layla, Tilia, and Fay spoke up. Chrono smiled bitterly.

“The guard room is small, so wait out here.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“No choice then.”

“Very well.”

The instant the three agreed, a cute growling could be heard. Chrono assumed it to be the growling of a stomach. He directed his eyes to Eril who was holding her knees while sitting in a corner of the wagon.”

“…I’m very hungry. So I’d be happy if you could come back as quickly as possible.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“…You have my gratitude.”

“Okay, I’m off then.”

Chrono turned his back on the wagon and started to walk towards the guard station. Reaching the door, he opened it and entered, but the place was empty since the guards appeared to be on break right now.

“Miiinooo!”

Once he called for Mino’s name, he heard a sound from a room in the back. After a short while, Mino showed up.

“Captain, is somethin’ the matter?”

“I wanted to get your opinion on the matter of port construction…”

“Gotcha. It’s silly t’stand ’round here like that, so let’s sit down and talk.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Chrono sat down, followed by Mino taking the seat opposite of him.

“So, does that mean ye found a place suitable for a port?”

“It’s actually about that. We didn’t discover a perfectly suitable place.

“Argh,” Mino covered his face with a hand.

“And thus Silver suggested changing the terrain, but…”

“The terrain? Ye can do somethin’ like that?”

“Silver said it’s not that complicated.”

“I don’t understand the first thing ’bout construction, he’s capable of somethin’ incredible, I’d say.”

“But, there’s one problem with that…”

“What kind of problem?”

“We lack manpower. Because of that, I thought about having our men help with the construction, but…”

“Captain, that’s impossible. 200 of our men died durin’ that retreat battle, increasin’ the burden on the remainin’ folks now. There ain’t no way that I can spare any soldiers under such circumstances.”

“Figures. As I thought, it was doomed to fail,” Chrono dropped his shoulders in disappointment. “Do you have any unemployed acquaintances by chance?”

“Sorry. My acquaintances…,” Mino said apologetically, but then suddenly fell silent.

“Did you get an idea?”

“I guess ye could call it like that, if ye want, but I ain’t sure whether they’ll listen to me.”

“Just the possibility is already welcome. So, where are those people?”

“Actually…I’m talkin’ ’bout the folks from my hometown,” Mino answered awkwardly when Chrono asked while leaning his body forward in anticipation.

“Did something happen back home?”

“No, it’s just…I ran away from home when I was still young.”

“That’s…,” Chrono groaned.

He didn’t believe that Mino would run away from home for no reason, so something quite aggravating must have happened back then.

“But well, isn’t that chance for you to return home in triumph? It sounds like various things happened, but right now you’re working as my adjutant, so I’m sure your family will be delighted.”

“It sure would be nice if yer right ’bout that…”

“Anyway, I think it’d be best to meet them and talk it over. If you make a clear distinction between work and private, or rather, handle it in a logical manner, you’ll likely be able to make a clean break, no matter the outcome. By the way, where’s your hometown, Mino? Is it far away?”

“My home lies in the Bawdies Barony.”

“That’s fairly close.”

If Chrono’s memory served him right, the Bawdies Barony was around three days by horse from the Erakis March. It was situated south of the Cad Earldom――beyond the Trace Barony.

“It’s definitely close, but when it comes t’migratin’ from the Bawdies Barony, it’s gonna take time.”

“I see. We must talk it over with Baron Bawdies then.”

“If ye request it normally, yer just goin’ t’be taken advantage of though.”

“But, I suck at negotiations… Hmm,” grunted Chrono.

So far he had succeeded in his negotiations many times, but it was just the outcome of him holding his title as lord. He had no confidence that he’d be able to succeed in negotiations between equals.

“What ye gonna do?”

“For starters, I’ll go there and then think about it.”

“Captain,” Mino muttered with a sigh.

He had apparently given up. Chrono could understand his feelings on this, but――

“The negotiations with Baron Bawdies won’t go anywhere if the people of your hometown don’t get interested in this. Still, I’d like to go greet them at least, even if they don’t go along with my proposal.”

“You don’t have t’go thi――”

“I want to do it,” Chrono interrupted Mino.

Mino had been taking care of Chrono since he was assigned to the Erakis March. Hence, Chrono wanted to improve Mino’s standing at home as much as possible by telling his family about how reliable Mino was as an adjutant.

“Because of someone like me… Captain, thank ye.”

Just as Mino lowered his head, a wind blew into the room. Chrono’s body shivered while he looked in the direction of the entrance door. That was just the moment when Cain entered the guard station.

“Oh, Lord Chrono, you’re here?”

“Good work out there, Cain. How were the roads?”

“No problem,” Cain leaned against a wall with those words. “How did it go on your side, Lord Chrono?”

“About that――”

Chrono gave Cain a summary of the events. In response――

“I feel like tellin’ you to just go and buy slaves, but…”

“I just recently announced that I don’t like slavery,” muttered Chrono seriously.

It’d be one thing if there was no other option, but buying slaves without exploring other means would be bad. Chrono could clearly picture Elena glaring at him while blaming him for not keeping his promise right after voicing it out.

“So you’re going to greet Mino’s family huh?”

“Yep. And about the guard protocol…”

“Ah, I’ll assign the same people from today as your guards. It’s easier to deal with people you already know, right?”

“Thanks, that’s a big help.”

“It’ll also allow Fay to gather some experience, so no need to worry ’bout it.”

Cain scratched his head while looking embarrassed.

“Okay, when are you going to depart?”

“When would be fine?” Chrono looked at Mino.

He was completely outsourcing the matter, but this would quicken up the whole thing.

“Well, if ye could give me a day, I’ll manage somehow.”

“Alright. We’re going to leave on the day after tomorrow!”

Chrono clapped his hands together and stood up.

“Good work today, you two.”

“Ye too.”

“Ayes, good work.”

Once Chrono stepped outside, he was greeted by a freezing wind. His body started to quiver. It seemed as though spring was still a long time away. While thinking about that, he walked up to the wagon.

※

“Good work out there. Here’s your reward.”

With those words Shaela lined up dinner in front of Chrono’s party. The menu consisted of freshly baked bread, fish soup, and cooked fish. She also poured aroma tea into cups and placed it on the table. A somewhat stimulating scent hit his nose. It was a scent Chrono had somewhere smelled before.

