Shia’s Reputation In Saria

The next day, I woke up early and practiced swordsmanship.

Since I had been staying at my family home for the past few days, I had gotten used to the sight of this courtyard.

But today would be the last time I saw it for a while. Not that I felt particularly sad about that.

After finishing my training, I ate an early lunch before noon, saw Tanya off in the carriage back home, and left my family estate.

The coachman looked puzzled at first, but after I explained the situation, he seemed to understand.

Incidentally, not a single person from the household came to see me off.

That was exactly what I had expected.

After parting ways with Tanya, I headed into Saria.

Shia had been beside me yesterday, but today I was alone, and it felt just a little lonely.

After walking around town for even a short while, I started running into people I had met yesterday.

“Hey, kid! Where’s that pretty girlfriend of yours today?”

“Looking lively as ever, old man. She had something to do today, so she couldn’t come.”

“What’s this? You’re not denying she’s your girlfriend? I like it, I like it!”

I chatted cheerfully with the boisterous and slightly meddlesome street vendor.

“Big brother! Where’s that big sister today?”

“Ah, she had something to take care of.”

“Aww, that’s boring.”

A little girl who had once again come shopping with her parents asked me about Shia.

“Hello. Business going well?”

“Yeah! Thanks again for yesterday! That sword sold right away! Oh, right, I brought in a few more swords. Wanna buy one!?”

“No, I already have enough swords, so I’ll pass. But I wouldn’t mind taking a look.”

“Well, I guess the mighty House Fols has more swords than it knows what to do with. Still, having you look at them really helps me set the prices accurately.”

I also spoke with the shopkeeper who had lent me a sword when I caught the thief yesterday.

Some people in this city knew that I came from House Fols.

But most of them looked at me for who I was rather than because of my family name.

I did not even know most of their names, but whenever I slipped out of the estate and came into town, we would talk like this, and we had become fairly friendly.

Then again, Tanya had been my only ally inside the house, so perhaps it was only natural that the places where I felt comfortable ended up being outside it.

“By the way, old man, if you know anything about the northern city, could you tell me?”

“The northern city? You mean Norzampshon, the one governed by House Ark Gate? I used to go there often for business while the war was still going on, but not so much since the ceasefire. Is that still fine?”

“Yeah, please.”

From time to time, I also asked people about Norzampshon, the city Shia governed.

“Things were good under the previous head too, but business has gotten even better under the current one. Apparently that’s because the war ended and taxes got a little cheaper afterward. As a merchant, I’ve got mixed feelings about that part, but personally, I’d rather there be no war. And if you think about the people living there being happier, I suppose the current head is what you’d call a wise ruler.”

“She’s really that impressive?”

“I’d say she is, but… for people like us, what matters most is whether our daily lives get better or not. So rather than impressive, I’d probably say she’s a good lord.”

“I see. Thanks.”

“Sure. Come by again sometime.”

I wrapped up my conversation with the shopkeeper and stepped away from the stall.

On the way, I happened to run into yet another person I had met yesterday.

“Oh, you’re the young man from yesterday…”

She was the middle-aged woman whose belongings had been stolen by the thief Shia and I caught.

The moment she recognized me, she bowed deeply.

“Thank you again for yesterday. Please give my thanks to your girlfriend too.”

“No, no. We only did what anyone should have done…”

“I really ought to repay you somehow. Is there anything you want? It could be something your girlfriend wants too.”

“No, really, that’s not necessary…”

I declined because I had not helped her expecting any kind of reward, but then I immediately realized there was something useful I could ask for.

“Actually, in that case, could you tell me what you think about Norzampshon, the city to the north?”

There was nothing in particular I wanted, and I could not imagine Shia asking for some kind of reward either, so I decided to ask her about the northern city instead.

“Oh? Is that really all you want?”

“Yes, please.”

“Well, this is something most people seem to think, but I’ve heard things have gotten even better since the current head took over. If the northern city were invaded by another country, they could push all the way to the Royal Capital, and then even Saria might suffer damage. In that sense, I suppose you could almost call her our guardian deity.”

No matter how many people I asked, including her, the answers were generally the same.

Things had improved compared to the previous generation.

The people living there were grateful.

It seemed that the vast majority of people held Shia in high regard.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I’d leave Saria, where I’m used to living, and move all the way to Norzampshon. It’s too far away. …I suppose that’s about all I can tell you. Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”

“No, you helped a lot. Thank you.”

After parting ways with the woman, I stepped slightly away from the main street and leaned against the wall of a shop.

There was one other thing I had learned from speaking with so many people.

I had suspected as much yesterday since no one said anything while Shia and I walked through town together, but apparently Shia rarely appeared in public.

Then again, this was not unique to Shia. Apparently the previous head had been the same way.

—The previous head… that means Shia’s mother, right?

The townspeople said their lives had improved even more since Shia became the head, but none of them claimed that the previous head had been a cruel ruler.

Still, from my perspective, the former head of House Ark Gate was someone who had likely wounded Shia deeply when she was still a child.

I had never met her, but I could not bring myself to think very highly of her.

I looked toward the main street, where people were constantly coming and going, and then raised my gaze toward the sky.

As I thought, Saria was not a territory directly governed by Shia, so it would probably be difficult to learn anything more about her here.

I should follow my original plan and go to Norzampshon, the territory she governed herself.

“…I guess it’s about time I went. To Norzampshon.”

I started walking toward the carriage depot where I could hire a carriage for long-distance travel.