Category: Isekai Nonbiri Sanpo Tabi

After finishing our shopping in the market district and passing through the quiet residential streets, we finally arrived at our destination—the manor of the Northern Margrave.

I wondered if it was all right to show up unannounced, but before I could worry too much, one of the gate guards stepped forward and addressed Sue directly.

“Oh my, if it isn’t Sue-ojousama! It has been some time. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Yes, it has been a while. I’m delighted to see you again too.”

“Our lord mentioned that Sue-ojousama might be visiting soon, so we’ve all been waiting expectantly for your arrival.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”

One of the guards hurried off toward the manor, while the other stayed behind, speaking warmly with Sue.

It seemed that during her previous visit here, she had built quite a rapport with the household.

“Oops, forgive me, I’ve gone on talking.” The guard said with a sheepish smile. “When Sue-ojousama came here before, she treated some of us. We’ve not forgotten it.”

Sue gave a modest laugh.

“Back then I could barely handle magic properly—it was only beginner-level healing.”

“I see… but that sounds just like you, Sue.”

I remarked.

“Oooh!”

Shiro, Fran, and Horn chorused  in admiration.

Catching my glance, Sue and the guard explained the reason for their easy camaraderie. It was exactly the kind of story I would expect of Sue. Shiro and the others—even Ao—clapped their hands for her, beaming with pride.

At that moment, the manor grew suddenly restless. From within its grounds, someone came running straight toward us.

Zudodododo!

“O~nee~samaa~!”

“Fina!”

The one sprinting toward us at full speed was none other than Fina-san, the daughter of the Northern Margrave. Just from this entrance alone, she radiated the energy of a mischievous, high-spirited girl. Sue beamed as she caught Fina-san in her arms, embracing her tightly. The two of them really were close.

For a while they clung to each other, but at last Fina-san pulled away from Sue and turned her attention to the rest of us. She had fluffy, reddish-golden hair cut to a soft semi-long style, and with a graceful curtsy, she greeted us.

“You must be Shun-san. Thank you for taking care of Sue-oneesama. I am Fina, daughter of the Northern Margrave.”

“Thank you so much for your kind words. My name is Shun, and I’ve been traveling together with Sue.”

“I’m Shiro. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Fran!”

“I’m Horn.”

As expected of a Margrave’s daughter, Fina-san’s greeting was polite and refined. Watching her, I couldn’t help but think Shiro could stand to learn a little about manners as well.

“Shiro is the same age as Fina-sama. Fran and Horn are both five this year.”

I explained.

“I see. But they are simply adorable. Oh, and please—just call me Fina.”

“Uhm… then I’ll call you Fina-san.”

Calling a Margrave’s daughter by name alone right off the bat would be far too improper.

“I’ll call you Fina-chan.”

Shiro declared.

“I will just call you Fina.”

Fran announced.

“And I’ll call you Fina-oneechan!”

Horn spoke brightly.

And so, each of them decided on their way of addressing her. Somehow, I wasn’t surprised that Fran would simply call her by name without honorifics. Fina-san herself didn’t seem to mind at all. That, at least, was a relief.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Five days after leaving the viscountcy, we finally arrived at the Northern Margrave’s domain.

“It looks like the city is surrounded by mountains.”

“That’s because it’s a basin. A basin is when a flat plain is encircled by mountains.”

“““Ohhh~, I see!”””

 The three children chimed in together.

Crossing the pass, we had a clear view of the Margrave’s capital from a high vantage point.

The basin was vast, the city spreading wide with a river flowing through its heart. At the foot of the mountains, orchards could be seen—at a glance, it was obvious this was a rich and fertile land.

As I took it all in, Suu spoke up beside me.

“In fact, I’ve been here once before. This season is harvest time for fruit, and I remember being treated to the most delicious produce.”

“What kind of fruit, Sue-oneechan?”

“Grapes, peaches, cherries… Though the grape harvest comes a little later.”

“““Wow, that sounds amazing! I want to try some!”””

Three voices overlapped in eager chorus.

