210 - The Days Of Certain Asylum Seekers

Diera and Rena had defected from the Kingdom of Seizeria to the Furon Council-State, but due to the circumstances behind it, it was decided that they would be placed under house arrest for a while.

Diera’s earnest wish of, “First of all, I’d be happy if you could give us clothes,” was granted easily, and the two of them first received clothing for the time being.

Wearing underwear for the first time in a long while and being able to feel civilized again caused Diera to press the corners of her eyes, and the two of them laughed together while wearing clothes whose sizes were subtly off.

After they finished changing and entered the room, the man assigned to them saw the bras left on the desk and tilted his head, asking, “Do you not know how to put them on?” But of course, the only reason was that neither of them had found one that fit.

Later, the fact that things remained that way until their handler was changed to a woman became the cause of an uproar in the mass media, but aside from that, no major problems occurred, and the days of questioning the two continued quietly.

“—Then that will be all for today. Thank you again.”

Diera and Rena lowered their heads to the woman in charge, who said that and bowed.

The handler stood up from the chair across the table from them, then, just before leaving the room, remembered something she had forgotten to mention and turned back.

“Ah, that’s right. Your guarantor has been decided, so I think you’ll be able to leave here tomorrow or the day after.”

“Is that something that gets decided so easily?”

Rena voiced the question because she had lost her parents in childhood and had been raised in a church together with her brother.

“To be honest, we did not expect it to be decided this quickly either. However, the gun you brought in turned out to be the property of a noble class equivalent to what the Old Empire would have called a notable family. Since that house still continues, in exchange for the gun, they have offered to guarantee your identities, provide funds for the time being, and support you in establishing a foundation for life in the Council-State.”

“It feels strange for us to say this, but… is it really all right for them to do that much over a single gun?”

Perhaps the handler also found Diera’s question difficult to answer, because she evaded it by saying, “As a commoner, I do not understand how rich people think.”

In any case, to make communication possible, they had to learn the language.

Although they could manage the bare minimum, they had no foundation for living on that alone, nor any prospects for work. If these two women were simply left alone, their original occupations also raised concerns about public order worsening.

As a result, the administration decided to provide the two of them with a learning period.

Rena in particular, who spoke no language other than her native tongue, had an intensive study schedule packed in, to the point that the government’s intent to be rid of them as quickly as possible was clearly visible.

The mass media’s wild speculation had a major influence on this matter, and the existence of the two women, which had begun as gossip, was now about to develop into a human rights issue.

“There is no doubt that asylum seekers entered Gareia, but there has been no follow-up from the government. Could this be related to the fact that both asylum seekers were women? In recent years, the decline in military discipline has been viewed as a problem. According to our reporting, it was the military that first discovered them. Could they be hiding some unpleasant truth?”

Thanks to reporters writing sensational articles day and night, the government was forced into unnecessary explanations, but by making use of this, they succeeded in hiding Argos’s existence.

At the same time, they also silenced both Diera and Rena, and decided that the two of them were excellent adventurers capable of breaking through the Great Forest on their own.

This was the result of the government and military’s interests aligning.

In response to the Orc Hazard led by a special individual commonly known as the “Emperor,” Northern Army Command, forced into a purely defensive battle, had been compelled to halt the northward advance.

The Orc Hazard, which had produced no small number of casualties, was enough to harden public opinion, and for the upper leadership, which upheld the great cause of restoring the former territories, this was an issue that had to be dealt with urgently.

That was where the two asylum seekers who had suddenly appeared came in.

The fact that the Fullretos Great Forest had been traversed by only two people, and the concealment of Argos’s existence.

In order to have the two women do a job for them, the government steered itself toward appeasing them.

The result was the appearance of a guarantor with abnormal speed.

In addition, because the goods they had brought for conversion into cash were recognized as sufficiently valuable, the two women’s evaluation kept rising without their knowledge.

The Council-State government, which intended to guide public opinion so that enthusiasm for the northward advance would swirl once more, took advantage of this mass-media foolishness.

The two women were swept up in it, but… since they were asylum seekers, there was no way they could refuse once sufficient support was promised. After a brief time to consult, they agreed to cooperate.

From there, the two women’s lives became days of study.

They were also given free time, and Diera, who had originally been capable of basic conversation, was exposed to the public gaze one step ahead.

“I cannot deny that there was good fortune. However, I believe that careful preparation, information gathering, and obtaining Old Imperial maps provided the final push that led to our crossing of the Great Forest.”

Diera spoke the prepared lines while standing before reporters in a red dress matching the color of her hair.