What sort of smell is this?

Chrono was confused, but then noticed that it was the same smell as the aroma tea Simon treated him to in the capital.

If I remember correctly, it should be good for heating up your body. It’s probably Shaela’s way of being considerate towards us who have been outside all day long.

Chrono picked up his cup and drank the tea in one go. His body immediately became warm. Exhaling deeply, he put the cup back on the table, and――

“Thanks, Landlady.”

“What is it all of a sudden?”

Shaela looked bewildered upon Chrono’s thanks.

“I’m talking about the aroma. It’s one of those with a body-heating effect, isn’t it?”

“Ah, that’s what you mean. What, no need to thank me for this. I just brewed it because I had its leaves by chance.”

“Even so, thanks.”

“You’re making me embarrassed, if you thank me so much.”

Shaela brushed her hair upwards while looking bashful.

“They share an atmosphere as if they are communicating in some sort of way,” Fay mumbled under her breath, sitting in the seat diagonally opposite of Chrono.

While Tilia groaned on the other side of the table, “…Gnnh.”

By the way, Eril was sitting next to him and Layla wasn’t present as she’d gone back to the new barracks. Shaela sat down next to Eril and rested her chin on her hands, leaning her body somewhat forward.

“That’s bad manners.”

“My bad then. But, I like watching people happily eat the food I made myself,” Shaela responded testily to Tilia’s snide comment.

“…Landlady, your food is great.”

“Sweetie, you’re eating it while looking so overjoyed, and yet…,” Shaela sighed exaggeratedly.

Eril cast a sidelong glance at the elder woman. Just when Chrono thought she’d complain about being treated like a child, Eril started to cut up the cooked fish. Apparently she put more emphasis on sating her appetite than asserting her maturity. She put a piece of the fish into her mouth, followed by an entranced expression of bliss.

“Compared to her, you people…”

“You people,” Chrono looked in front of him.

Tilia was scooping her soup without any expression at all while Fay was stuffing her cheeks full with food. Fay chewed hard and then swallowed while turning her eyes in Tilia’s direction.

“Your Highness, Landlady is saying something to you.”

“…She was talking in plural, wasn’t she?” Tilia retorted after wiping her mouth with a napkin.

“I am included in that!?” Fay cried out in surprise. “Why?”

“Are you seriously asking that?”

“I am,” Fay responded to Tilia’s startled question with a serious expression.

“Watch your manners more.”

“My manners are just as bad as those of Landlady, so we are offsetting each other. Besides, I plan to make a living from my swordplay, so it will be enough for my manners to be acceptable. Yep, acceptable will be plenty,” Fay said with a snort.

“I see. Well, do your best then,” Tilia answered, obviously having reached the point of giving up on this.

“That said, how about you, Your Highness?”

“As you can see, I’ve learned etiquette to a level that won’t embarrass me in society.”

With those words, Tilia carried a piece of the cooked fish to her mouth with refined manners.

“That is the part I meant.”

“…What part?” Tilia asked after quite a pause.

Because she had to wipe her mouth with her napkin.

“Landlady has been asking for your impressions. Did you enjoy the food?”

“Hmm,” Tilia furrowed her eyebrows while pulling a complicated expression.

After staying silent for a while, she answered, “It’s normal.”

“I’m fine with that judgment from your girls. Yep, just fine,” Shaela sighed very deeply in response to Tilia’s evaluation.

※

“Uh, sooo cold.”

Chrono entered the bathroom while curling up his body. Probably because of the steam coming from the bathtub, the bathroom was warm when compared to the dressing room. He poured hot water on himself and then entered the bath.

“Haaah, what a nice bath,” he earnestly muttered with his body submerged in the hot water up to his shoulders.

He felt like his chilled body was being massaged from the core. According to a book he read in his previous world, the habit of bathing apparently waned in medieval Europe, but it was living on in this world. He didn’t know who was behind this, but he felt truly thankful. Then again, it was only possible for him to bathe because he imposed the hard work of carrying the water from the first to the third floor on the maids.

Suddenly, he heard a clack. It was the sound of the door being opened. Once he looked back in reflex, he saw Tilia entering. Moreover, she was stark naked.

Tilia looked in his direction, just for Chrono to scream, “Gyaaaaaaaa!”

“Don’t shout all of a sudden! You’ll just startle people!” Tilia drew back, looking shocked.

“W-W-Wh-Why are you in the bathroom, Tilia? Didn’t you take a bath earlier?”

“Hah, that’s simple. I took a bath and then came here once more after estimating the time when you’d bathe,” Tilia explained calmly.

Her appearance as she folded her arms while imposingly standing there naked was…incomparable to anything Chrono knew, but it was definitely anything but normal.

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Why? It’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before, so what are you talking about at this point in time?”

Tilia held her arms akimbo while looking appalled. Chrono scrutinized her while wondering whether she was way too decisive in making clear cuts. Her chest was big, her waist was slender, and her butt was tight. In short, she had superb proportions. But, maybe because she flaunted everything so openly, it didn’t excite him in any way.

“Good work today. I’ll wash your back.”

“Are you scheming something?”

“What would I scheme while being naked like this?” Tilia leaned forward a bit, asking him while appearing to be sullen.

Her big tits shook in concert with her abrupt motion, causing Chrono’s lust to be tickled a bit.

“Hurry up.”

“Well, sure. Why not.”

Chrono left the bath and sat down on a wooden bath stool. In the next instant, something pressed against his back. Chrono’s body trembled with a start. What he felt from his back was soft with just the tips being somewhat hard. Logically, he didn’t really need to think about the identity of what was pushing against his back. It was obviously Tilia’s chest.

“W-Weren’t you going to wash my back.”

“Hmm? Isn’t that why I’m rubbing the soap on your back just like this right now?” Tilia lasciviously whispered into his ear.

The soft sensation moved in circles on his back. Each time his body twitched.

“W-W-W-Where d-did you l-l-l-learn something like this?”

“Since you were frequently staring at my chest, I thought it might make you happy if I did this. How about it?”

“What do you――”

“I guess I didn’t really need to ask.”

Chrono’s body stiffened up. Tilia had moved a hand from behind him and grabbed his dick.

“Doing something like this in the bathroom――”

“Mmh? That’s not what your little Chrono is saying, though.”

Alongside that remark, Tilia moved her hand.