Freshly picked fruit is always the sweetest. Who knows—maybe there’ll even be a request to help with the harvest. Once we visit the Adventurers’ Guild, I’ll have to check what kind of jobs are posted.

Our carriage passed safely through the city walls and came to a halt at the terminal. Normally, we would report our arrival at the guild first and then look for an inn, but this time we decided to head straight to the Margrave’s manor. After all, we were entrusted with a gift from the Viscount, and it would be better to deliver it sooner rather than later.

With that thought in mind, we made our way through the bustling streets.

“Look! That stall has a sign—‘Freshly Picked Fruit!’”

“They’ve got peaches!”

“They look delicious.”

With her sharp eyes, Shiro quickly spotted a stall selling fruit, and of course Fran and Horn tagged along right after her.

Sue and I followed as well, drawn by the way the three of them were practically mesmerized by the peaches.

“Uncle, Auntie, please give me some peaches.”

“Sure thing. How many do you want?”

“Hmm… six, please!”

“Alright, give me a moment.”

“Want to try a slice first?”

“““Oh, thank you!”””

Shiro ordered six peaches—enough for Ao as well. The kind shopkeeper offered them a taste on the spot.

“““Sooo sweet! So good!”””

“Haha, right? The weather’s been kind this year—we’ve got a fine crop of peaches.”

The moment Shiro and the others bit into the neatly sliced fruit, their faces lit up with pure delight. Sue, Ao, and I tried one as well, and the peaches were wonderfully juicy. It’s bursting with flavor.

“Uncle, Auntie, are there more fruits coming out soon?”

“Yes, yes. There’s plenty of them. What we’ve got here are the early ones—the real harvest season’s just around the corner.”

“Lots of different fruits will be coming in. They’re all delicious, you’ll see.”

“““Ooooh!”””

According to the friendly couple, the true fruit season was only just beginning, which made Shiro and the others all the more eager.

And since we were already here, we went ahead and bought a variety of other fruits too. At this rate, my item box would probably be overflowing with fruit before long.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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After enjoying the rowboat together, we made our way toward the lord’s mansion. From the lake, we walked through the streets of the town.

“Shun-oniichan, what do you think he wants to talk about?”

“Most likely… about the deputy manager we met at the cottage yesterday.”

“The one who was mean to Shiro.”

The reason we were called to the mansion was almost certainly because of that arrogant deputy manager. There was no other reason we’d be called to the mansion after all.

It took us about thirty minutes on foot before the mansion finally came into view. We were shown directly into a reception room. And before we had even settled in, the lord himself entered the room without a moment’s delay.

“I’m sure you already know why you were called here. It concerns the deputy manager at the cottage. I wish to offer my formal apology, as well as explain the current state of the investigation.”

As expected, the reason we had been summoned was because of that deputy manager. He’d only been arrested yesterday, so this was bound to be a preliminary report.

“That man bows and acts humbly towards his superiors, but the moment he finds himself above others, he struts around and acts all bossy. This time as well—taking advantage of the manager’s absence while he was on leave—he acted as though the place were his own.”

“And by bad luck, that was exactly when we showed up, and ended up as his targets.”

“Precisely. He fawned over wealthy guests, but treated ordinary ones with arrogance and disdain.”

Hearing the lord speak, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my boss in my previous life. That man too had been just like the deputy manager—shifting his attitude entirely depending on who he was dealing with.

“Several of the staff had sided with the deputy manager as well. During questioning, evidence of embezzlement came to light. Truly disgraceful.”

“They even summoned the chef from the nobles’ cottages without permission yesterday… Perhaps they had been running wild behind the manager’s back all along.”

“The likelihood is high. Of course, audits are supposed to catch such misconduct. But it seems those conducting the inspections were bribed and entertained into looking the other way.”

It was larger in scale than I had imagined. But whatever the investigation ultimately uncovered, that deputy manager’s career was as good as finished.

“You’ll be leaving tomorrow for the Northern Margrave’s domain, right? Then I’ll see that the results of the investigation are forwarded directly to the Margrave himself. A scandal involving a noble’s daughter must be treated with due gravity.”

