Mobuseka Volume 13 Chapter 2

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 2 "Those Who Send"

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Part 1

When I returned to the royal capital, I headed to the royal palace, which was now in a commotion that felt like a honeycomb.

Everyone was working busily to supply the large army of flying battleships that had assembled.

For the civil servants, this moment must be the most important moment.

I am sure they will also be busy dealing with the aftermath after the war is over, but they will have to do their best there.

As we walk through the corridors of the royal palace, I strike up a conversation with Luxion.

"Maybe it would have been better to use artificial intelligence for support."

Wouldn't it have been better to reduce the workload of the civil servants? To my question, Luxion replied coldly.

[We couldn't afford extra resources, so we had to ask everyone to do their best. Thanks to that, we now have a few percent to spare.]

"That's a statement that sounds like you're making the human being work hard."

[It is a necessary sacrifice to win. It is their job in the first place, so let them do their best.]

The conversation with Luxion, who was accustomed to my light-hearted conversation, was casual and without any strange distractions.

I felt as if we were friends who have known each other for years, and a smile naturally appeared on my face.

As I was walking along, someone noticed me from ahead and walked up to me.

It's Louise-san from the Republic of Arzel.

"You're finally back."

She seemed to be a little angry at me for being away from the royal palace, and she put her hands on her hips.

But as soon as she saw my face, she smiled.

"It's a strange feeling to be greeted by Louise-san."

It was a strange feeling to be greeted by a foreign princess in my hometown.

However, I am a little relieved to be greeted by someone I know.

Louise-san shrugged her shoulders.

"I've been a little busy with things. I can't help you with your work, so I've settled on being a hostage from the Republic."

"Hostage? No, that's——"

She laughed herself at the idea of her being taken as a hostage against the Republic of Arzel, which had offered to cooperate.

"It's an act for the country, apparently. It seems that many nobles don't believe in foreign armies. It was Milene-sama's suggestion, so I accepted."

"Milene-san's?"

Perhaps my expression relaxed naturally, Louise-san didn't seem amused.

"I hear you're quite passionate about her, is that true?"

"No way. There's a big wall between me and Milene-san that we can't cross."

I smile and try to fool her, but Louise-san gives me a distrustful look.

"Well, that's fine. Your fiancées are making arrangements at Licorne's. They'll be back in a few hours, maybe?"

I looked at Luxion and he shook his single eye vertically.

Apparently there is no doubt about it.

"Then I guess I'll have to wait a bit. Shall I finish the other jobs first?"

When I think about it, if that's the case with Louise-san.

"Why don’t you greet the Duke first?"

"Duke? Aah"

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Part 2

After being persuaded by Louise-san, I headed for the room used by shishou as his office.

There are many piles of documents in the room.

He looked a little tired, but he was still perfectly dressed.

Facing shishou, I am savor the aroma of tea.

The smell of papers and ink, mixed with the pleasant smell of tea, spread —— I genuinely didn't enjoy it, but that's okay.

"I was surprised when I was first told that shishou was a Duke and that Roland's uncle."

With an apologetic smile on his face, shishou straightened his posture in front of me.

"I used to give up my title and middle name and watch over the kingdom as a teacher at the academy, you know. And it was not something I would have blurted out on my own. But now that it has happened, I have no choice but to apologize to Mr. Leon."

I hurriedly stop shishou who is about to bow his head.

"Don't worry about it! I understand that shishou had his own circumstances. Besides, you are helping me now."

When I smiled, shishou looked a little surprised but broke into a smile.

"If you are okay with me like this, I will help the young generation as much as I can. I was reminded that I shouldn't run away from my responsibilities."

Shishou, who was mocking at himself, had a somewhat cheerful expression on his face.

"Shishou——"

As the quiet time between the two of us passes —— perhaps unable to hold back any longer, Milene-san clears her throat.

"Hnhn! ——Ano, could you two please stop ignoring me? I'm really starting to feel a little lonely."

Milene-san, who felt as if she had been excluded, complained with tears in her eyes.

I looked at Shishou, smiled bitterly, and then expressed my gratitude to Milene-san.

"Thank you Milene-sama for all your help this time. I heard from Ange about you. I heard that you were always by her side and supported her all the way. Thank you so much."

When I thank her, Milene-san smiles a little shyly.

"It's okay. Besides, Ange is a student of mine. I think it's not a bad idea to take this opportunity to put the finishing touches on Ange."

"Is that so?"

I wondered what she meant by finishing touches, but my eyes fell on Milene-san's figure before I could ask her back.

Perhaps she was very busy, and looking at her hands, there were a little ink stains on them.

There is a slight dark circle visible on her face, but it seems to be hidden by makeup.

I was sorry that I had made her do something reckless.

Earlier, I said to Luxion, "Let's have everyone do their best," but when I look at the people who actually support us to the limit, I think how shallow my words and actions are.

Still, it is shameful that my mouth moves and I make thoughtless remarks.

Milene-san stares into my eyes.