No good. She’s completely seized the initiative on me. I must get away, but I can’t move because it feels so nice. This must be how an octopus feels while being inside an octopus pot.

“Should we make love with each other just like this?”

“――――gh!” Chrono came to his senses upon Tilia’s whisper in his ear.

He hadn’t told Alyssa that he’d like her to get things ready for a journey. If he were to have sex with Tilia now, he’d have to force the unreasonable on Alyssa later on. It’d result in him stealing her time with her daughter and that was something he wanted to avoid at all costs.

“I-I got it, so could you please wash off the soap with hot water?

“Why?

“The soap stings.”

“Hmm, is that how it works?”

Tilia separated from Chrono.

Chrono sighed deeply, somehow feeling very tired all of a sudden. But, he couldn’t afford for things to continue like this. He peeked a glance at Tilia. Probably not doubting his words, Tilia was defenselessly showing him her back.

If it’s like this, I could run away…no, that’s impossible, No matter how I think about it, she’s going to catch me before I manage to leave the bathroom.

Just as he was wondering what to do, an ingenious idea struck him.

This method should work.

“Chrono, I’m washing it off.”

No sooner than saying this, Tilia poured hot water over him from a bucket. It was quite painful for Chrono.

“Now then let us make lov――”

“Before that, I’ll wash your hair.”

“I washed it earlier, you know…?”

“It’s my thanks for washing my back.”

“…Okay, in that case, I’m counting on you.”

Chrono stood up, followed by Tilia flopping down on the bath stool. He went around her, soaped his hands and started to wash her hair.

“It’s going to hurt if it enters your eyes, so you shouldn’t keep your eyes open, okay?”

“I know.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Chrono separated from Tilia, washed the foam off his hands with hot water, and quietly headed towards the exit.

“How much longer do I have to wait?”

“Just a bit.”

“Your voice sounds distant, doesn’t it?”

“Aren’t you just imagining it?”

After stepping out of the bathroom, Chrono breathed out in relief. At that moment, the dressing room’s door opened. Looking in the direction, he found Alyssa standing there while holding a towel. Her gaze went down to his nether region. Alyssa swallowed hard and gently closed the door.

It’s great that she didn’t scream, Chrono thought in relief. But, he couldn’t stay around here, feeling safe. He quickly wiped his body dry and put on his clothes. After leaving the dressing room, he looked around.

Alyssa was standing with her back to the wall, right next to the dressing room’s door. Her face was slightly red.

“…Alyssa?”

“――――gh!”

Called out by Chrono, Alyssa turned in his direction, looking startled. She lowered her head with an apologetic expression.

“Please forgive me.”

“It’s not like it caused me any problems, so you don’t need to apologize.”

“Thank you,” said Alyssa and lifted her head again.

Her face was still red, though.

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you, Alyssa…”

“Please tell me whatever you want.”

“As a matter of fact――”

“Very well. I shall get everything ready for your trip tomorrow.”

Once Chrono explained the situation, Alyssa readily consented.

“With all due respect, but there is something I would like to inquire about…”

“Hmm? Is something on your mind?”

“Yes. It concerns Sir Mino’s hometown. What sort of gift would be appropriate?”

“Ah,” Chrono yelped and became embarrassed, wondering why he hadn’t noticed himself.

“I think they will be happy as long as we bring them something?”

“Excuse me, but I do not understand.”

“Figures. Got it. I’ll go to Picks tomorrow and consult with them.”

“I think that would be a wise choice.”

“Okay, Alyssa, good night.”

“Please have a good night, Master.”

Alyssa bowed respectfully and Chrono started to walk towards his own room. He felt like he was forgetting something, but given that he forgot it, he guessed it wasn’t anything of significance.”

※

“Man, today was such a draining day.”

Chrono let himself fall on his bed after getting back to his own room. Once he cast a fleeting glance at his desk, he saw stacks of documents waiting there. Because he had been out of the mansion for a whole day, his work had piled up. But, currently he felt like going to sleep just like this.

As he was wondering whether he should do his work or go to bed, he heard a knocking. Someone was hitting against the door.

I wonder what sort of business they have this late in the night.

He had a bad premonition about this, but still got out of his bed. Once more knocking could be heard from the door. This time it was stronger than before. Chrono was certain that this wasn’t Alyssa. She was always knocking in a way that kept a perfect balance between not being too loud or too quiet.

“Yeees, I’ll be right there.”

Once he walked up to the door and opened it, he was faced with Tilia standing in the hallway. Her hair was wet.

At that moment, Chrono recalled that he had left her behind in the bathroom. He quietly closed the door.

A loud drumming against the door followed right away. The door knob moved――

Chrono screamed and held back the door knob. A clattering could be heard as Tilia tried to force the door open. Chrono suspected her to be quite angry. She possessed strength one wouldn’t imagine from her slender arms. It didn’t seem like he’d be able to hold out by himself.

But, just as he resolved himself for his inevitable end, the noise stopped. Guessing that she’d given up, he timidly let go of the door knob and slowly backed off from the door.

Nothing happened.

But, just as he breathed out in relief, thinking that she’d left, the door was slammed open with an ogre standing beyond.

“I’ve wai――heepshii!”

“Whoa, just like an old man.”

“Who’s an old man!? It’s all because of you, so apologize at least!”

It was Chrono’s honest opinion of her sneeze, but Tilia immediately raised her voice at him.

“Ugh, my body has completely chilled down.”

“In that case, go back to your own room and get some proper rest for today. With that said――”

“Don’t close the door!”

Chrono tried to shut the door, but Tilia forced her way inside the room. While whining about her being cold, she ran up to his bed and laid down.

“It’s cold, so hurry up and close the door.”

Chrono sighed and shut the door. Tilia had no intention to go back to her own room and he planned to visit Picks tomorrow. If she didn’t allow him to sleep until morning like the other day, it’d interfere with his plans tomorrow. He asked himself whether she wouldn’t be able to at least hold back a bit on the sex.

“I was planning to work from now on…”

“Then I’ll wait until you finish that.”

“I see.”

Chrono sighed once more and walked up to his desk. He sat down and took a document in his hand. It was a request for permission to run a street stall. The applicant was a peddler. Given that the permit would last one year, the peddler likely thought that it’d be best to hand in the application for now. Even so, Chrono was happy as it seemed that this new system yielded the desired results.

