Ashes and Kingdoms

Chapter Four

A strong sea breeze drowned the windmill cabin built on the Cape of Comris. The sails of the windmill are folded and the axes are fixed, but they have not been thrown down. The roof tiles were properly repaired, and the trails leading from the city remained unburied in the grass.

"Mr. Oandus, I'm so glad you're back."

Residents of the neighborhood, who had taken on the management while away, laughed crooked and distorted as if to welcome an old friend. Oandus receives the key and thanks him for maintaining it properly for a long time. Then they waved, no, no.

"I can't wait to be in the hangout again. Even if not, since last fall, people just leave the city. I'm so grateful to see your face again. When the wind calms down, will you reopen the powder shop?

"Come on, what happens...... I know you'll be in trouble for a while. If you have another job, thank you."

Oandus avoided a clear statement and responded with an unmistakable smile. Although we plan to return to Winnea, we still do not know when Phineas will rendezvous and how safe the road to Winnea will be. In some cases, it may have been necessary to calm down to Comrith for the time being and expand the safety zone slightly while doing the powder shop.

When the neighbor man returned to his home and only his usual face was left, Valt looked around and shook his head.

"It's been a long winter. It's been a shitty city."

"I'm guessing it's because Dilgius conjured up soldiers and supplies"

Plast says in an emotionless voice, unlocking the barn quickly to carry the luggage in. My twin brothers helped me with that, and I stepped aside and said:

"Well, it looks like we have a lot of work to do."

"If the Dark Beast is exorcised, I'll take care of it! If you put out a sign, you might make money."

"It must be dangerous before Phineas returns."

"Dear Dragon Marquis, no. Make way for men and beasts! Oh, my God. We've been following you ever since, picking up flying gold coins."

Nellis shrugged her shoulders at her brothers laughing with careless jokes.

"If you have time to talk nonsense, clean up, too, right? I'm going to go buy it out. Mother, keep an eye on me."

Then I'll go get my things.

It was surprisingly Islev who offered. No way, and Nellis shakes his head in a big panic.

"I can't let the senator do that. Uh,"

Hurry and look around at the blush nearby to make sure Mac and Taz raised their hands.

"Because those two will help. Master Islev, please rest."

"Don't tell me that's not true. I've been left rocked by the ship for a long time, and either way, it just gets in the way of cleaning up here. I want to shop and see what's going on in the city. If your daughter is going to put up with a boring old man, I'd like to make a statement."

I don't know how serious you are, Islev begs you. With all this, Nellis can't possibly deny it.

Eventually, the four of us were to walk around the city with cages and bags in our hands. All you need is bread, vegetables, salted fish, seasonings, etc. I almost researched clothing and groceries in the Imperial Capital and Shiros, so I mainly buy groceries. On his way around each specialty store, Nellis glanced at Mac and clouded his face feeling he thought the same thing.

"Mr. Valt's right, you feel a little lonely."

"Yeah. Looks like more stores are closed and fewer crowds than before. I wonder if I can avoid the beasts at night properly..."

Then Islev, who was negotiating with the shopkeeper over a barrel of supple apples, came back and told him.

"Legion soldiers seem to be doing a good job on that point. 'Cause they say that apple was picked on the north side of Comrith."

Agricultural land functions as agricultural land. That is proof that people have not yet been deprived of everything by darkness. Nellis breathed relieved.

"Good. Around here, I felt that Naina's help was stronger before, but I was anxious because she seemed a little weak. But you're still holding out."

"Mm-hmm. Maybe it's because people's hearts aren't frustrated. I'll try to get to the mayor later, but for the city to be lonely, there's no strange and rough air. If you have any secrets, I want to teach you something."

The other three noticed it for the first time in the words of Islev, and looked around again.

"If you ask me, that's right," Taz leans his little neck. "Quiet and lonely, but I don't think I see a guy that feels like a mess..."

"Maybe it was more dangerous when I first came here," Mac nods, too. "Sometimes it was because Farnayne was there, but she almost sold me off without knowing anything."

"I paid him back."

As Nellis snorted, Taz looked deliberately surprised.

"Did you bust people buying? I'll do it, Nellis. That's Finn's sister!

"There's no way I'm such a strong arm! Where are you looking, rude to the weak maiden!

"'Weak' no?