“I understand. Thank you for going out of your way.”

“We appreciate the trouble you’re taking. Thank you very much.”

And with that, the matter of the deputy manager was laid to rest.

Our conversation then shifted to affairs concerning the Northern Margrave’s household.

“I heard the margrave’s family is expecting their first grandchild. I’d like you to deliver my gift to them. Consider this an official commission.”

“Understood. As it happens, we’ve already prepared a present of our own, so we’ll deliver them together.”

“That will be a great help. I’ve already made the purchase, so you can collect it before you depart.”

This sort of request was hardly a problem. I glanced to my side—Sue gave a small nod of agreement.

“Munch, munch, munch.”

Meanwhile, Shiro and the others had their cheeks stuffed full of the sweets laid out on the table. Only Ao was listening properly.

It was about time Shiro started paying attention too…

And so, the troubles in the viscountcy had at last been settled.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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After lunch, we all plan to head to the lake and board a sightseeing boat.

“What kind of boat is it? Is it big? Is it fast?”

““I’m looking forward to it!””

This is Shiro and the others’ first time on a boat, and they are really excited to see what kind of boat we’ll be on.

I don’t remember ever being on a boat either, so I’m a little excited inside.

“It’s that one.”

“Wow, it’s big!”

““So cool!””

At the pier, a boat much larger than I had imagined was moored. If I remembered correctly from class, it is called a galleon.

Like Sue, Shiro and the others were practically bursting with excitement at the sight of such a big vessel. But what caught my attention was something else—the large crowd of tourists gathered at the pier, waiting just like us.

What could have happened?

We drew closer to the pier, only to find a sign posted there.

Notice: Due to a scheduled maintenance, the sightseeing boat will be out of service until the day after tomorrow.

“…So that means we can’t ride the sightseeing boat?”

“Hmm, talk about bad timing.”

“““Ehh?! No way!”””

That really was unlucky timing.

If it was down for maintenance, there was nothing we could do about it. Shiro and the others looked thoroughly dejected, and even Sue seemed a little disappointed.

We’d have to come up with some kind of alternative. Just then, I noticed another boat docked at a second pier.

Hmm, maybe we could we ride that one.

There is someone there who looked like a boatman—worth asking at least. And so, we made our way over to the other pier.

“Excuse me, is it possible to ride this boat?”

“Oh, certainly. This one’s a sightseeing rowboat.”

“““We wanna ride it!”””

So it really was a sightseeing rowboat. Shiro and the others eagerly made their wishes known, their eyes shining with excitement.

Since it was a perfect opportunity, we decided to go for it.

We quickly completed the rental procedure and climbed aboard. The boat turned out to be larger than I expected—easily spacious enough for the five of us.

“All right then, let’s set out.”

“It’s moving!”

“We’re going forward!”

“Amazing!”

“Don’t get too excited and fall overboard.”

“““Ye~s!”””

As I dipped the oars and pushed the boat out onto the lake, Shiro and the others crowded toward the bow, chattering excitedly. Lately even Horn had grown more cheerful, and that alone made me glad.

“The wind feels so nice.”

“It’s a little chilly out on the water, but it’s refreshing.”

Sue brushed her hair back, smiling as the breeze flowed through. The weather was perfect—not too hot, not too cold. It’s truly pleasant.

Plop.

“Ah, something jumped!”

“Was it a fish?”

“What was it?”

Something had broken the surface of the water, sending ripples across the lake. Shiro and the others leaned forward with wide eyes, their curiosity piqued.

Moments like these were good for them, I thought.

Then Shiro turned back toward me, her voice bright.

“Oniichan, can I try rowing too?”

“Sure, but take it slow, okay? Other people are riding these boats too.”

“That’s right. There are other boats around us. If we bump into one, it’ll be a problem.”

“Mm, got it!”

I swapped places with Shiro, letting her take the oar. Just as Sue had pointed out, plenty of visitors who couldn’t ride the sightseeing boat had also rented rowboats and were scattered across the lake.

Since an accident would be dangerous, Shiro obediently listened to Sue’s warning.

