Chapter 22 – Assemble, Team Masaru (temporary)

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When we went back to the beastkin after leaving Ann and Ellie behind at the temple, Lilia was taking on the children in a corner of the training arena.

I curtly told Lilia about the earlier events while gazing at the children from further away. Even those children, which had looked pretty shabby and dirty at first, had started to look cute with their fur having visibly improved after making them bathe and having them wear clean clothes. I’m looking forward to how several of them will turn out in a few years. Or rather, around a dozen of them…

Wait, aren’t those numbers somehow low?

“Their numbers have decreased quite a bit, haven’t they?”

I remember having seen more of them in the morning, but now I can only spot around twenty. Previously it should have been at least twice that.

“About that…sorry. When I talked with them a bit, some ended up leaving.”

They apparently thought that they might as well probe whether it looked like they would have a Blessing since they got some free time with harvest playing no role. But, showing them the duel between Franceska and me as well as Franceska’s trained of Will must have had a negative effect.

Franceska was taking the whole day off today, so she had trained Will quite thoroughly while I was at the fortress. She earlier mentioned something about giving Will’s armor a final goodbye as well. Currently Will was taking a break since he had run out of mana.

Many of the smaller children probably got cold feet after watching that. Being told by Lilia that this level of training was an everyday occurrence, several children refused joining my friends. It’s not like they wouldn’t get any help just because they aren’t our comrades, so when Lilia promised that she’d also train those leaving swordsmanship and archery, their numbers went down a lot more drastically than expected.

It’s regrettable that so many left, but we’re quite rigorous, so it’d be next to impossible for them to keep up without the appropriate will to do it.

“So, well, I told them all kinds of things.”

She apparently recounted several heroic tales of me. Lilia usually doesn’t go as far as Sati, but she has a tendency to overestimate me, and I’m sure that had some effect as well.

The remaining beastkin apparently can keep secrets to a certain extent, and Lilia say it’ll be fine to push them somewhat. Taking them out of the refugee camp will be OK as well.

“The ones remaining in the end are these eighteen people, but…”

With those words, she looked up to me pleadingly. She probably thinks that it’s bad that she went ahead with things on her own devices.

“It’s your call and I trust you. Well done, Lilia.”

It’s not as if I’m following some sort of plan and I don’t have any time to decide on training regimens either. If she takes things in her own hand while thinking it over by herself like this, it’s a big help for me as it saves time.

The forty to fifty people, who had been present at the beginning, were too much anyway. With those numbers, the weapons we got from the elven chief wouldn’t have been enough for everyone.

“Oh, right! Tittos has visited earlier because of that investigation we talked about before, so I’ve been planning to leave the beastkin training to him, depending on how much free time he’s got.”

“Ah, that is a good idea.”

I can vouch for Tittos’s sword skills. I’ve never seen him use arrows and bow, but I think elves can use archery naturally.

I wondered whom I should entrust with the training of the beastkin during our absence, but if it’s Tittos, I can leave it in his hands with a peace of mind since he knows the circumstances.

“Alright, we must think about how we’re going to deal with these guys then. Have you talked about our plans after tomorrow?”

Even if we outsource all of the training stuff to Tittos, we must at least decide on the goal of the training ahead of time.

“Isn’t the idea to make it possible for them to at least participate in the Hilagis recapture?”

In front of the kids, who were staring at me with eyes full of anticipation while sitting obediently on the ground and waiting, I said, “I have to leave this place tomorrow.”

“”Eeehhh!?””

It’s no wonder that they’re surprised, seeing how I told them that I’d take care of them and let them join my friends, just to tell them the next day that I’ve got to leave. I had also considered staying behind, but I was forced to renew my promise that I’d properly go through the master swordsman’s training.

“To begin with, we only came here to deliver some items for a request. However, we plan to come back as soon as we wrap up our other business.”

They all asked things like “Where are you going?” or “When will you be back?”

“His Lordship is allowed to receive the master swordsman’s training. For this reason, the timing of his return depends on when the training has been completed.”

Hearing Syrah-chan’s explanation, the beastkin children cheered loudly.

“I plan to request a friend of mine to take care of your sword and archery training until I get back here. I have also asked my wife Angela, who’s also a priestess, to handle the rest. She has said that she’d keep an eye on things over here as she plans to stay in the fortress’s temple for a while, so please rely on her if something is troubling you.”

I haven’t introduced Ann to them or anything, but I think they know her since she was with us in the morning. Lilia said that Tittos dropped in around noon, so they should have seen him at that time.

As for the rest…let’s see…training so many children will be quite taxing on one person, so I’ll call out to elder beastkin since some of them might be retired adventurers.