He picked up his quill and signed the documents while feeling slightly proud. Thereupon――

“Chrono, are you coming soon?”

“I just started to work, you know?”

Chrono turned around towards the bed. Tilia was staring in his direction while resting her chin in her hands. Her negligee had been rolled up, even exposing her butt.

“Don’t you feel embarrassed, Tilia?”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about at this point?”

“How masculine of you.”

“I’ll take that as a praise.”

Moreover, you’re a lustful predator.”

“Who’s a lustful predator!?”

Tilia jumped up, yelling. Chrono didn’t understand what had triggered her so much.

“Somehow you’re quite pushy.”

“You think so?”

“No, look, during our time at the military academy…,” Chrono started off but then faltered.

Now that he tried to remember it properly――

“Okay, you haven’t changed much since our time at the military academy after all.”

“You neither. So, what are you going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are we going to do it or not? Hurry up and decide,” Tilia said with an irritated voice.

“Ah, then let’s not. Today I’ve got wor――”

“I see, how saddening. And here I’d planned to finally answer your desire, too.”

“Eh!?” Chrono looked at Tilia. “Does that mean I can ask you for everything?”

“You totally jumped at this one, didn’t you? Anyway, I’ll at least let you put him between my breasts.”

“Wait, if it turns out like the other day, it’s going to have a lasting effect on tomorrow.”

“I know, I know. I’ll match my speed with yours.”

“Hmm, I suppose I’ll rely on you then. My work can wait till tomorrow.”

“Your determination is as shaky as a feather. But, I’ll forgive you. Come here.”

With Tilia beckoning him over, Chrono stood up from his chair. He walked over to her while his chest was filled with expectation. His foster father’s warning crossed his mind, but――

“Sorry, Dad. I’m a weak man.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, I was jus――gh!”

Chrono was unable to finish his words. He was hurled on the bed and pinned down by Tilia. It was the perfect recreation of last time’s events.

“Liar!”

“No, I planned to match you until a few moments ago. Seriously. But, when I saw you walking up to me without any caution…”

“Yes?”

“I reflexively hurled and pinned you down. Sorry, Chrono. I’m a weak woman,” Tilia answered while looking as if she was in distress over this.

Contrary to that, a fiery fire was burning in her eyes. Chrono guessed that she wasn’t in distress at all.

“What about you answering my desire?”

“Sorry, but it’s no problem, is it?”

Tilia grinned ferociously and moved her waist so as to press down against his nether region.

Now I know what ‘it’s a wise father that knows his own child’ means.

“I’ve got work to do tomorrow, so please keep it as mild as possible.”

“Got it. I’ll handle you carefully,” Tilia said while throwing out her chest.

Chrono had a bad feeling about this.

※

The next morning Chrono was looking up to the ceiling while muttering, “Liar.”

His eyes hurt. His dick stung. She had been going at it until dawn. Now Chrono felt like going to sleep just like this, but he had to buy a gift. In short, he had no time to go back to sleep.

He sighed deeply and looked next to him. But, Tilia was gone. He felt like she told him that she’d go back to her own room when he was falling asleep, but――

“…I gotta get up. Go go!” Chrono raised his body while firing himself up more than usual.

Immediately following, he could hear knocking from the door. This way of knocking was Alyssa’s without a doubt. Somehow he felt a deja vu.

“Enter~”

“Please excuse me.”

The door opened. As expected, Alyssa stood in the hallway. After bowing respectfully, she entered the room.

“Did I oversleep?”

“I think you just woke up a bit slower than usual,” Alyssa said while looking troubled.

“By the way, what about Tilia?”

“She went back to her room after taking a bath.”

How cruel, Chrono covered his face with both hands. Quite the free spirit, isn’t she? It’s true that she lost her political power and was released from her restrictions, but isn’t she a bit too reckless? If I don’t do something about this, she could become an obstacle to my work as lord. But, thinking about how to deal with her has to wait.

“Haaah,” Chrono sighed and got out of the bed.

In response, Alyssa widened her eyes lightly. Her cheeks flushed in no time. And then she averted her face.

At that point Chrono noticed him being stark naked. In panic, he wrapped the bed sheet around his waist.

“Sorry for these continuous incidents since yesterday.”

“N-No! Not at all!” Alyssa answered with a shrill voice while glancing in Chrono’s direction.

“Would it be better for me to enter the bath before eating?”

Alyssa didn’t answer. She was fidgeting around while blushing.

“Alyssa?”

“――――gh! Please forgive me. I shall go and prepare the bath right away.”

Once he called her name, Alyssa straightened her back as if taken aback. After bowing her head deeply――and energetically――she quickly left the room.

※

“Somehow, you look terrible, you know?”

Shaela commented with an appalled tone when Chrono entered the dining hall after finishing his bath.

“When I entered the bath while lacking sleep, my exhaustion suddenly…”

“Are you hungry then?”

“Not really. Or rather, I’m going to fall asleep for sure with a full stomach.”

“Good grief. And here I put all my skill into making this for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I hope so,” Shaela said sulkily and stood up. “Well, it’s not like it’s your fault, right? Wait a moment. I’ll go and brew an aroma tea for you.”

“Thank you, Landlady.”

“No need to thank me for something like this.”

Shaela smiled with a troubled face and headed to the kitchen. Chrono sat down on a free chair and leaned back. At once, his consciousness grew distant――

“What, so you fell asleep?”

“Agnh!”

Chrono jumped up when he suddenly had something cold pressed against his cheek. As he looked around him in a hurry, Shaela placed a cup on the table.

“It’s aroma tea infused in cold water.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mind it.”

With those words, Shaela sat down opposite Chrono.

Chrono grabbed the cup and brought it to his mouth. As soon as he sipped on it, a refreshing, or rather, cooling taste spread inside his mouth. Kind of like a menthol candy.

“How is it?”

“It prickles my eyes because it’s too cooling.”

“I guess I messed up a bit on the amount. But, it’s perfect for staying awake, right?”

Shaela furrowed her eyebrows, as if troubled.

“About earlier, did you possibly fall asleep?”

“I felt comfortable, so I dozed off.”

“Hehe,” Shaela giggled while revealing an innocent expression.

This pulled on Chrono’s heartstrings.

I wonder when she’s going to visit next time? I sure am looking forward to it.