“Wow, it’s moving! Amazing!”

“Then I want to try next!”

Fran also want to try.

“Hmm… you’re still too little, Fran. Your arms and legs won’t reach properly.”

“Oh, no fair…”

When Shiro began rowing, Fran insisted on a turn too, but her small frame couldn’t even reach the right position. There was just no helping it.

For a moment I was worried when we found that the sightseeing boat wasn’t available, but in the end, getting to ride a rowboat turned out to be just fine.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Chun-chun.

Shake. Shake. Shake.

Hn?

What’s going on?

Someone’s shaking my body.

Last night, after we all had dinner, we washed the dishes and took turns taking baths, and I’m sure Shiro and the others really did fall asleep at Sue’s place.

Because of Horn, I didn’t lock the door to my room just in case, so maybe someone came in?

“Shun, wake up. It’s morning already.”

When I opened my eyes, Sue’s face was right there in front of me.

“W-whoa!”

I almost jumped. That was a surprise.

Lately it had always been Fran or Horn who shook me awake, so I never imagined Sue would be the one to rouse me today.

“It’s pretty rare for you to wake me up.”

I said, blinking away the last of my drowsiness.

“I thought I’d try it for a change. Shiro and the others are still asleep.”

“I see. Then, before they wake up, I’ll get started on breakfast.”

“Okay, I’ll help too.”

Sue offered warmly.

It had been a while since something startled me like that, but talking with Sue helped me calm down quickly. I got up from bed, and together, we headed toward the dining hall.

Sue’s cooking skills had been steadily improving, so maybe I could leave some of the simpler dishes to her this time. That thought lingered in my mind as I think of what to make for breakfast.

“Wow, look at all the shops lined up!”

“There are so many people here!”

“Mmm, something smells really good.”

“Alright, hold hands so you don’t get lost.”

“““Oka~y!”””

After breakfast, just as planned, we set out into town. From early morning the streets were crowded with people, bustling with energy. Hand in hand, we wandered along the avenue, peeking into the shops that lined the roadside.

“Ah! This spoon is really nice!”

“This plate is so cute!”

“And this cup looks great too!”

When we stopped by a shop selling tableware and trinkets, Shiro and the others each picked out pieces they liked and happily bought them. They actually had pretty good taste.

“I’ll take five sets of these plates and cups, please.”

“Certainly.”

Sue also purchased a set of teacups that had caught her eye.

But… why five sets?

“Sue, why five?”

“Fina has an older brother and his wife, you see.”

Ah, I see. So with the Northern Margrave and his wife included, that makes five. 

Sue, beaming with a bright smile at her purchase, explained why she had bought enough for five. Since we were at it, I decided to pick up five teaspoons as well.

Next, we headed toward a slightly larger merchant house.

“Sue, what are you planning to buy here?”

“I thought I’d get a full set of things for a baby. In Fina’s letter, she mentioned that her brother and his wife just had a child.”

“Oh~, then Shiro wants to buy something too!”

““Me too!””

Most likely, this would be the Margrave’s household’s very first grandchild. Since Shiro and the others were busy picking out baby goods, I decided to buy some diapers and the like as well. We also stocked up on rare fruits and ingredients. With this, our provisions for the road were more than secure.

“Is there anything else we need to buy?”

““““Snacks!””””

When I checked to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything, even Sue and Ao shot their hands up enthusiastically along with the kids.

But just now, the four of them plus one slime had bought a lot of sweets.

“I mean to say anything other than snacks.”

““““Ehh—””””

Un. I guess we shouldn’t go shopping any more.

I dragged the four grumbling kids along and headed to the cafeteria.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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After getting changed, we gather in the dining room. We’ll now confirm our plans for the next day.

“Sue, you’re going to buy a souvenir for the Northern Margrave’s daughter, right?”

“Yes. I’d like to buy souvenirs as early as possible.”

The original reason we stopped by the Viscountcy was so Sue could buy a souvenir for the Northern Margrave’s daughter. It looks like Sue will also be buying the souvenirs she’s aiming for early tomorrow.