The dress firmly emphasized her abundant chest and left her back widely exposed. Together with her makeup, it made her truly into a dazzling beauty.

Diera’s appearance, with her hair tied up behind her and an alluring smile on her face, burned itself strongly into the reporters’ eyes.

There was a reason she had changed her impression so completely.

Simply put, Diera disliked becoming a spectacle, so she had asked her handler whether something could be done when she appeared before the media.

For her, who wanted an utterly ordinary daily life, being treated like a celebrity brought nothing but inconvenience.

Therefore, in places where she would be photographed, they changed her appearance and greatly altered the impression she gave.

Perhaps this worked, because when she went shopping with her handler, she returned to her usual hairstyle and wore glasses.

Her clothing was also a commonplace combination in the Council-State, so people who paid attention to Diera were… still there.

Because her appearance had always drawn the eye, there were people who approached her without knowing who she was.

The woman in charge drove them away with a smile.

“Ah, so this is the cause.”

Diera said that and lowered her gaze to her own chest, but what stood in contrast was the handler’s flat chest.

“I see. In this case, it would stand out even more,” she nodded as if convinced.

Leaving aside the handler’s feelings, Diera’s studies had produced enough results for her to be able to shop safely, and afterward she repeatedly practiced conversation as if “getting used to it matters more than being taught.”

Rena still had not moved beyond basic studies, but even so, she had enough grit to cling firmly to her hard schedule.

Perhaps there was also a sense of reassurance that she would be all right at this rate.

Though there were conditions, Rena became able to obtain permission to go out together with Diera.

The first place they headed after that was a boutique.

“Being able to choose clothes freely is a good thing.”

Rena was excited by their first outing together in a long time.

She picked up this and that, enjoying dressing up Diera even more than herself, until Diera called out from the fitting room in a casual pants outfit, sounding exasperated.

For Rena, the mage outfit that looked like it might reveal something but did not, though sometimes it actually did, was still hard to give up. However, she also resisted the idea of other people seeing that splendid body.

In order to keep strange men from approaching, she selected clothes one after another, trying somehow to make that attractive body less noticeable.

However, that would not bring out the charm of the woman she admired like an older sister.

Troubled by that dilemma, Rena had a flash of inspiration.

In that case, would it not be better to gather attention onto herself instead?

“Rena. That’s a swimsuit. Also, I’m not wearing something with that little fabric.”

This was the result.

Incidentally, when Rena desperately explained, “It’s something I’ll wear myself,” this time Diera was shaken by the fact that her younger-sister figure had such tastes.

Staring at the micro bikini in Rena’s hand, Diera was the one who ended up troubled next.

Their noisy, misunderstanding-filled days continued, and at last, the time arrived.

A messenger came from House Wenteria, the guarantor for the two women.

Apparently, the other side’s preparations to receive them were complete, and since they had gone out of their way to send someone to inform them of it, they must have judged the two women to be that valuable.

Diera and Rena held their breath when told this.

“It’s hard to believe a single gun would lead to this. There must be something else.”

Rena nodded at Diera’s opinion.

However, there was no way they could refuse at this point, so they boarded a streetcar as led by their guide and followed him to the destination.

What they saw when they arrived was a house—or rather, a mansion.

A gate leading to an overwhelming estate was opened by the gatekeeper.

Passing through the gate, they still had to walk for some time before reaching the mansion. At that distance, the two felt the difference in the worlds they lived in and grew intimidated.

“Please proceed inside.”

When the guide opened the mansion door and they entered, he said that, urged them deeper inside, and went back outside.

As the two, still overwhelmed, reflexively watched him leave, a voice called to them from the staircase in the hall.

“This way, please.”

Understanding that the elderly gentleman, who looked exactly like a butler, was their next guide, the two hurried toward the stairs.

They went up to the second floor, and after the number of rooms they had passed exceeded ten, he stopped.

The sound of him knocking on the door brought the two back to reality.

“Master. I have brought Lady Diera and Lady Rena.”

In response to the butler’s words, a short “Enter” came from beyond the door.

He opened the door and entered first, then, once the two had entered, bowed quietly and left the room.

Thus, in what seemed to be a study, one person and two people faced each other.

“I am the head of the family, Jester Urd Wenteria.”

A stout middle-aged man in military uniform, wearing several medals, introduced himself.

“My name is Diera.”

“My name is Rena.”

The two were about to bow together as they had arranged.

Jester stopped them with his hand and looked them over for a while as if appraising them.

“Mm. Your appearances are as I heard.”

When Jester nodded as if satisfied, Diera became convinced that there really was something else.

