Chapter 17 – Standby Order. Murid Fortress (1)

　For Penitent Heroes like us, the concept of ‘leave’ doesn’t apply. 

　Usually, the right way to deal with us would be to restrain us and confine us in a prison. 

　However, if it’s the concept of ‘standing by’, that exists. 

i didn’t post one last week because i was discouraged by all the views on aggregates, so please do read on https://hakuci.org/?p=4727 to help support me and keep me motivated and maybe i’ll post next week too.

　It’s the time between sentences, or in other words, a preparation period where we await further punishment. 

　In such cases, of course, we’re not entirely free to do as we like. 

　It’s forbidden to go in and out of areas other than those that we’re allowed, but to rest — or to spend some time doing something similar to rest, is possible. 

　Still, I can’t bring myself to go out.

　Because today, the Murid Fortress where we’re stationed at is bustling.

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(Troublesome.)

　I thought.

　Days like this are for reading books.

　Despite being a Penitent Hero, as long as we’re in the Military, there’s no problems with getting books for entertainment. So I laid down on the bed and decided to immerse myself in reading. 

　Today is the ‘Grand Exchange’ that happens once every ten days. 

　You could call it a small market. Instead of the usual commissary within the fortress, merchants dispatched from the Verkle Pioneer Public Cooperation come and sell daily necessities and luxury items in the courtyard, 

　Popular items include alcohol, cigarettes, postal services, and dried sweets.

　Those kinds of things.

　Since you can use the military scrips issued by Gartuil, a lot of soldiers gather. Of course, the guys from the 13th Holy Knights are also among them.

　I didn’t want to face the Holy Knights.

　There’s also the task of looking after His Majesty Norgayu — after His Majesty had been sent back from the Repair Shop with Dotta, he seemed to be having some problems in his daily life. 

“Commander! Commander Zyro! Where are you!”

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　His Majesty Norgayu walked down the corridor while shouting loudly and stomping his feet.

“Peddlers are arriving. We want to imbibe alcohol! Make the purchase!”

　After returning, His Majesty Norgayu’s delusions grew even more intense.

　He started calling me “Commander” and Tatsuya “General”.

　His memory has become quite lacking, he pretty much doesn’t remember anything that’d happened in the mine. He thinks of us Heroes as his personal guard. 

　Also, it looks like his right leg hasn’t regenerated, so it’s been replaced with a wooden prosthetic. 

　The Church should be currently searching for some corpse’s right leg as a replacement. It’s all the fault of His Majesty’s large size. 

“Commander Zyro! You’re here!” 

　The door of the room assigned to me was violently pushed open by His Majesty Norgayu.

　He still has bandages wrapped around his body — there are probably still some loose parts. 

“Peddlers are arriving. Purchase our liquor immediately.” 

“Your Majesty, do you have money?”

　Reluctantly, I sat up and crossed my legs.

“Actually, our Kingdom’s treasury is empty, we can’t even buy alcohol.”

“What? Are we in that much of a predicament? Where is the Minister of Finance, what is he doing!?”

　To be precise, even if His Majesty Norgayu’s military were to receive his military scrips, they would disappear in a matter of moments. 

　Because it’s all used on alcohol. 

　The person himself had a poor memory to begin with and it was worsened in the aftermath of the battle at the mine. 

“If you want alcohol that much, you should borrow money and go buy it.”

　I gave a reasonable solution.

“I’m not free, I’m reading important documents. Go order Venetim.” 

“That Prime Minister is in-charge of monitoring Dotta.”

“Really?”

　Come to think of it, that was true. 

　Dotta is back, and if it’s a Grand Exchange day, we need someone to play the role of watchman. 

　It’s necessary to wrap a chain around him and keep a close eye. 

　Since Venetim is the nominal Commander, he’s forced to do the job. Because this work can’t be done by Tatsuya. 

“Then, Tsav.”

　I named another person who had just returned from another mission. 