“In that case, let’s buy souvenirs in the morning.”

“I’m okay with it. Let’s do our shopping before noon.”

“Shiro is going to buy souvenirs too!”

“Me too! I’ll buy souvenirs!”

“Then let’s all buy souvenirs together.”

“““Yeah!”””

Their cheerful voices overlapped, filling the room with excitement.

Since Shiro and the others were eager to buy souvenirs as well, our plans for the morning were settled. If I remembered correctly, the daughter of the Northern Margrave was about the same age as Shiro. Perhaps the two of them could become good friends.

“In the evening we’ll need to visit the lord’s manor, so even if we go out to play, we can’t stay out too late.”

I reminded them.

“That’s true. I heard there are sightseeing boats on the lake. I’d love to enjoy that.”

Sue added.

“Ooh, I wanna ride a boat!”

““Boat, boat!””

“Then it’s decided—we’ll take a sightseeing boat on the lake.”

“““Yey!”””

Their voices rang out in unison, the thought of the boat ride sending their excitement soaring.

At some point, Sue had picked up a sightseeing brochure, and now she was pointing out that she wanted to ride one of the excursion boats. It would be my first time riding a boat in this world, and somehow the idea felt exciting.

With our plans for tomorrow thus settled, a knock sounded at the front door. A staff member’s voice followed.

“Everyone, thank you for waiting. Dinner is ready.”

“““Ooooh!”””

Apparently, the food had been packed inside a special magic bag. Dish after dish was pulled out and quickly arranged upon the table.

Shiro and the others let out delighted cries at the sight of the food, while I couldn’t help but wonder—wasn’t this all a little too extravagant?

“Um… isn’t this meal a little too luxurious?”

I asked, blinking at the table that looked more suited for a noble’s banquet than an inn’s dinner.

The staff member gave a wry smile.

“In truth, the deputy manager had been secretly ordering ingredients so he could have the chefs prepare elaborate meals for himself. The chefs disliked him, but they couldn’t let the food go to waste… so they used it all to prepare a fine meal for you instead.”

“Oh… so the deputy manager was even requisitioning ingredients on his own?”

I muttered.

Apparently, even the kitchen staff is not fond of him.

Well, there is no point in refusing. Best to gratefully enjoy what we’d been given.

“Tomorrow we’ll take breakfast and lunch separately, so just dinner will be fine.”

“Understood. After you’ve finished eating, I’ll come by later to collect the plates.”

“Got it. Thank you.”

After we’d given the staff our plans for tomorrow’s meals, she bowed and returned to the management building. The dishes we finished later could be washed and treated with life magic. For now, there was only one thing to do—enjoy the dinner spread out before us.

Shiro and the others were practically bouncing in their seats, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Well then, shall we eat?”

“Wai~, it’s delicious!”

The three of them chorused with happy voices.

The table was lined with dishes made from the local specialty—freshwater fish from this domain. We’d had fish at lunch, and even eaten what we’d caught ourselves earlier, but that didn’t bother Shiro and the others one bit. They dug in with delight, savoring each bite.

“As expected of cuisine meant for nobles. The flavor is refined.”

“Yes, though I quite enjoyed the fish at lunch as well. It must be that the fish here are simply so fresh.”

Sue replied with a smile.

Skillful cooking, paired with the finest ingredients—that was what made this meal so satisfying.

There had been more than a few complications before we finally reached this cottage, but in the end, the day had closed on a pleasant note.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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With the staff’s guidance, we immediately headed to the noble cottage, located just a few minutes walk from the management facility.

As we walked, I struck up a conversation with the staff about what came next.

“What should we do after this?”

“Dinner will be brought to you shortly, so please wait a little while.”

“I understand. That’s fine, we can wait and I’m sure the kitchen needs time to prepare.”

“Actually, it won’t take long at all. You see, the deputy manager went ahead and summoned the chefs who usually serve in the noble cottages.”

So that was his plan. It seemed the deputy manager had used his authority to bring in a full team of cooks—no doubt intending to lay out some extravagant banquet.