As he was thinking something like that, Shaela suddenly pulled a complicated look. Moreover, she averted her face, now looking at Chrono with sidelong glances. Chrono wondered whether she had read his mind.

“I-Is there something bothering you?”

“N-No, it’s nothing. But…”

“Yes?”

“…I got slightly curious what was done to you,” Shaela answered after a little pause.

Maybe because she was jealous, she pursed her lips, clearly pouting. Chrono, on the other hand, broke into a smile over having found a new side of her.

“What’s with that face? I was simply asking myself what I gotta do to be able to seize the initiative.”

“…So you’re aware of your own rather submissive nature, eh?”

Shaela stared at Chrono and then turned her face away again. Probably out of embarrassment. Her face was bright red up to her ears.

“I can tell you how, but I doubt you’ll be able to imitate it.”

“You don’t know such things unless you try them out yourself, right?” Shaela retorted testily.

“No, but…”

“Hurry up and spit it out. I can easily handle what a princess can.”

“Okay, that means you’re going to try it out on your next visit…”

“What are you deciding all for yourself?”

“I won’t tell you, unless you promise me that much.”

“……Ugh, I got it,” Shaela groaned an answer after a long spell of silence.

“Umm, first off, I was hurled by Tilia――”

“Wait, just what have you two been doing!?”

“Please listen to the end,” Chrono stopped Shaela from raising her voice with a slightly sullen mood.

“Ah, sorry. So, what came afterwards.”

“She mounted me and I was violated by her until dawn broke.”

“That won’t serve as any sort of reference at all, you know?”

Shaela said with a sigh. Chrono drank the aroma tea and breathed out. Probably thanks to the aroma tea or maybe because of the nap, albeit being extremely short, he felt refreshed.

“You think you can imitate that?”

“I think I could manage one way or the other up to the hurling part, but…no, I think that part might be somewhat difficult for me as well. I haven’t trained for many years.”

“Come to think of it, you came here from the southern borderland, didn’t you?”

“What about it?”

“They say it’s not unusual for the people of that region to be good at self-defense.”

“That’s a prejudice. Nothing else. Almost no one in the second generation of the settler families is learning martial arts,” Shaela answered after sighing.

“So, do you think you’ll be able to hurl and mount me?”

“I’ve got no confidence in that.”

“But, it sounds like you’re willing to give it a try…”

Shaela averted her face upon Chrono’s comment.

“Is there some problem with that?”

“No, not particularly. But, I’m slightly reluctant to do it.”

“Figures. I had noticed it vaguely, but you don’t have much experience, have you?”

“T-That’s not true. N-Not true at all,” Shaela denied Chrono’s calm murmur with a high-pitched voice.

“Then it’s fine to go through with it, isn’t it?”

“Y-Yeah, sure. Easy-peasy. E-Even the other day, I was on top, right?”

“Oh, right. Sorry, I totally forgot.”

“I-It’s fine as long as you get it.”

Shaela threw out her chest in pride. Yet, it wasn’t as though she went on top of her own accord, but Chrono guessed that he should remain quiet about this.

“Alright, I’m looking forward to the next day when you’ll be visiting me.”

“Hehen, you can count on it. Just you wait.”

Shaela puffed while Chrono gulped down the remaining tea in one go.

“Okay, I’m going to Picks…but before that, I guess I’ll go to Elena, huh? Anyway, I’m off.”

“Make sure to not come back too late.”

“Okaaay,” Chrono replied as he left the dining room. Then he stopped and silently peeked into the dining room from the other side of the wall. There he found Shaela looking downward while covering her face with both hands. Her ears were bright red. Chrono was sure she was currently regretting having made such a promise.

A smile formed on his lips while he headed for Elena’s office.

※

“Elena, are you in?”

When Chrono entered the room, Elena was sitting at her desk, holding a quill in her hand. He headed to the window while casting a sidelong glance at her, and picked up a vase. He remembered having felt that material somewhere before.

“Ah, Sadal Pottery’s――”

“That’s a cheap vase I bought at a stall,” Elena immediately retorted.

Chrono ended up scratching himself in embarrassment. He put the vase back on its previous place and walked up to Elena. In response, Elena put down the quill and shook her hand as if to relax muscle stiffness.

“What business do you have with me to expressly come all the way here?”

“I wanted to meet you.”

“Hah, nice joke,” Elena snorted, unintentionally revealing a smile. “Why are you smiling as if you’re not believing a single word I said?”

“When I consider what you’re going to do for the sake of the day you’ll visit me to get your pillow, a smile naturally――”

“You’re wrong!” Elena raised her voice. “So, why are you here?”

“Actually――”

Chrono summarized yesterday’s events for Elena.

“So, you want to ask about a gift item? Or a budget for it?”

“I’ll go to Picks as I plan to get their advice on a good gift.”

“Even the employees at Picks won’t know what demi-humans like to receive as presents, will they?”

“Maybe not, but it’s still better than me worrying all by myself.”

“Makes sense. So you want to ask for a budget?”

“Considering a gift based on the budget is a bit…”

“Usually you’d do just that. Or why else did you put me in charge of the accounting?” Elena pouted.

“So you didn’t come here to talk about the budget nor the gift item. Just why are you here?”

“About that…”

Stopping his words at that point, Chrono leaned himself forward. At once Elena pulled her body back as if overawed.

“How much do you think I’d need to pay the lord to have him approve of Mino’s clan immigrating to us?”

“Ah, that’s how it is.”

Elena folded her arms and furrowed her eyebrows.

“…It depends on the time and situation, I’d say.”

“Sure, that sounds logical, but…,” Chrono groaned.

He had hoped that he’d be able to hear something slightly concreter, but――

“Which reminds me, you said that they’re working at the quarry in the Bawdies Barony, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. Is there anything wrong with that?”

“The special product of the Bawdies Barony happens to be marble.”

“Ah, that’s bad then,” Chrono groaned once more.

If Mino’s clan was working at the marble quarry, it’d be difficult to get permission for their relocation. Acknowledging the immigration of the clan would not only mean a loss of workers, but also a loss of know-how that had been cultivated up until now.

“I think it’d be easier to buy slaves than going out of your way to have people immigrate. What’s with those eyes?”

“I didn’t expect that you’d bring up something like that. That’s all.”

“Did you think I’d look at you with eyes as if staring at a bug?”