“In addition, we must also decide something else for these kids.”

“You’re right. We must work out what they’ll be doing during our absence.”

“That’s not what I meant. A name, they need a name. It’s inconvenient without one, right? Accordingly, I temporarily dubbed them Team Masaru. Or would the Masaru Army Corps be better?”

She started to suggest some weird shit. Deciding on a name is fine and all that, but what’s the deal with Team Masaru?

“That is a great name, Lilia-ane-sama.”

However, Syrah-chan approved that naming, and Sati was repeatedly nodding in agreement, too. Tilika, on the other hand, looked as though all of this had nothing to do with her.

“No, no, wait a sec. I will think of something!”

It’s normal to use your hometown or some nicely-sounding, exaggerated, groovy name for parties, but their birthplace is scattered all over Hilagis. If I don’t think of anything good, it seems like Team Masaru will be set.

Our party is Samurai. So, Team Samurai? No, somehow that’s lacking. I guess I’ll make up something from the Japanese language again.”

“We are Samurai, so retainers or servants…”

Team Kashin might do the trick (T/N: kashin (家臣) = retainer).

“Kashin? Kerai?” Lilia asked, probably baffled by the unfamiliar words.

“Both mean retainer or subordinate in the place I was born. Team Retainer, Servants, Entourage.”

“Gokeraishuu! Gokeraishuu!” (T/N: Gokeraishuu (御家来衆) is what I translated as entourage. Literally it’s a bigger group of vassals/subordinates)

The children apparently liked the feeling of the word entourage.

Once I asked, “What about Team Retainer?”, they appeared somewhat underwhelmed. I still do not quite get the finer nuances of the language over here.

“So, these kids are going to be Gokeraishuu?”

It’s long and sounds somehow bad.

“Team and entourage are similar in meaning. I think Team Entourage or Team Servants would do.”

“Team Entourage? It’s not as good as Team Masaru, but it’s not bad either.”

The children seemed to like it, so we quickly settled on Team Entourage. It does feel weird, but I don’t mind either way, as long as it’s not Team Masaru.”

With the name set, and their planned activity not being fixed yet, it was necessary to train them first. The ones in charge of the training gathered quickly once they were approached by the chief. Given that the granny, who used to be an adventurer, would help out as well, I decided to have her take on the role of advisor.

“Apart from us getting you to learn how to use swords and bows first, are you kids able to read and write?”

The only ones cheerfully raising their hands amidst the eighteen children and yelling, “I can!” were Karl and one more. That’s not much.

“I guess we’ll also add reading and writing to the curriculum.”

Apparently the members of Team Entourage weren’t overly keen to learn how to read and write, but once Sati took out many picture books from her item box and showed them to the kids while saying, “It’s fun if you can read!”, everyone started to show interest.

After deciding to arrange a teacher for the writing and reading course, I left this place to Sati and continued with the previous house construction. I must get as much of that done as possible before I leave this place.

Because Tilika’s summoned beast passed on a message from Ann that they were busy at noon and wouldn’t be able to join us, I ate my lunch uneventfully among the beastkin. I deepened my exchange with the members of Team Entourage and interviewed the teachers, who had arrived as time went on, while eating. I was told that we didn’t need to pay them anything for this, but I’ll provide proper wages. I think Ann will be able to pay a suitable salary if I ask her to take care of it.

Given that Tittos had also shown up to report about the elves, he gladly accepted the job of teacher when I asked him.

“Even if we hurry the investigation, it won’t change much, and the others will be fine if I drop out for a while. Let us get started right away.”

Ann seemed busier than I had expected, so it’d be a fairly big help, if I could have Tittos stay here permanently as he also knows the situation.

“Alright, I’d like you to train them in archery as their main weapon first.”

If they can use bow and arrows, we can take them along on hunts, even if they won’t be any immediate combat asset at first.

“You can count on me, Masaru-sama. I will raise them into outstanding archers you can proudly show off anywhere without having to feel ashamed!”

I thought it’d be best for them to not overdo it, but Tittos and the children were quite pumped. And well, he did tell me to count on him, so I’ll let him handle it as he sees fit…

Secretly going back to the elven village, I procured the necessary amount of bows and, while at it, also picked up Sati’s picture books from our mansion in the village. She told me she’d give away all of them, except for her favorites. Sati sure is a generous girl. I decided to lend out the ones I finished reading, too. It’ll be fine to get the originals back after they copied them during the reading and writing lessons.

Seeing how the reading and writing classes would be a rare occasion, we decided to teach all children together and thus I built a slightly bigger single-classroom school. It was just the building and didn’t even have any chairs, but since they have funds, I think it’ll be okay to have them gradually buy or build whatever they need.