Taz raised his suspicions, but shortly afterwards, he was trampled on his pinky toe and started jumping. A weak maiden can tear a man to death depending on what she does.

Because I say extra things, Mac smiles bitterly, and then he puts his eyes on me for a while. Beyond the painful taz, there was a little crowd.

"I wonder what that is."

"Shop......?

Nellis also notices and stops her leg, stretching her neck. The building across the street, if no sign is out, has an open intersection. Outside the small doorway, there were about five women, and one or two men, wandering to wait for something. That's because we don't chat with each other, but rather we keep half the distance to avoid each other.

"Let's go"

Intrigued, Nellis crosses the street quickly. I don't just have to worry about getting caught jumping out, just because the buzz the carriage is going to lose. In a hurry, the Macs chase them later.

At the time Nellis tried to ask the Guest-like woman what she was waiting for, the door opened as expected.

"Well, now..."

One woman, whispering, bows her head toward someone inside and comes out. Even though it's winter, you're wearing a daylight cloth completely because you don't want to be seen in the face. When Nellis was upset that it was a sad store, someone like the owner appeared after the woman who had left.

"Well, who's next?... oh."

That was a small old woman, but her voice had tension and her spine was stretched out perfectly. Nellis was taken aback to see so many neck ornaments jarring around her wrinkly thin neck.

The old woman looked back at Nellis funny, and did her eyes in turn to Mac and Islev, and gargled.

"Welcome home from the powder shop. Then Master Longhou will leave you alone."

――

It wasn't just the Nellis of the day who got stuck by surprises. All the guests who waited in turn took a breath, turning this way at best.

"Why...!

As Nellis leaked her blurred voice, the old woman laughed in the back of her throat.

"Guys, I'm waiting for you. In the long, dark winter, the dragon marquis will have patience until he returns. You'll be very welcome if you come."

"Don't say anything unsolicited! Who would do that!?

Unexpectedly Nellis threw the shopping cage out on the spot and stuffed it to the old lady. My brother already carries too many duties, responsibilities and promises. On top of all this, even though I haven't started anything yet, is it something that the Saviors of the North will celebrate?

Neither did Nellis' sword curtain, and the old woman answered with a delightful grin.

"Rumor has it, young priest of the goddess Nena. After an army soldier stepped into the mountain fled back with his other body, the rumor of the Dragon Marquis came to mind for a while. But by the time the rumors had disappeared without any tone, we now received rumors from our home country about Tenryu Hou and Ya. Sora, don't expect me to."

"Oh my... my brother doesn't mean he can do miracles! Whatever you're expecting, it won't be convenient!

"Yell at me, because I'm not going to beg at the bottom of Dragon Marquis's hem. You can have an interesting look. Come on, if you don't need us, just go! Your next guest is waiting!

When the old lady said so, the guests pushed Nellis over and swarmed just waiting. Are you telling the truth now, or are you calling me next, no, look at me?

Nellis watched as he was pushed towards the driveway. What the hell is this?

It is clear that the old woman is a fortune teller, and she must believe that her life will be greatly changed by the dragon marquis, as soon as the dragon marquis arrives, she will move in and say to herself next. A dozen young and old men here, all of them. No, worse, all the inhabitants of this city, and even the army soldiers stationed just north of the city.

"Apparently, it's a big deal"

Islev whispers and gently places his hand on Nellis' shoulder as if he were trying to support him. Nellis crushed unconsciously as she watched one woman disappear indoors with an old woman.

"I'm talking about your brother, so I'm coming down to the city with Lena on board, I don't think I'm going to do anything..."

"But you'll find out who you are soon."

Mac took the words melancholy and pulled his lips together.

Either way, I expected that Finn would not be able to hide that he was a dragon marquis. If we were to march north to reclaim human territory, we would be underpowered by our present faces alone. It also requires a variety of cooperation from the people of towns and villages.

But at least I thought it would be a little better later. After demonstrating that when you can definitely retreat the Dark Beast, you can protect about one village from the frozen, hateful beasts.

I never dreamed I'd be expected this way without any track record or assurance.

Taz also roared with a rare and harsh look.

"When Finn's guy gets back, we need to let him know right away"

Shake your head, sigh and look up into the sky. All I could see in my eyes were white clouds and bird shadows.