Visiting the Tsuia Family

I took a cheap, bumpy regular wagon to Tsuia.

While everyone else was waiting for processing at the gate, I showed my invitation and was let through as a special case without any wait.

The toll was free, Niku included. Saved some change there. As expected of the lord's invitation.

Passing through the gate, I headed straight for the lord's manor… or not. First, I stopped by some stalls to grab a bite. After all, I was going there to refuse them, so I shouldn't expect any warm hospitality. My plan was to show up during that awkward early afternoon time, get things over with quickly, and head back.

"Oh, there's a meat skewer stall. Smells great."

"Yes. Let's buy a lot."

"Welcome— Oh, hey, it's been a while, An-chan!"

Hm? Who was this again… oh, right. He's the old guy we delivered rabbit meat to way back.

"Not hunting rabbit meat today?"

"Nah, I'm D-Rank now, so I've graduated from rabbits. Not hurting for money either."

"That's too bad, but congratulations. If you ever feel like bringing rabbits again, I'll buy them if I'm around."

"Thanks. Well then, I'll take five."

"Coming right up. Oh, what flavor do you want? I recently stocked up on some sauce from a traveling merchant. I got a few different kinds, but I'm using one that goes well with rabbit meat. It's delicious."

"… Then I'll have that. Kuro, is that okay with you?"

"Yes."

Is it sauce from our dungeon? Come to think of it, we made the dungeon produce it since we use it at the inn too. The fact that it's been properly adopted here is impressive, as expected.

When I paid twenty-five copper coins, he gave us six meat skewers, one extra as a bonus.

"Oh, thanks, old man."

"Don't mention it. Business has been booming thanks to you."

Niku immediately started eating her meat skewer… yep, her tail is wagging. It must be delicious.

I ate one too. With this sauce, it's like yakitori. Come to think of it, rabbits are counted as "one bird, two birds" in Japanese. I thought about something so irrelevant while biting into it. The meat is big, so it's quite satisfying.

"Goshujin-sama…"

"Ah, yeah. I'll have one more. You can have the rest."

Her tail wagged back and forth.

Niku quickly devoured the rest of the meat skewers… There's sauce around your mouth, you know. Wipe wipe. Yeah, cute, cute. Pat pat.

"You two are as close as ever… Don't you think you could release her from slavery?"

"That's a line I can't cross. Considering the one-in-a-million chance…"

It's not that I don't trust her. But if she's no longer a slave, there's the possibility she could leak information about the dungeon if tortured. Therefore, no. No means no.

It's definitely not because I think she'd attack me if she stopped being a slave.

"Well, there are complicated circumstances."

"Hmm, I won't pry, but… take good care of her, alright?"

"Yeah."

I bought ten more skewers as souvenirs for Rokuko and the others and put them in my [Storage].

Now then, we've eaten, so it's time to go.

"Alright, let's head out… By the way, where does the lord live?"

"… I don't know."

I headed back to the gate.

As expected, Tsuia's gatekeepers are public servants, so they knew the streets well.

Thanks to the invitation, they even guided me all the way to the mansion.

… I recorded it on my map, so I can get here by myself next time!

The lord's mansion was quite large, even compared to other residences in the high-class district in northeastern Tsuia. It was a three-story white Western-style building, and even the front garden visible from the gate was spacious yet well-maintained. It looked like a park somewhere.

Then, when I handed my invitation to the mansion's gatekeeper, I was shown to what appeared to be a reception room.

… The gatekeeper didn't say anything like "This mere adventurer!" It was a thoroughly polite response. They're well-trained.

The sofa wasn't as soft as the ones we use at our place, but it was still comfortable. After sitting next to Niku and spacing out for a while, there was a knock at the door.

"Ah, yes."

When I reflexively stood to greet them, in came a gentleman with a somewhat sturdy build, dressed in clean clothes.

"Did I keep you waiting? I'm Vonodoru Tsuia. You might know me better as the lord."

"I'm Kehma. Pleased to meet you, Lord-sama. I wasn't waiting that long."