And then I expanded the whole compound even further since they said they’d farm at the dry river bed. If they can farm fast-growing veggies such as tubers, it should alleviate the food shortage a bit.

All that’s left now is to refill the bath water which ran out after I filled it up in the morning. Quite a busy day, I tell you.

■

“The most promising kids at present are Karl, Parsha, Mel, I’d say,” Lilia explained during a break after having finished most of the afternoon’s work.

Franceska had taken Will with her to get some more training.

I know Karl. He’s an orphan and has been sticking to us from the very beginning. Pasha’s only family is her grandfather and she probably feels indebted to us for having saved him from starvation.

“Isn’t Mel way too small?”

Mel is the girl whom I gave a grilled meat skewer to in the beginning, but isn’t she like five or six years old? I think she’s the youngest in the team.

“Mel is special. She’s the one who found us.”

“Just that?”

“It’s not ‘just that’, it’s a major achievement.”

She merely found us by coincidence, but if we had passed through without her noticing us or if she hadn’t called out to Syrah-chan out of fear, we would have likely helped the temple first after entering the fortress and then we might not have been able to focus on saving all the beastkin in the refugee camp, even if we had ultimately provided relief.

Mel had brought good luck to the beastkin and it seems that led to them calling it a great achievement.

“Even I wouldn’t be here like this, if I hadn’t discovered Masaru back then. It wouldn’t be weird if Mel has some sort of destiny, right?”

If we’re talking about destiny, it must be that. It probably means I was fated to concern myself with Mel without being really aware of it.

“Well, anyway. If those three or all eighteen pick up the basics, it might be good to take them out of this place earlier than planned.”

Lilia apparently believes a few kids might receive a Blessing quite soon, if they get exposed to a lot of things all of a sudden. If we do it like that, I think it’d be smart to consider early on what we’re going to do if they actually get a Blessing. We could have them join our party, or make them act as Team Entourage…

Or how about letting them do stuff without a change and get them to join our party as needed?

“Well, all of them are still small, so I don’t think we need to hurry.”

“It is not like it is too early for the battlefield once you pass an age of ten, Your Lordship.”

The eldest in Team Entourage seems to be twelve years old. I guess it’s not like it’s that early to make a debut as an adventurer. But then again, if I consider how it went with Sati, they might be possible to achieve quite a bit once they get a Blessing.

“That’s true. Age doesn’t matter once you have a Blessing. I’m sure, the name of Team Entourage will thunder across the vast lands in the near future!”

Eh? Seriously? No, could they really become super strong, if they get Blessings? Maybe I should have come up with a better name then…

■

Ann came back at dinner time and treated us to her final home cooking. The menu consisted of crispy, fried veggies and fish, risotto with grain and plenty of veggies, and meuniere. As promised, she made all sorts of fish dishes.

Food like the sandwich made by stuffing fried fish and tartar sauce between bread was a marvelous treat.

It’s going to be a huge problem that I won’t be able to eat Ann’s cooking for a while, but I cannot be selfish here either. She seems truly busy as she’s going to immediately head back to the training facilities where she’s going to stay starting with today.

While eating, we talked about today’s activities and confirmed our plans for the next few days. The training of the beastkin kids is off to a good start. Under Tittos’s tutelage, they’ve been fervently practicing their archery. I suppose the day when they’ll be able to go out hunting isn’t that far off.

The construction of Ann’s training facilities sounds to be quite a challenge because of the big number of children. Ellie somehow managed to organize a place for them to stay, but the everyday goods aren’t just lacking, but almost completely absent.

With just the priests, they’re completely lacking the hands to take care of the children, so it’s become necessary to hire new helpers from the refugee camp and that’s nothing they can somehow handle in one or two days.

At first we planned for the journey to the Village of Swords to take four days, but we decided to shorten it by two days through an increase in travel time. From the village, the journey to Ellie’s home would take one day.

It’ll put a burden on Lilia, but she could rest up a bit over here and the return will be easy enough thanks to teleport. We head to Ellie’s home on the third day, stay there the following day before heading back to the Village of Swords right afterwards.

■

If everything goes by plan, the rear guard team will be able to get back here in around six days.

“I think that should roughly cover our schedule starting with tomorrow. Is there anything else I missed?”

“I might be acquainted with Ellie-nee-san’s brother,” Will announced while raising his hand.

“Might?”

“He’s already made his debut in high society, so he might remember me, even if I haven’t memorized it, right?”

Ellie’s family is a former nobility, so if it’s their heir, it’s probably only natural for him to visit the capital as quickly as possible to participate in high society.

“That could very well be true,” Ellie also nodded.