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“You can borrow from that guy.” 

“Tsav is entirely unreliable. He squanders money and is too vulnerable to gambling. Would he not have already depleted all his money?” 

“No, it sounds like this fortress has finally banned him from the gambling hall. If it’s a day like today, then he’ll have no way to use it all. Hurry up and you might still make it.” 

“It can’t be helped.”

　His Majesty nodded gravely and turned on his heels.

　With this, I can leave that noisy guy to Tsav.

　Tsav is our sniper.

　He’s a man of great skill — but since he’s been sent to the Penitent Hero Corps, you should already know his personality. He’s a former assassin and a bastard. 

　In his solo mission, he was sent to the western front, but I wonder if the job went well. 

　For the time being, he did come back with all his hands and feet, so he might have fulfilled his role. Did he succeed in hitting the target? 

　Tsav is good only with arms. So whether or not he successfully eliminated the entire Demon King Phenomenon is a different matter. 

　–Anyway, it’s become quiet here.

　I lie down again. Let’s kill time here until the Grand Exchange winds down. 

　And as I was thinking of that, another noisy guy came. 

“My Knight!”

　The one who jumped in with light footsteps was the [Goddess]. 

“Zyro, you were here. I have been searching for you.”

“What is it.”

“Are you not proceeding to the Grand Exchange? I had thought you were out making purchases.”

“I don’t want to meet the Holy Knights.”

　It still wouldn’t be too bad if they just grimaced or frowned, but I won’t be able to hold myself back if they gave me some justification. Like making either sarcastic or biting remarks. 

(I’m not kidding.)

　If that happens, I can’t trust my patience.

　I might end up hitting someone before anyone even realises. 

“Then rise and play with me.”

　Teolita looked down at my sleeping face pompously. A shadow fell over me.

“Teolita, aren’t you going to the Grand Exchange?” 

“…I’m a [Goddess]! I have no interest in such things.” 

　’That’s definitely a lie’, I thought, but it might be unavoidable. 

　It’s true that they say [Goddesses] can freely attend the Grand Exchange, but that’s not actually the case. Since they are requested to behave in a way to not lose the dignity of a [Goddess], they need permission and supervision from the Holy Knights and Priests. 

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　My guess is that both Kivia and that Priest are busy.

　Mainly because they need to decide how Teolita and I will be treated from now on. 

“If you are also available, Zyro, I shall give you the honour of playing with me… Are you not pleased?” 

　Asking that, in one hand, Teolita held a small box. 

　It’s the one that contains a game board and a set of pieces.

　Although it differs from region to region, this type of board game is usually called “Jig”. 

　Move marked pieces to compete for each other’s territory. 

　Because the rules are simple, anyone from children to adults can play it. It’s a good way to pass time. Even in the Military, there are quite a few guys who enjoy it for pleasure and there also also some who enjoy it as a way of making bets. 

　I didn’t hate it either — the way to play “Jig” was taught by me to Teolita while we had time during our standby order three days ago. 

　Since then, whenever she was free, she would bring the board. 

　’I’ve gone and done it now’, I’d thought, but it was too late. 

“I too have undergone special training. I will not be conceding defeat so simply.” 

“Didn’t we play just last night?” 

“Right before this, with Venetim as my opponent, I have mastered advanced tactics. Fufu. For my victory, I will employ the strategy once used in the royal court of the Rege Kingdom, the ancient and noble tactic known be the name of ‘Stealth Spear’–”

　’If it was Venetim she was facing, she was probably being scammed’, I thought, though I stopped myself from saying something unnecessary. 

　”Ancient and noble tactic” or in other words, an outdated tactic. 

　With one hand, I pressed down Teolita, who was already trying to quickly arrange the pieces on the board.

“I’m busy now. I’m reading a book.”

“Book? If it’s a book, would it not be good to read it later?” 

　Despite saying that, Teolita looked interested in what I was reading. She peeked. 

