Chapter 83

The afternoon patrol for the Ansbach Platoon had already begun, and each squad had long since departed for their respective assigned areas.

Lady Clara had to attend a certain tea party now. The host was apparently a female general of the National Army, a woman known by the alias “The White Wolf.” Emma was to accompany her. It sounded like it was going to be a girls’ night out for female soldiers.

Since we were told we didn’t need to follow, it was decided that the three of us—me, Akito, and Fiene—would conduct the patrol.

“I’ll be having dinner at General Buttner’s residence as well, so please go ahead and eat without me.”

“Understood. Hans, I’m counting on you to look after Lady Clara and Emma.”

“Leave it to me.”

As an attendant, Hans would be the only one accompanying them. His combat skills were improving daily, and he was a clever boy with a sharp eye for detail. I could leave them in his hands with peace of mind.

I took my luggage from the South District Guard Post and headed toward the apartment I was renting. Before the patrol, I needed to drop off the items I had transported from Japan.

Tonight’s watch involved walking along the banks of the Reinga River. It was the customary crackdown on streetwalkers.

“So, was there any actual damage?”

Akito asked with a smirk as we walked down the street. He was referring to the Saint.

“Aside from my bed smelling like perfume, not much. Oh, and my laundry was stolen.”

“Still, you’ve certainly caught the eye of someone outrageous.”

Easy for him to say. Fiene began staring intently at my face.

“What is it?”

“Well, I don’t mean to be rude, but I was just wondering what Lady Clara or the Saint see in you, Kota… it’s a bit of a mystery.”

Fiene stuck her tongue out mischievously. Well, it’s true I’m no extraordinary hottie. I wonder why, myself.

“Your face isn’t bad, but you’re not exactly a ‘beauty.’ If we’re talking looks, Akito is much more the handsome type.”

I’ll grant her that. Akito is a slender, good-looking guy.

“Well, your staff techniques are cool, you can use magic, and you know a lot of things… Come to think of it, you’re actually a pretty good catch.”

“Just noticing now? Though, the way you put it has a bit of a sting; I don’t feel like I’m being praised.”

“Ahaha. It’s because you’re like a dog, Kota.”

So we’ve settled on that again, have we? Woof woof!

“Fiene.”

“Yes?”

“I bought cakes from the other world. I got three just for you.”

Fiene grabbed my sleeve.

“I’m sorry… You might be an old guy, Kota, but it’s only natural you’re popular.”

The sting remained until the very end.

“Speaking of which, the Condemnation Bandits struck again yesterday.”

It must have happened while we were back in Japan.

“The Emotzel Temple was attacked. Apparently, the Bishop was tied to the Holy Tower and brutally murdered.”

“The Holy Tower… that’s the symbol of Nordism, right? How scary.”

From the way Fiene spoke, it seemed a gag order had been issued, so the specifics of the incident weren’t public knowledge.

“It sounds like he was killed in a pretty horrific way, though I don’t know the details. Whenever it involves the Condemnation Bandits, a gag order is always put in place. I bet this victim was a bad person too.”

Since the incident occurred within the city walls, it wasn’t something we in the City Guard could handle, and because the victim was a high-ranking clergyman, details rarely leaked to the outside.

“If the Condemnation Bandits targeted him, I wonder if that Bishop was up to something bad?”

“From what I heard, he’d embezzled a lot of the tax revenue from the manor. And also…”

Fiene hesitated.

“What is it?”

“They say he was doing… various ‘wrong’ things to the young priests.”

So it was more than just simple harassment.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked something so strange.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m an adult too, you know.”

I felt sorry just hearing that. She looks like nothing but a child to me. Still, I recognize Fiene’s actual ability; I don’t think your average soldier would stand a chance against her.

“Are you curious about it, Senpai?”

“Naturally. Maybe I’ll try asking Holger or Elke.”

Those two would likely know something.

We stowed our luggage in our respective rooms. It seemed best to move the cakes into my Spatial Storage for safekeeping.

“Haah, it smells so good. I’m so excited I feel like I’m going to faint.”

Fiene gazed dreamily at the cake boxes. There was still plenty of time before our patrol started. It was a bit early, but it was about time for a snack.

“Do you want to taste just one now? You have to save the rest to eat with Lady Clara and the others, though.”

“Yes!”

A straightforward answer. I made the eager Fiene wait while I brewed some black tea. If we’re going to eat, we might as well do it right.

“I couldn’t be your lover, Kota, but I wouldn’t mind being your little sister or adopted daughter.”

She sure says whatever she wants. A daughter this old all of a sudden? Well, Fiene is cute, I’ll give her that.

“Which one are you going to have?”

“There are too many kinds, I don’t know! I can’t even imagine what they taste like.”

Akito began explaining the flavors to Fiene. In this world, “cake” usually refers to something like pancakes or pound cake. While sponge cakes with cream exist, they never find their way into the mouths of commoners.

“I’ll take this light green one.”

That was the pistachio cream cake. The one I had wanted to eat myself. I was glad I’d bought two.

Leaving Fiene to swoon over her cake with Akito, I headed to the riverbank to look for Holger. Shackles and lean-tos lined both sides of the floodplains, crowded with many poor residents. Public order here was quite poor. The air was thick with a powerful stench, likely from animal hides being tanned nearby. The people cast sharp glares at me in my soldier’s uniform.

“Boss? If it isn’t Boss Hinoharu.”

I recognized the man who called out to me. He was one of Holger’s subordinates who had been watching the Saint’s house. I remembered giving him a peanut butter sandwich and a cafe au lait while he was on stakeout.

“Ah, good. I was looking for Holger. Any idea where he might be?”

“Should I go fetch him for you?”

I dropped a 10-Marques copper coin into his hand. It’s always more convenient to be a familiar face and have people in this area owe you favors. The man ran off happily.

I waited while skipping stones across the Reinga River with some local children, and in less than fifteen minutes, Holger appeared.

“Heheh, if it isn’t the handsome boss who went and captured the Saint’s heart.”

I felt weary just hearing Holger’s tone. He’d already caught wind of that information?

“Give me a break. It’s nothing but a headache for me.”

“So, what brings you here today?”

Holger scratched his neck, grinning with his toothless mouth. There were no obstructions on the riverbank, so the wind was strong. The cold air made my ears ache.

“It’s freezing out here. Holger, if you have the time, care to join me for a hot beer?”

Holger’s face, already like a smiling Buddha, split into an even wider grin.

“I’d be delighted! If the boss is buying, I’ll follow you anywhere.”

Following Holger’s lead, we headed into a nearby shop.