The staff member told us this with a wry smile, but it turns out the deputy manager was planning to use his authority to prepare a lavish meal. Not only me, but Sue too couldn’t help but smile when she heard what the staff member said.

Before long, we arrived at the noble cottage.

At a glance, it didn’t seem all that different from the other cottages. Maybe it’s a little larger than the cottages for regular guests, but nothing extravagant. From the outside, you wouldn’t guess it was reserved for nobility.

The difference is on the inside, I guess.

And so, we stepped through the door.

“This will be your cottage during your stay.”

“…Looks pretty normal to me.”

““Mm, normal.””

The staff member guided us inside the cottage.

Even Shiro and the others looked around the room curiously, but the interior struck me as—well, ordinary. Certainly not the lavish sort of decor one would expect for nobles. But Sue, after giving the cottage a careful look, seemed to have noticed something I hadn’t.

“The furnishings in this cottage are of exceptionally fine quality.”

Sue remarked.

“Indeed.” The staff agreed with a nod. “At first glance, they may appear ordinary, but every item here is of the highest grade.”

“““Ooooh…”””

As expected of a noble’s daughter—Sue had immediately seen through the truth of the room.

Me?  I couldn’t tell at all. To my eyes, a chair was just a chair, whether common or priceless.

Shiro, Fran, Horn, and Ao all clapped their hands (tentacle for Ao) in admiration for Sue’s keen eye. And like that, we stepped further inside the cottage.

“The residence contains three bedrooms, as well as a separate chamber for attendants. The dining hall is yours to use as you please. As for the bath, a magical device has been installed. Once you turn the lever hot water will flow.”

“““Oooh, it’s so spacious! And the beds are huge!”””

We were shown through each of the rooms, but the master bedroom stood out in particular. The furnishings were elegant, refined—so much so that even I could tell they were of the highest quality.

“Sue, let’s split the rooms tonight. The cottage is registered under your name, so you should sleep in the master bedroom.”

I suggested.

“Thank you, Shun. In that case, I’ll make use of it.”

“Shiro wants to sleep with Sue-oneechan!”

“Fran too, Fran wants to sleep with Sue!”

“Horn as well—Horn will sleep with Sue-oneechan!”

“Wait, hold on! All of you are going to Sue’s room!?”

“Fufufu”

Sue chuckled.

The moment they laid eyes on the spacious chamber, Shiro and the others leapt together onto the bed in a flurry of laughter. Even with four of them piling on, there was still room to spare. Mm, it was a ridiculously massive bed.

Well… whether Shiro and the rest decided to spend the night in that room or not, for now, it was best to simply settle in and rest a while. After all the unexpected turmoil today, I was more than a little worn out.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Now then, the matter with the cottage’s deputy manager had been resolved, but there was still another problem.

Hmm, where are we going to stay for the night?

At that moment, the lord spoke up, talking to the timid staff member standing nervously behind the counter.

“What’s the status of today’s cottage reservations?”

“Ah—y-yes, my lord. In fact, another guest has just made a booking, and… all of today’s rooms are now fully occupied.”

“Hmm, I see. Well, I guess that can’t be helped.”

“We wouldn’t want to evict a guest who’s already reserved the room either.”

I added.

“I feel the same way as Shun-san.”

Sue chimed in.

Of course, none of us wanted to stoop to the same level as the deputy manager from earlier. The lord seemed to share that sentiment as well.

He turned back to the staff member and asked,

“What about the cottages reserved for nobles? Are any of those available?”

“Yes, my lord. There is still one vacant.”

“Good. Sue is a noble so there shouldn’t be any problem.”

The lord nodded in satisfaction hearing the staff member’s answer and turned back to us.

“How long are Shun and the others planning to stay?”

“Oh, we are planning to stay two nights.”

We originally planned to stay two nights, as we wanted to buy souvenirs for Sue’s acquaintances tomorrow and let Shiro and the others have some free time as well.

Sue, Shiro, and the others nodded in agreement at my words.

“In that case, please arrange for them to stay two nights in a noble cottage.”

“I understand.”

“Oh yes, don’t worry about the fee. Consider this part of my apology.”