“For Zyro to have the hobby of reading is unexpected. What are you reading? Is it interesting? Can I also read it? If it is not one of the ancient Eastern languages–”

“It’s poetry. A poetry collection.”

“A collection of poems! …Zyro,… you!?” 

　She was very shocked.

　Teolita’s eyes widened. She looked really taken aback by surprise. Why are you that surprised? 

“What kind of poetry collection? I’m intrigued. I will grant you the honour of reading it to me.” 

“Rejected.”

　Without thinking, I answered reflexively. Because my tone had gotten a little sterner, I could see that Teolita flinched a bit. 

　It was because I was reminded of the [Goddess] I once was partnered with. I’ve had exchanges like this before. 

“Then, if that’s so, it’s fine if you do not read it aloud. I can also read by myself… reading together while beside each other is fine, surely!…. is that alright?” 

“No. It’s not a poetry collection that would be interesting for the [Goddess].” 

　I closed the book

　The name of this collection was “Draconic Intoxication”. Poems from an old age. 

“This guy is Altyard Comete. Drunk poet. A guy who got fired from the court and retired to the mountains — in his later years, he started having delusions about wanting to become a dragon, practised flying night after night, and finally died.”

“Haa…. A rather unusual individual huh.”

“Many poets of this era are like that guy.”

　What I like too, is that kind of poetry. 

　If I hadn’t become a soldier, I might have aimed to become a poet. Because it sounded relaxing.

“…Well, enough of that. If you’re that free, then I’ll be your opponent at ‘Jig’.” 

　I can’t calm down when someone reads a book next to me.

　Let’s face each other across the board — anyway, to kill some time. 

“Indeed!”

　As Teolita said while showing a smile.

“…Zyro Forberts.”

　A new visitor appeared at the entrance to the room.

　A tall, black-haired stranger. Who is she — I had thought for a moment, but it was my mistake. 

　Because she was always fully equipped in armour, the impression she gave off in military uniform was different. She also had her black hair braided. 

　Kivia.

　Alone and unaccompanied.

　Which means it didn’t look like I was going to be dragged off somewhere… Then, what do you need me for? 

“So instead of the Grand Exchange, you were here huh?…. I didn’t think you’d be here together with [Goddess] Teolita as well.” 

“I didn’t expect the Holy Knight Commander to go out of her way to come to a place like this.”  

　I couldn’t suppress my sarcasm.

“Have you finally decided on our treatment, or is it an order for the next operation?”

“…You’re right on both counts. However, I’m here for something different.”

　Kivia frowned slightly. She might not have liked how I was saying things. 

“Follow me, Zyro.”

“Where? An underground torture chamber?”

“Wrong.”

　Kivia didn’t seem to get my joke. She bluntly denied me.

　However, the request that came after was beyond what I’d imagined. 

“I want to talk to you. Doesn’t matter where.”

　Then Kivia glared at me sharply.

　It felt like I was being challenged to a duel.

“How about it? Are you going to reply? Will you refuse? Answer me.” 

　’What are you saying?’, I thought.

　I considered it, but when I considered it for a bit more, I realised I don’t have the right to refuse. 

“…I don’t mind.”

　Perhaps because I was taken by surprise, I also wanted to say something surprising.

“As for where we can talk, can I decide the place?”

“Let me hear it. I’ll do my best to comply.” 

“At the courtyard where the Grand Exchange is held. I want to buy something. And also, I’ll bring Teolita with me.” 

“Hmm……”

　For some reason, Teolita’s eyes flared in response to Kivia’s muttering.

　She kept looking at me to Kivia and back with expectant eyes. 

“…No. Understood.”

　After about ten seconds of silence, Kivia nodded.

“I will respond to your wishes…. Let’s go to the courtyard!”

　That declaration was like a signal to march.

–

tl: made a discord here, i’m not sure about the interest, but you can just come and chill idk. i guess i’ll mainly be using it to ping for release updates so you can join for that.