"Let me say this first. If we lose this battle, there will be no next."

Hearing Milene-san's words that there will be no next one, shishou also shares the situation with me.

"The Queen——Milene-sama is right. The stockpiled supplies in the Kingdom of Horfalt will run out after this battle. It will not be zero, but please remember that we will not have the strength to fight a second battle against the empire."

For the kingdom now exhausted from the continuous war, there will be no next time if it loses this battle.

The correct answer is that we cannot fight even if we wanted to because we do not have the necessary supplies to fight.

If we lose, we will simply be overrun by the Empire.

"From the beginning, I'm thinking of this as a one-shot battle, so I'm not thinking about the next one."

When I said that and sipped my tea, shishou and Milene-san looked at each other.

The anxious look on their faces made me get up from my seat, knowing what I was about to be asked.

"Shishou's tea is definitely the best. I I'm grateful to be able to taste it before heading out."

"I am ashamed of myself that I can only offer this level of hospitality to a friend who is about to go to extremely dangerous place."

Shishou apologized, but I was glad he called me friend.

"No, it was the best hospitality for me."

This time, Milene-san gets up from her seat and clasps her hands in front of me.

"I wish you good luck."

I felt sorry when I saw Milene-san earnestly praying for my safety.

To hide these feelings, my mouth naturally lightens up —— and I end up making jokes.

"Having Milene-sama pray for me seems to be a real blessing."

"Your crack jokes part is still the same as ever."

It was cute how she was angry at me for making jokes all the time and asking me not to make fun of her.

That's why it just comes out of my mouth unintentionally.

"That's who I am. And —— I love you, Milene-san."

"Hyaih!?"

Seeing Milene-san blushing in surprise, I thought that the prank was a success, when I saw shishou roll his eyes.

"Mr. Leon, why are you really——"

"Oops, of course I love you too, Shishou. I am so grateful to you for teaching me about tea."

He must be stunned by my mischief.

Feeling uncomfortable, I walked out of the room as if to escape —— and turned around for the last time.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me. I am grateful to both of you."

Shishou who taught people like me the wonderful hobby of tea.

And then there is the charming Milene-san, who is an adult but somehow still retains her childishness.

I thank the two people who have helped me so much and leave the room.

Luxion, who had been quietly watching the situation, approached near my right shoulder.

[To say I love you is quite a statement]

"There are many kinds of love. Like respect, friendship, and so on."

[If you are talking about love, shouldn't you put those three people who are your fiancées first?]

"Doesn't it sound like a joke when I say it?"

[You have come this far, and you don't want to tell them because it sounds like a joke? You should whisper your love more often.]

"I feel like when you say "love" on a regular basis, it kind of diminishes the value of it."

[Data held by Creare shows that people who usually communicate their love are less likely to decrease their affection.]

"Are you trying to tell me to be like Roland?"

As I was walking down the hallway, imagining Roland whispering his love to everyone, I ran into the man.

At this busy time, Roland was smiling and conversing with a woman working at the royal palace.

He is picking up woman.

"——The king is picking on woman at this busy time?"

When I complained bitterly, the woman who was being approached looked at me quizzically for a moment.

Is there something so funny on my face? As I was touching my face to check, Roland whispered something in the woman's ear and made her back down.

And he —— doesn't use his usual hateful words in front of me.

"This is the Hero of the Kingdom. You are back at last. Milene's been worried about you."

"It's a disgusting way to talk."

When I stepped back at Roland's use of words, he looked as if it was upsetting to him.

"Even like this, I'm still concerned about you. For this time, as expected, I thought I had put too much of a burden on you."

"Then you need to work harder. Picking up girls when everyone else is busy working is the worst."

When I criticized Roland's actions, Luxion made a sighing gesture.

Turn his single eye away from me and make a small up and down movement with the lens pointing diagonally downwards.

[Considering what you just said and did to Milene, Master can't blame Roland.]

"Why?"

As I tilted my head, Roland gave me an unusually serious look.

Unlike the face he showed in the audience chamber, he looks somewhat worried.

"I have nothing to say to you now. But if I may offer you one piece of advice, as a man who has already experienced it before you, you are taking on a lot more responsibility than you need to."

"You're giving me advice? Did you eat something strange?"

While I teased him with concern, Roland's face didn't change.

"Don't make fun of it. I'm talking about something serious."

When I shut up, Roland continues speaking.

"You need to relax your shoulders more. You should just rely on Angelica like I relied on Milene. If you don't, you will be crushed by what you carry someday."

I'm surprised that Roland is worried about me, but let me tell you one thing.

"——I think you need to take on more responsibility."

"You are still the usual kid who not able to keep his mouth shut."

I have no intention of calling him "Your Majesty" now, nor do I intend to be polite.

That's why I talk to Roland using snide remark, but he never blamed me for it.

It seems to be true that Roland is concerned in his own way.

"I'll leave all the rest to you. ——Don't die, kid."

Roland showed his back and left me for the last time.