“My apologies. I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“No, that’s fine.”

If I were to refuse at this point, it would only bring shame to the lord, so I gratefully accepted the offer. Seeing my response, the lord nodded in satisfaction.

“Well then, I have to deal with the deputy manager, so I’ll head back to the mansion. Could you please come back to the mansion tomorrow evening?”

“Yes. I understand.”

With the captured deputy manager now in custody, the lord boarded his carriage and returned to his mansion. He still needed to investigate his background, but he left that to the soldiers conducting the interrogation.

“Now then, we shall proceed with the check-in. Please fill in the required information on this document.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Ah, Shun-san, allow me to write my name here.”

Out of habit, I almost went ahead and handled the inn’s paperwork myself. But considering what the lord had said earlier, it seemed better to let Sue take care of our check-in this time.

I decided to wait with Shiro and the others on the sofa by the reception desk.

“Shun-oniichan, what do you think the inside of the cottage will be like?”

“Well, we won’t know until we actually step inside. But since this one’s meant for nobles, I’d say it’s bound to be pretty luxurious.”

“““Ooooh, I can’t wait!”””

Shiro and Ao were already excitedly speculating about the room and, truth be told, I was feeling a bit eager myself.

Just what kind of cottage would it turn out to be?

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“Sorry, but Shun and the others should go in first. We’ll wait and see what happens, then we’ll make a move afterwards.”

“I understand.”

The lord likely wants to see how the assistant manager will react.

With Shiro and the others at the front, we entered the cottage management facility once again.

Ao sits on Shiro’s head, considering herself their guardian.

“Oi, so you brats came back, huh?”

“Don’t call us brats!”

Shiro and the others shouted in unison.

I winced. So much for a calm start.

Apparently, the deputy manager was at the counter when Shiro and the others entered the facility first. His mockery started before Sue and I even got inside.

I glanced back at the lord. He still wore a smile, but it was cold, and laced with quiet fury. The kind of smile that spelled doom. The deputy manager had no idea his fate had already been sealed.

Then, as if digging his own grave deeper, the man leaned forward and jeered,

“You brats should go back to drink your mother’s milk! Oh, right. I guess that flat-chested girl couldn’t manage that though. Hahaha!”

Oops, now the assistant manager has started to say something bad about Sue.

Sue was no longer hiding her anger.

But uhm, there was no need to bring out the mace now Sue.

This had to be handled carefully. I held up a hand to stop her, then I stepped into the lodge’s office myself.

“Hey, poor guy. You are here again?”

“Deputy Manager, that’s not something you should say to a child.”

“““That’s right, that’s right!”””

“Why are you acting all high and mighty, you poor guy? I’m in charge of this cottage more than the lord. That’s why I’m the most important person here!”

Oh no, he even used the lord’s name.

This is definitely not okay. The deputy manager was clearly in a state of frenzy, his temper boiling over. Not that he was the only one though. The children were bristling with anger too—and even Ao is waving her tentacles in irritation.

The staff were utterly flustered by the deputy manager’s reckless outburst.

Then, with sharp footsteps and a sudden heaviness in the air, the lord himself strode in.

Sue beside him, has fury burning openly in her eyes. The squad of armed soldiers following close behind them.

“Sigh. I never imagined you could be this much of a fool.”

The lord spoke, his voice low but stern.

“Ah? Eh? M-my lord? Why… why are you here at the cottage?”

As the lord glared at the deputy manager with a sharp glare, he stammered and his voice cracking as he turned pale.

The assistant manager seemed to have calmed down only just now, but it was probably too late now.

“Your outrageous behavior has already reached my manor in the form of a formal complaint!”

The lord yelled at the deputy manager.

“Eeeek!”

And as expected, the deputy manager screamed and cowered in fear.

“There’s a lot that I want to say. You were using my name without permission earlier and saying whatever you wanted. I heard it clearly too.”

“Uh, uh, t-that’s…”

Mm, I thought that was bad too.

No matter what, using the lord’s name without permission and saying whatever you want is a bit dangerous. Furthermore, this cottage is run directly by the viscount’s family, so the deputy manager’s behavior would be even more unacceptable.

