The spot, which was in a state of extreme tension, was joined by several new individuals.
“What? The atmosphere here is quite oppressive,” said Floria, arriving with a relaxed expression.
Upon the appearance of the new woman, the man who seemed to be the representative put on a suspicious face again.
“And who might you be? Stay out of this if you have no business here!”
“No, I can’t just stay out when you say that. I am very much involved.”
As Floria spoke, the representative turned a bewildered gaze to Kousuke.
“It’s… your doing, then. As I suspected, you really need to learn the meaning of ‘fitting one’s station’.”
Before the representative could finish speaking to Kousuke, Floria’s expression turned amused.
“Oh ho, I see. ‘Fitting one’s station,’ you say. May I return that sentiment to you exactly as it is?”
“What did you say?”
The man asked, frowning. Floria deliberately shrugged her shoulders and continued.
“If you were in charge of the main body of the diplomatic envoy, perhaps. But to think you consider yourself high-ranking for merely overseeing a detachment?”
“Y-You!”
Floria’s words flushed the man’s face red with anger.
What Floria had just said was indeed the truth. Diplomatic envoys from foreign countries generally traveled with many people. Therefore, in Razek Amamiya, inns where the envoys could stay were divided by rank and dispersed. This ranking was partly due to differences in national power of the countries the envoys belonged to, but in this case, that wasn’t the sole reason.
Typically, countries with greater national power would send larger delegations. However, Razek Amamiya received delegations from all over the world throughout the year. Due to the unique circumstances of the teleportation gate, unlike nations on other continents, many delegations stayed within Razek Amamiya. Since it was impossible to house all personnel in the accommodation facilities in the city on the Fifth Floor, they were divided among accommodation facilities in cities closer to their respective continents. This not only served the purpose of dispersing the lodging facilities but also aimed to stimulate the economy of the cities where the delegations were housed by having them spend money there. Of course, these were circumstances specific to Razek Amamiya and represented a response method not found in other countries, which initially led to backlash from various nations. It was Floria herself who pushed past this opposition to establish the current system. Naturally, she fully understood that foreigners were staying in the inns in the West Town.
The man, who had been momentarily enraged by Floria’s words, quickly regained his composure and fixed a scrutinizing gaze on her.
“What is your intention in angering me?”
“Oh? You have enough sense to calm down after something like that? I almost wish you were more impulsive.”
Floria did not answer the man’s question, shrugging her shoulders as she said this. Seeing this, the man’s expression began to show a hint of caution.
“Are you buying time…? But for what purpose?”
“Do you really think I would tell you the answer?”
Even as the man deduced her objective, Floria maintained her composed demeanor, offering a faint smile.
Upon seeing Floria’s face, the man took a deep breath and cast a fleeting glance at Kousuke and the others.
“I see. So, all this conversation was an attempt to buy time.”
“Ho ho. And so? Now that you know, what can you do?”
Floria asked, questioning if he could prevent her true objective without even understanding what it was. The man responded with a confident smile.
“It’s simple. We just need to settle this before the time you’re aiming for arrives.”
As he said this, the man glanced at the others around him. In response, they finally drew their swords and turned towards Kousuke and his companions. However, upon confirming this, Kousuke and his group merely offered wry smiles or shook their heads, showing no sign of panic.
“I see. That is certainly one approach, but it’s the worst possible move.”
Floria said this and then turned to Mitsuki, who was standing diagonally behind her. Mitsuki, seeing this, smiled faintly and nodded, then began to move.
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The man stared at the scene unfolding before him, muttering in disbelief.
“Im… impossible…”
He probably wasn’t even aware he had spoken the words. Despite his shock, no one in the crowd admonished or mocked him. Like the man, they were all astounded by what Mitsuki had done. After all, a single beautiful woman had incapacitated a group of what appeared to be professional soldiers in less than a few minutes. It was natural, within the bounds of common sense, to doubt one’s own eyes after witnessing such a sight.
Floria smirked at the man, who stood frozen in a daze.
“Too bad. It seems your last hope has ended in vain. …And, time is up.”
Almost simultaneously with Floria’s words, a loud voice echoed from outside the crowd.
“Everyone here, except for those directly involved, disperse!”
All eyes turned to the person who had spoken. Seeing the uniform they wore, some in the crowd sighed dejectedly, realizing they wouldn’t be able to witness the end of the commotion. Nevertheless, obeying the command, the crowd began to disperse to their respective locations. The new arrival was a member of Razek Amamiya’s subjugation force. The townspeople understood the foolishness of defying the subjugation force. After all, it was thanks to them that the main roads had become relatively safe.
Watching the onlookers leave one by one, the representative man grinned.
“Hey, you. What are you doing? Clean up these insolent people, too.”
He brazenly attempted to have Kousuke and his companions removed as well, but unfortunately for him, things did not proceed as he wished. An even louder voice than the previous one resounded through the area.
“What foolishness are you spouting!”
The man’s face contorted in surprise at the voice, and he turned to where it had come from.
Kousuke, following the man’s gaze, noticed a group of about ten people. Their clothing was not typical of those from the Central Continent, making it clear they were foreigners. More importantly, judging by the man’s attitude, it was evident he knew them, and that they were of higher status.
“Dudone!”
The representative man called out to the man at the center of the group. However, the man called Dudone, who appeared to be around twenty years old, didn’t even look at him, instead bowing his head towards Kousuke and his companions.
“On behalf of my subordinate’s foolish actions today, I offer my deepest apologies.”
“Wh-What!?”
The representative man’s eyes widened in shock at Dudone’s words and actions. It was natural to react that way when seeing one’s own superior—who was of far higher status—bowing to the person they had been looking down on.
Ignoring the stunned representative, Dudone continued addressing Kousuke and his group.
“It would be conspicuous here. May we discuss this indoors?”
Dudone, suggesting they move to the inn, looked at Floria once. Floria glanced back at Kousuke and nodded.
“Well, that would be acceptable.”
Hearing Floria’s reply, Dudone visibly relaxed. He simply glanced at the people he had brought with him and nodded, as if to say things were proceeding as planned.
I am so sorry.
My plans were not set in stone.
It didn’t end in two chapters. T_T
Initially, Dudone was planned to appear as a spoiled brat, but that would be too cliché and uninteresting, so I changed it on the fly.
As a result, it couldn’t be finished in two chapters. T_T
I’m sure it will end next time.