“Yep, I did.”

Elena grimaced when he admitted it honestly.

“Lord Chrono, you want to abolish slavery, don’t you?”

“Someday, yes. Right now I lack the power and I don’t know what I’d need to do so that I’d be able to abolish it…”

“I think that’s a wonderful goal to have. But, I feel happier that I was bought by you than being bought by some terrible asshole or getting killed as unsold goods.”

“I suppose you can think about it like that as well.”

“It means you’re too tied up by your own thoughts. Deal with things by adapting yourself to the situation as needed.”

“Gotcha. Thank you for the advice.”

“I didn’t really say it with this intent.”

Elena averted her eyes.

“Let’s get back to the main topic. How much could I pay if we assume I were to negotiate with Baron Bawdies?”

“Wait a second.”

Once Chrono asked, Elena retrieved an account book from a drawer and opened it.

“Adding last year’s total income and the previous balance, 81,500 imperial gold and…”

“A rough estimate will do just fine.”

“65,000 gold――”

“Gotcha. 65,000 gold, huh?”

“I haven’t finished speaking,” Elena objected with a sullen tone and suddenly stared at Chrono, “Let me tell you just for caution’s sake, but it doesn’t mean that it’s fine for you to pay up to 65,000 gold. Make sure you don’t misunderstand that part, okay? This sum also includes the money of your subordinates.”

“It’s going to be fine even without you emphasizing it so much.”

Given that the unpaid wages amounted to 39,000 gold, the available sum of money was 26,000 gold――a sum allowing one to build five barracks, but when it came to paying the baron for letting go of a whole industry, you could only describe this sum as lacking. At least Chrono wouldn’t respond to such negotiations, if he was in Baron Bawdies’s shoes. Or he would respond, but only if he needed money urgently or if the business was failing anyway.

“…I guess I’ll deal with it depending on the situation.”

For some reason, Elena’s body twitched.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing in particular,” Elena faced away.

She was restlessly rubbing her thighs against each other.

“You were looking unhappy, so――”

“Were you expecting it?”

“I didn’t!” Elena yelled, her face bright red.

“Okay, I’m heading over to Picks then.”

“Don’t spend too much money, okay?”

“I know.”

Chrono raised both hands in surrender upon Elena saying so with a serious expression.

※

As soon as Chrono stepped out of his mansion, he could hear hammering from Goldi’s workshop and see steam rising from the paper mill. It looked like both workshops were going strong.

He headed to the main gate, but stopped in front of the workshop. Just then Goldi was lining up lumber. Probably having noticed Chrono’s look, Goldi turned around.

“Oh, do you have some business with me?”

“It’s not that. I was just wondering what you’re doing.”

“Ah, I’m just about to do maintenance on a device I built beforehand.”

“What did you build?”

Chrono looked to his side, just to find Fay standing there.

“It’s a woodblock printer.”

“What is that?” Fay tilted her head in confusion.

“Just as its name suggests, it’s a device to print through wood,” explained Goldi proudly.

“Which reminds me, I had you build one of those. You used the grapevine press as the foundation for it, didn’t you?”

“Correct. It took quite some time to adjust it so that the pressure would be applied evenly.”

“It was very difficult,” Fay nodded seriously as Goldi nostalgically recounted his past hardships. “Why did you build a woodblock printer?”

“When I previously created a picture book through woodblock printing, we had a talk about what we should do to make the wood printing as efficient as possible. Accordingly, I had Goldi make this for me.”

“Woodblock printing? Picture book? Ahhh, I understand,” Fay clapped her hands together.

Apparently she comprehended it.

“I have never seen a woodblock printer being created. Why?”

“It’s not suited for creating a small number of book copies.”

“I see.”

Fay agreed to Chrono’s explanation. But, suddenly she noticed something.

“Come to think of it, isn’t Tony with you today?”

“――gh!” Fay gasped and averted her face from Chrono.

“Did he run away?”

“It seems like he is studying at the hospital this morning,” Fay answered somewhat sulkily.

“Ohh, now that you mention it.”

“I feel uneasy as it looks like my pupil will be stolen by Lady Shion.”

“Tony likes swordsmanship, so I don’t think you need to worry about it too much.”

“It makes me feel anxious!” Fay repeated it while raising her voice. “If my pupil is stolen by Lady Shion, my leadership qualities will be called into question. If people believe I cannot guide a single child decently, my career path will be closed off as well.”

“No, something like that is――”

“It is true, is it not!?” Fay interrupted Chrono, her eyes full of expectation.

It seemed like she’d abandon Tony’s training, if he told her that it’s not true.

“I will take your leadership qualities into account as well.”

“Too many expectations are being placed on me!” Fay stomped her feet in frustration and sighed very deeply. “Not only will all the effort up until now come to nothing by someone else butting in, but the world will mistake it as being a negative assessment. It is so cruel.”

“But, you will often find such things happen in the world, won’t you?”

“I would have preferred you to deny my remark instead,” Fay groaned.

However, a part of Chrono naturally felt that the world was unreasonable, seeing how he was transferred to another world without any explanation or warning on the day of his high school exam.

“Which reminds me, I heard you will be going to the Bawdies Barony, but which carriage are you going to take?”

“I think I’ll go with the covered wagon.”

“Okay, I will affix the cover to it then.”

“Sorry for hurrying you.”

“It has been remodeled to accommodate removal and installation. It won’t take much time.”

“Okay, please take care of it then.”

“You can count on me.”

Chrono started to walk towards the main gate again, but he stopped right away. He turned around and went back on the path he came.

“Is something the matter?”

“There’s something I’d like you to make for me, Goldi…”

Chrono knelt down and drew a figure with a wooden stick. Goldi peered at the drawing――

“What is this?”

“This is――”

Chrono gave an explanation about the drawing.

“Does it look like you can make it?”

“Let’s see. It will require several workarounds, but it’s nothing that’s impossible to make.”

“Can I leave it to you?”

“Alright. I will finish it until you come back, Lord Chrono.”

“Thanks.”

“No need.”

“Take care,” Chrono tapped Goldi’s shoulder and headed towards the gate once again.

Feeling a presence, he looked at his side to find Fay walking there. Apparently having noticed his stare, she looked at him.

“What is it?”

“I was wondering where you might be going.”

“And here I asked myself what you would be saying next. I am your guard, Lord Chrono.”