Diera unconsciously clenched her fists in front of her chest, and seeing that, Jester began to speak.

“House Wenteria has been a family of soldiers for generations. We were fairly well known in the Empire. It is said that our house began when our achievements on the battlefield were recognized and we were added to the lowest ranks of the nobility.”

The way he proceeded with the conversation differed from what Diera expected, and though she slightly lowered her guard, she firmly held Rena’s hand beside her.

“Our ancestors led many battlefields to victory, and for those accomplishments, they received rewards and a title from His Imperial Majesty. Those became the sword, shield, and gun that form House Wenteria’s crest. Unfortunately, in the Empire’s final Southern Campaign War, the sword was broken and the shield was shattered. The remaining gun vanished together with the head of the family at the time, who fought until the very end… But now, in my generation, it has returned.”

Hearing that much, Diera understood the value of that gun.

Rena, who had failed to catch more than half of what was said, gripped Diera’s hand tightly, but Diera returned a gentle look showing that her worry was needless.

“Because the contents concern my house, the details were withheld. I would be glad if you could ease your caution.”

“I apologize for my rudeness.”

Jester again stopped Diera with his hand as she tried to lower her head, saying, “It is fine.”

“Besides, that is not the only matter.”

What he took out as he said that was a single dagger—it was unmistakably the one they had planned to use for identification.

“That was something from my house. I thought anything with carvings on it might be sellable, but…”

“Unfortunately, this itself is not worth very much. The issue is the butterfly and flames here. These belong to House Orselem, a noble family of Seizeria. By what circumstances did you come to possess this? That question turned into certainty once I saw you.”

Diera stiffened at those words.

This is bad… Did he see through the disguise? No, I still haven’t clearly said I’m their descendant.

As strength unconsciously filled Diera’s hand, which was still holding Rena’s, Rena looked up at her anxiously in response.

“I will state it plainly. You are undoubtedly a person of Orselem.”

However, the words that came from Jester’s mouth were the exact opposite of Diera’s fear.

“Since it is a story from the Imperial era, I do not know the exact details, but ‘Orselem’ was a well-known family. I have seen materials on them before, and there should be one book in this study as well.”

Saying that, Jester turned his back to the two and reached for the bookshelf. He traced the book titles one by one with his finger, then said, “Ah, this is it,” and took out the book he sought.

After that, he flipped through the old book’s pages, reached the relevant section, and showed it to the two.

“House Orselem was likened to ‘elegant butterflies with hair red as flames.’”

On that page were images of six nude women.

Their hair colors were not all red, but every one of them had splendid proportions even from a woman’s perspective.

And as for the reaction of the two, who had suddenly been shown such a thing… Diera froze, while Rena peered in with deep interest.

Rena, who had not understood even half the conversation, confidently declared, “It’s all right. Big Sis Diera is more amazing.”

Jester, who also understood Seizerian, nodded in satisfaction when he heard that.

“When I saw the photograph from your appearance before the reporters, I was shocked. You are truly Orselem revived in the modern age!”

Jester said that and spread both hands with a broad smile.

Diera could not help but predict what would come next.

“So… what do you want me to do?”

She understood.

But as if offering her final resistance, Diera asked in a sunken tone.

“Mm. The heads of House Orselem were women for generations, and they left their beauty in paintings. The women here are precisely that. Their figures were praised as if they embodied ‘the beauty of womanhood.’ I believe this is a heritage humanity should preserve.”

“In other words, you want me to serve as the model for a nude painting.”

Jester nodded generously with a smile.

At worst, they had intended to pretend to be House Orselem and use that as identification in the Council-State.

For that reason, there was no way she could now say, “Actually, I just picked it up.”

It isn’t that I can’t refuse. But if I do, there’s no doubt it’ll affect things greatly from now on.

During her hunter days as well, there had been jobs she could not refuse.

Telling herself that this was one of those, Diera nodded with a face that had reached a state of resignation.

Then Diera calmed down and thought.

Huh? Did that guy, who had read through Old Imperial books, really not know about this?

It was truly a casual thought—the hobby of that absurd monster, watching people’s reactions to his actions.

The moment she arrived at that thought, she intuitively realized that this had been a trap.

Remember this, Argos.

In her heart, Diera made plans to fire a spell at him, though she did not know when that would be.

Unlike Jester, who excitedly spoke about future plans and which painter should be used, Diera nodded coldly with halfhearted yeses.

Left behind in this situation, Rena somehow understood that the conversation had been settled, but from Diera’s expression, she fidgeted anxiously, unsure whether she should be happy.

The busy days of the asylum seekers were about to begin.