“So, are you going to wait at the Village of Swords with Fran then?”

“That one would be even more dangerous. I’m definitely acquainted with the lord of Biels since he’s a distant relative.”

The empire has a long and old history, so nobles will share blood ties with many other noble families.

“I mean, even I will be related with Will’s place if you keep tracking down our family trees far enough, you see?”

“That’s true. Our family also had a queen many generations ago and my great-great-grandmother used to be an imperial princess, so I might share an unexpectedly close family relationship with Will,” Franceska followed up on Ellie.

“If I remember she’s the great-aunt of the current emperor.”

If we go that far, our relationship in noble society is fairly close as well, even if you can’t say that we’re related by blood.

“You should be careful to stay out of onii-sama’s sight as much as possible. But, I think it’ll be fine if you keep your face hidden well enough.”

Well, if he’s found out, I think Ellie’s older brother will be flexible enough to adapt.

“Still, can you finally tell me which family you actually belong to? It’s starting to get obnoxious.”

“Ah, you’re right, I s’ppose…”

Will had told Franceska that he was running away from his imperial noble home, but apparently he didn’t tell her anything beyond that. I guess he thought it’d have an adverse effect in various ways.

“Everyone besides me knows, right?”

“Well yeah, we’re Will’s friends after all.”

“I’m also your friend who has fought alongside you, no? Don’t worry, I won’t spill the secrets of my friends or anything like that.”

Fought alongside us…that only happened for a tiny amount of time, didn’t it?

Anyway, I looked in Will’s direction to see what he’d do. As of late, Franceska had taken good care of him and keeping secrets from someone like that is tough, I feel. Also, he readily confessed it to us. Maybe he’s weak to pressure or doesn’t really feel like keeping it a secret anyway?

“If you promise to not speak about it to anyone else, it’s up to Will to decide, I think, but…”

“It’d be better for you to not hear it, Fran,” Ellie gave her advice.

“Can you really keep it a secret?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I don’t have the hobby of going around and blurting out the secrets of my friends. If you like, I can also give an oath to the truth official.”

“If that’s the case…”

“Ah, wait a sec. Seeing how it’s a good opportunity, I think we’ll have you make that oath.”

I thought we must forbid her to speak about various things, but this is a golden chance.

“It’s not just about Will. If you say you’re our friend, can you vow to divulge our party’s secrets? We got a lot of things others shouldn’t hear about.”

“You mean about yourself and Lilia-sama? Well, you got a point. There’s a lot of unbelievable and unspeakable stuff about you.”

“Yep, right. I don’t want people to learn about my item box and our means of travel. If you can include us in your oath, I won’t mind telling you all about them either.”

“Sure, why not. I’ll make an oath to the truth official that I’ll lock away everything pertaining to this party in my heart.

“I shall remember those words of Franceska Stringer,” Tilika solemnly replied to Franceska,

“What happens if you break an oath you gave to a truth official?”

“The Institute of Truth will release a formal announcement that you cannot trust the person in question. If that happens, their credibility as a person will be as good as dead.”

In short, you’ll be officially flagged as a liar, huh? That’s quite scary, indeed.

“Well, I don’t think they’ll go this far if it’s a private matter like this here,” Ellie corrected, but if the news of this spread, it’d affect her dignity as noble.

You could also see it as having a hold on her weakness.

But that’s good. I think it’s a good trade-off for learning Will’s secret.

“Okay, with that sorted, could you tell me now?”

In response, Will took off the helm which he had put back on after the meal and looked at her with a serious expression. Looking at him like this, he’s quite a hunk. You can properly see the prince in him.

“My name is Wilfred Galley. I’m the grandson of King Seabass, Franceska-dono.”

Franceska let go of the cup with her after-meal tea, causing it to clash, while staring at Will with her mouth wide open.

“See, Bro. This is how people usually react!”

Why are you looking so happy about it, Will? So you didn’t really intend to hide it, just as expected, huh?

Translation Note:

Now that I’ve finished the volume for my patrons, I’m going to discontinue the translation and release of this series. Interest in its continuation has been non-existent and viewer rates have been down in the dumps even before all the issues with NovelUpdates.  You can see yourself from the low number of comments and likes that no one really cared about this series and as such I don’t see any reason to waste my time on it.

I have already informed my patrons that I won’t continue with the series beyond Volume 8 a few months back and I also wrote so in my first public chapter release for this series, so this is no decision from today or yesterday. Maybe if it got an anime or something, I’d pick it back up again, but well, the chances are slim for that to happen, and without I don’t see this novel series ever picking up any meaningful readership in the West.

Its replacement, Dungeon Seekers, is already in translation and release.

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