“I’m just going to Picks, so I don’t particularly need――”

“Am I bothering you?” Fay asked, interrupting Chrono.

Even if she would start to cry, Fay looked like she’d feel dejected, if he told her that he didn’t need a guard. That’s why――

“That’s not the case at all.”

“Then there is no problem.”

Fay started to walk in a happy mood.

※

When Chrono opened the door of the Picks store, a clear ringing signaled his entry. It was the door chime――metallic rods attached to the inner side of the door. Soon after, Nikola rushed his way.

“Lord Chrono, thank you kindly for visiting our humble store. What sort of business might you have with us today?”

“It could take a bit longer…”

“If that is the case, please follow me this way.”

Guided by Nikola, Chrono moved to the reception room deeper inside the store.

“Please have a seat, Lord Chrono.”

“Thank you.”

Once Chrono sat down on the offered sofa, Nikola took the seat opposite of him. Fay remained standing.

“Fay, you’re not going to sit down?”

“I am your guard, so it is proper for me to remain standing.”

“That is an outstanding mindset to have,” Nikola commented with a gentle voice.

“You are exaggerating. It isn’t anything so special,” answered Fay while looking rather happy about it.

“Very well, please allow me to ask you once again: What sort of business might you have with us today?”

“As a matter of fact, it’s been decided that I’ll go to the hometown of Mino, my adjutant. I came here to buy gifts to take with me for his family.”

“I see. Allow me to ask: where is the hometown of Sir Mino located?”

“The Bawdies Barony, but do you know the place?”

“Yes, my appearance might suggest otherwise, but I am still a humble merchant,” Nikola smiled gently.

“Have you decided on the type of gift you wish to take with you?”

“I’ve been thinking that it’d be nice for Mino to be able to hold up his head high when coming back home, but any more than this… Thus, I thought it’d be wise to get your opinion on this.”

“I understand. When it comes to gifts for the family of a noble’s subordinate…” Nikola covered his mouth with a hand as if pondering. “How about drapery? It was a common custom in older eras for a lord to bestow his retainers with drapery, so I think it might be very fitting as a gift.”

“Oh, okay. How much drapery should I take with me?”

“I cannot estimate this.”

“Makes sense. Ah, please wait a moment.”

Chrono retrieved the magic communicator from his pouch.

“Mino, can you hear me?”

『……Aye, what’s the matter, Captain?』

Probably because he was in the middle of his work, Mino answered Chrono with a slight delay.

“How many members does your clan have?”

『I don’t know their current numbers, but I think it should be ’round fifty families』

“Got it. Thanks.”

『Yer welcome』

Chrono put the communicator back into the pouch.

“It seems there’s around fifty families. Assuming every family has four members…It’ll be two hundred people.”

“Understood. Please give me a moment since I will bring you a fabric example.”

Nikola stood up from the sofa and left the room. After a short while――

“Two hundred people’s worth of gifts sounds like it will cost quite a bit,” Fay muttered.

“I’m quite indebted to Mino, so doing this much is set in stone,” Chrono leaned back on the sofa.

“Lord Chrono, you are a kind man.”

“Just as I said moments ago, Mino has taken good care of me, so I just want to repay him for that.”

“Then allow me to rephrase: Lord Chrono, you are an integer man.”

“Thanks,” replied Chrono with a wry smile.

※

In the evening Chrono and Fay finally left the Picks store after choosing a drapery. At once they headed over to the alms house. And because it was already evening, the lady at the reception looked like she was about to leave for the day.

“Oh my, Lord Chrono, do you have any business with us?”

“I came to meet with Ms. Shion.”

“Ah, the director is in her office.”

“Thank you,” said Chrono and entered the alms house.

Passing through the hall with its space partitioned by screens, he went up to the second floor and knocked on the door of the director’s office located at the end of the corridor. But, there was no response.

“There is no reply. This means we have no choice but to go――”

“Excuse me.”

Chrono ignored Fay and entered the room. Shion was sleeping while still seated at her desk. As he made his way through the room, she slowly opened her eyes――

“――gh! F-F-Forgive m-me!”

She jumped up and bowed.

“I have to ask for forgiveness since I entered the room on my own accord.”

“N-No, it’s my f-fault for nodding off.”

Hanging her head apologetically, she looked at Chrono with her eyes upturned.

“U-Umm, what business do you have with me today?”

“Actually I decided to build a port in the Cad Earldom. Accordingly I wanted to ask whether it would be okay to use the big rock near the Ochre Temple as building material.”

“Of course. I made that rock grow out of the ground when I was still young,” Shion said sorrowfully.

Still young likely meant the time when she could use her divine arts, Chrono guessed.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, if it can be of use to you…”

“I will gladly take you up on that.”

“Okay,” Shion replied with a sad smile.

※

At night, Chrono finished taking a bath and collapsed onto his bed as soon as he came back to his room. Today was a hard day for him. Exhaustion and sleepiness were heavily weighing down on him. As his consciousness gradually became distant――

“――Lord Chrono?”

“――rg!”

Chrono jumped up when his name was called. He looked around himself, just to find Layla standing next to his bed. He guessed she’d come here after cleansing her body. Her hair was still wet.

“Ah, sorry. I was asleep.”

“No, I know that you have been busy, so…umm,” continued Layla with her cheeks blushing and her being restless, “would it be better, err, for me to go back for today?”

“Ye…no, no need for that.”

Chrono almost agreed, but then shook his head. It looked like he’d only hurt Layla if he sent her away now.

Sometimes men must push onwards, even if it’s unreasonable.

“Is it really okay?”

“Yes.”

“Then I would like to receive your love…”

Layla bashfully took off her uniform, revealing underwear with a cute design. It was a design Chrono saw for the first time. And only now did he start to believe that it had been a good decision to push himself.

“…You can stay like this.”

“O-Okay.”

Once Chrono laid down, Layla looked as if she was confused. Chrono suspected that she wasn’t sure whether she should get on the bed.

After a short while, she gently placed a knee on the bed.

“…Could I have you ride me on top?”

“――gh! I-I cannot do that!”

Layla gulped, refusing Chrono’s request.

“Didn’t you previously do it by yourself?”

“B-Back then…,” started Layla and then muttered with a fading voice, “…I had lost my mind.”

“Please ride on top of me.”