“Also, this girl you were yelling at is currently disguised as an adventurer, but she’s actually the daughter of a baron from the Royal Capital.”

“Eh, eeh!?”

He’d been so abusive towards Sue, it was impossible for a normal person to do something like that.

The deputy manager’s eyes widened in shock, but it was probably too late now. Then, as if he didn’t want to see the deputy manager anymore, the lord ordered his soldiers.

“I can’t stand you staying here any longer. Soldiers, capture the deputy manager and interrogate him thoroughly.”

“““Yes!”””

“Uuu…”

The deputy manager, realizing resistance was futile, submitted quietly as the soldiers bound him and led him away. His heavy footsteps faded, leaving only the faint echo of shame in the air.

Once he was gone, the lord turned back to us and bowed deeply.

“I owe you a deep apology for what you’ve endured. Please, accept my remorse.”

“N-no, My lord, please raise your head.”

I said quickly.

“It’s all right now. The deputy manager has been taken into custody.”

Sue stepped forward as well, her voice softer now.

“And thank you for your concern for me as well. Truly… I’m fine.”

The lord exhaled, a trace of relief easing his stern features.

“Thank you. Hearing that lifts a great weight from my shoulders.”

With the apology made and accepted, Sue seemed to have finally let go of her lingering anger. Still, what an incredibly troublesome deputy manager he had been.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Oops. While the news about the baron’s territory was important, it wasn’t why we’d come here.

Time to get to the real reason.

“My apologies for interrupting, but may I move on to the main matter?”

“Oh, right. Yes of course. You came to my estate for a reason, didn’t you? Has something happened?”

Grateful for the smooth transition, I decided to bring up the lakeside cottage.

“Is the Lord familiar with the beautiful cottage by the lake?”

“Oh, that place? I know it well—it’s one of the lodgings run directly by my household.”

Eh!?

So that cottage was run directly by the Viscount’s family.

Then, isn’t the assistant manager’s attitude really bad?

Sue seemed to share my feelings, holding her hand over her mouth in shock.

Then, Shiro and the others continued the conversation.

“You see, a big man told us that we are poor folks. That we should leave and he kicked us out!”

“He glared at Fran too!”

“Mm. Mm. He was really, really mean!”

“Ah? Is that true?”

The lord asked, his tone sharpening.

“Yeah!”

The three of them chorused.

The lord’s expression changed as he repeated the question, clearly shocked that such behavior could occur at a lodge under his family’s direct management.

“Shun, Sue, is what they’re saying true?”

“Yes. The one responsible was the deputy manager.”

I answered back.

“He didn’t even hear our side of the story and just threw us out, assuming we were a troublesome group with children.”

Sue added.

“What nonsense!”

The lord muttered, his voice is low but with controlled anger.

“Such tyranny will not be tolerated in my domain.”

The lord listened to our account, his face tightening until he finally sprang to his feet.

Well, it’s as expected. If words spread that a lodge directly under their family treated guests like that, it would stain his reputation as well.

He turned sharply toward the butler standing behind him.

“Prepare a carriage and a squad of soldiers at once. We are going to the site immediately. Also… ready a cell.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The butler quickly replied, bowing deeply before leaving to carry out the order.

The urgency in the room was obvious as we rose to follow the lord out of the reception room. Our steps quickening with the weight of what was about to unfold.

◆◆◆

The lord sighed, leaning back in the carriage as it rumbled along the forest path.

“It was unfortunate timing. The head manager happened to be on leave, so the deputy took charge.”

“I see… then we truly were unlucky.”

“Unlucky or not, such arrogance cannot be excused.”

The lord replied firmly.

“I had already noted the deputy’s… rough tendencies. But it seems they were worse than I imagined.”

From my perspective, rough isn’t really the term for it—it’s more like outright belligerent.

The carriage moved on the road smoothly and soon, the familiar lakeside lodge came into view.

However, this time, we were not arriving as wandering travelers. It will be interesting to see how the assistant manager responds seeing us.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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