"Is that so?"

After exchanging a handshake and introductions, I sat back down across from him.

"… Now then, would you mind telling me a bit about things? About that village."

"That's fine, but, well. About why I'm here today…"

"I've heard some stories about Golen Village, but how many Iron Golems can be captured there?"

"Let's see, I'm not sure exactly… I don't have a detailed understanding myself. We captured about thirty during the winter, though. Anyway, about today's matter…"

"Oh, thirty. That's quite a lot. That's enough to make two hundred complete sets of all-iron equipment. If it were just swords, maybe around ten thousand? Of those, how many did you capture, Kehma-dono?"

"It wasn't just me, but I was involved with about six…"

Wait, is he probing how much I can earn? … Annual income is important, after all.

"Um. So about today's matter…"

"Ah, wait a moment. Hey, Mai, come on in!"

"Yes, excuse me."

Saying that, a girl came in—blue hair. Ringlets at the sides of her face, wearing a white, prim outfit, a girl of about ten years old walked in.

… Yeah. As I thought.

"I am Maiodoru Tsuia. Are you Kehma-sama, who is to become my fiancé?"

A-N-O-T-H-E-R L-O-L-I.

What is this? Is the suspicion of me being a lolicon really that deep-rooted?

"… Um."

"Now, now, Mai. That's not right. He's not your fiancé yet. Right, Kehma-dono?"

"Eh, ah, yes… No, never mind 'yet,' I have no intention of becoming her fiancé."

"Oh. Skipping past fiancé straight to spouse? You're quite eager, Kehma-dono. Ha ha ha!"

"My, how hasty you are, Kehma-sama… Fufu."

No, let me refuse already. Why is this progressing as if it's already a done deal?

Maiodoru sat down next to Vonodoru with a little "heave-ho."

Seeing that, Niku raised her hand slightly.

"… May I?"

"… What is it, Kuroinu-dono?"

"This matter… we would like to refuse."

She said iiiiit!! Niku just cut through the flow and said it outright!!

As expected of Niku, so reliable! I love Niku when she's like this!

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could you say it again?"

"We would like… to refuse."

She even said it again despite them playing dumb!! What reliability. I'm keenly aware of my own lack of courage… I thought I'd grown some backbone, but that's not the case at all. Compared to Niku, my courage is garbage. Garbage, I tell you.

Cutting through the flow of conversation to say what needs to be said, that's what I admire!

"… Kehma-dono? Is this your intention?"

He gave me a sharp look, but it wasn't that scary. Compared to Haku-san's bloodlust-filled gaze, this is like a spring breeze.

"Yes, I have no intention of getting married…"

"I like it! Very well, let us respect Kehma-dono's opinion."

"To be able to state your opinion so clearly to Otou-sama… Kehma-sama, how wonderful!"

H-huh?

Was refusing the correct answer from the start?

"That's right, isn't it? Setting aside those born into nobility, Kehma-sama is a commoner. Meeting someone for the first time, and with someone as young as myself as the partner at that… it's only natural to decline."

Maiodoru nodded to herself… Is she on my side?

"So for now, we should become fiancé candidates, and once we get to know each other better, then we can become engaged."

"Oh, I see. Mai, you're so clever. Kehma-dono, is that acceptable?"

"Eh? No, I…"

"I would very much like to be friends with you, Kehma-sama. I'd love to hear about your adventures, please, please!"

Maiodoru leaned forward eagerly. Vonodoru held her back.

"Mai, isn't it about time for your studies?"

"Oh my, then please excuse me. Kehma-sama, I'll see you later."

Maiodoru hopped off the sofa and left the room. On her way out, she bowed toward me, smiled, and waved.

How should I put it… it feels like more than half of what I've said has been ignored since I entered this room. Should I just run away?

"… Now then, Kehma-dono. I have high hopes for you, so there's something I'd like to discuss. Hear me out."

Vonodoru was smiling, but his eyes weren't laughing. This definitely smells like something troublesome.