“………O-Okay, I understand.”

This time he asked politely. After a long spell of silence, Layla agreed.

“E-Excuse me.”

“Sure, get on.”

Layla timidly got on top of Chrono, sitting on her knees while looking hesitant.

“A bit lower. Lower yourself a bit more.”

“A-A bit lower, you say?”

Layla moved her waist downwards, unwillingly.

“Yes, slowly lower your waist.”

“O-Okay. ――nh!”

Layla slowly lowered her waist, just to rise again into her knee posture as if having touched something hot. She sent an imploring look in Chrono’s direction, but there was no reply to her plea.

Once again she lowered her waist. On the way she trembled, but this time she managed to properly lower her waist all the way.

She breathed out deeply while hanging over Chrono.

“So what should I do next?”

“I’d like you to let me enjoy you just like this for a while.”

“Like this――nh!”

Layla gasped. Chrono had touched her ass. Grabbing it firmly, he rocked it back and forth. At first she looked as if confused, but her expression soon changed into one of endurance, before it further changed into a strained look. A damp sensation was passed on to Chrono.

“Umm, Lord Chrono?”

“You’re letting me enjoy it just like this, right?”

“Yes,” Layla replied with a very thin voice.

Chrono shook her butt back and forth while firmly holding onto it. The moist sensation became stronger and Layla looked at him with glazy eyes――

“――――gh!”

She suddenly swallowed her breath. With Chrono putting his hands behind his head, she noticed that she was swinging her hips by herself. Her cheeks dyed red.

“Next I’d like to hear your wish, okay Layla?”

“U-Umm, could I get…”

you affection, she asked with a fading voice.

“Got it. Take care of him like the other day, okay?”

“…Yes.”

Layla moved even further down and lowered Chrono’s pants. And then she took her knee posture and returned to her low position again, putting a hand on the string of her panties. She tightly closed her eyes and pulled on the string, her body quivering.

“I shall give you my service.”

With those words Layla slowly lowered her waist.

※

The next morning, Chrono stepped outside while stifling a yawn. Layla stood right next to the place where you’d leave towards the entryway. She looked apologetic.

“Morning, Layla.”

“Good morning, Lord Chrono. Forgive me for last night.”

“I should be the one apologizing.”

“No, Lord Chrono, you didn’t do anything worthy of…”

apology, added Layla with a faint voice.

Once Chrono started to walk, Layla followed him with a slight delay. A covered wagon was parked in the garden. He guessed that the loading of their baggage had already finished, seeing how Mino and Alyssa were standing next to the wagon.

“Morning, you two.”

“Good Mornin’, Captain.”

“Good Morning to you as well, Master.”

As soon as Chrono called out to them Mino curtly bobbed his head while Alyssa bowed respectfully.

“I feel sorry for havin’ ye get so many souvenirs.”

“You’re always taking good care of me, Mino. This much is normal.”

“Let me thank ye once more then.”

Chrono looked at Alyssa.

“Alyssa, please take care of the mansion.”

“You can count on me, Master,” Alyssa said after straightening her back and placing a hand on her chest.

It was then that Cain’s group――Cain, Fay, Sub, Alba, Glove, and Geiner――showed up. Cain and Sub were walking while the rest were riding horses.

“Sorry. The meeting dragged on a bit.”

“I could have com――”

“Good morning, Lord Chrono!” Fay interrupted Chrono, causing Cain to sigh lightly.

“Sub, you sit in the driver’s seat.”

“Ayes, Boss.”

“I told you, stop it with the boss. We’re Lord Chrono’s cavalry.”

“Aye aye, sorry for that. Ain’t easy to get rid of my habits from our time as mercenaries.”

Sub laughed while exposing his missing front tooth.

“Come to think of it, what about the princess?”

“Isn’t she still sleeping?”

“How cold-hearted of her.”

Immediately after Cain said so with a sigh, they could hear a bang. The front door had been slammed open. Once Chrono reflexively looked in the direction, Tilia was quickly coming closer. Eril was with her, too.

“Morning, Tilia.”

“Mm, morning. I almost overslept,” Tilia returned the greeting while rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Didn’t Alyssa wake you?”

“I planned to stand up by myself today,” Tilia answered while turning her face away.

Chrono looked at Alyssa. She was showing an expression that seemed troubled and pleased at the same time.

“It’d be better if I went together with you as well, but…”

“…Your Highness, you mustn’t leave the Erakis March,” Eril muttered.

“Didn’t I go to the Cad Earldom just a little while ago?”

“…Let me correct myself: Your Highness, you mustn’t leave the territory under Marquis Erakis.”

“So she says,” Tilia said while appalled, but Eril’s words were reasonable.

Although she had lost the right to succeed the throne, she still held the title of imperial princess. It wouldn’t have been weird for her to remain locked up for the rest of her life.

“Your safety――”

“We have to depart now! We are off!”

“Ugh!”

Being interrupted by Fay, Tilia groaned.

“You heard Fay. I’m off.”

“Yeah, good tra――”

“Lord Chrono!”

Tilia was interrupted once again. This time it was Layla. She hugged Chrono as if overcome by emotions.

“Ugh,” groaned Tilia once more.

“Please make sure to stay safe.”

“It’ll be okay. No need to worry.”

Once Chrono gently stroked her hair, Layla reluctantly separated from him.

“…Chrono.”

Having his name called by Tilia, he looked at her, just to see her having spread both her arms.

“Come.”

“…Okay.”

Chrono walked up to her and she pulled him into a powerful embrace. Moreover, she put her hands on his back, clapping it repeatedly. Considering the noise it caused, he oddly enough didn’t feel any pain.

Tilia separated from Chrono――

“…Weird,” she muttered.

Once again she tightly hugged Chrono and clapped his back.

“Isn’t something off? Your expression remains unchanged?”

“It’s fine.”

“Really?”

Tilia pulled away while cocking her head in doubt. Chrono turned his back on her and climbed on the wagon. One third of the wagon was crammed with the gifts.

“Please excuse me.”

Once Mino got on, the wagon sank a bit.

“Now then, let us go!”

“”””Ayes!””””

As soon as Fay raised her voice, Sub, Alba, Glove, and Geiner answered her in harmony and the wagon started to slowly move.

<– Previous Chapter | Table of Content | Next Chapter –>

Translation Notes: