Book 7: Prologue
Prologue: eting Up
In the middle of the 5th month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar
Tomoe, who had been left in a town near the border with the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State, had co to the noon market with her bodyguard, Inugami. A ssenger kui had already delivered word that Souma and the rest were safe and would be taking Tomoe with them to their next stop, the Republic of Turgis, so she was to wait here for them to et up with her. However, it seed like it would be a sha to just sit around and wait, so she and Inugami had decided to look around the bustling market.
Thanks to being near the border, many rchants who traveled between the two countries gathered here, and goods from both nations were for sale.
Hey, little girlie, said one of them. Why dontcha have your daddy buy you this hairpin?
Ive got so real fine dried foods here, yknow? yelled another. Have a look, would ya?
While Tomoe and Inugami walked through the market, the rchants in their stalls called out to them in rchant slang. It seed they were being mistaken for parent and child. Their faces were shaped very differently, but it was common among the beastn races for n and won to have very different appearances, so that might be why they looked like father and daughter.
Tomoe looked up and giggled. Mr. Inugami, they think youre my dad.
Yes, maam, he said. Its rude of to say this, Little Sister, but its convenient for us to have them misunderstand our relationship like that. If a man is seen walking with a girl who is young enough to be his daughter, but isnt, people start thinking things we dont want them to.
In other words, if the alternative was being mistaken for a kidnapper, it was far better to be thought of as father and daughter.
Tomoe looked up at him. Um... Then wouldnt it be better if you spoke to less respectfully, and more like a father would?
No... I cannot do that...
You cant?
I-Its not that I...cant. Youre probably right, Tomoe. Having relented, Inugami dropped his formal tone.
Tomoe giggled. Okay then, Dad.
What is it, daughter of mine?
I want to see what kind of shops the rchants who co from other countries are running here today.
Hm... In that case, thats probably one of them over there. Inugami pointed out a stall being managed by a fat man. It seed he was selling dried fruits that would keep for a long ti.
Tomoe tilted her head to the side. How can you tell?
You see the accessory with the Lunarian Orthodox symbol he wears over his chest?
Now that Inugami pointed it out, she could see the fat man was wearing an accessory with a symbol that looked like a combination of a full moon and crescent moon over his left breast.
Tomoe had no way of knowing this, but Mary, the person who had been sent as an envoy from the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State, had worn a necklace with the sa symbol.
The devout believers of Lunarian Orthodoxy carry those at all tis, Inugami explained. You can see the color on it is nice, too, right? Thats also a mark of soone whos made significant contributions to the main church.
Oh, I get it. Thats how you knew he was from the Orthodox Papal State, huh.
Thats right. Do you want to go take a look?
Yes! she exclaid.
The two of them walked over to the stall. There were dried fruits and nuts out front, and in the back were a number of barrels where the man kept fruits preserved in honey.
Hey there, little girl, Ive got so yummy honey-preserved fruits, the shopkeeper said with a grin. Why dontcha buy so?
In response, Tomoe asked, Youre from outside the country, right, mister? Do you have any interesting stories about your country?
Huh? The shopkeeper was confused by the sudden question.
Hey, its rude to suddenly ask him like that! Inugami scolded.
As she stiffened from being yelled at, he lifted her up by the back of her hood. Tomoe was as helpless as a kitten suspended in midair.
Inugami put on a fake smile and bowed repeatedly to the shopkeeper. Im sorry, sir. Weve got so business in the Republic of Turgis, but its a first for my daughter, and shes gotten all excited. Every ti she sees sothing, its Whats this? Whats that? She just wont be quiet...
Oh... Hahaha, its good seein a child so full of curiosity.
You really think so? Oh, Ill have so of those preserved fruits.
Thank you! Co again!
With Tomoe still held up in the air, Inugami paid for the goods, then received a neatly cut lon preserved in honey and left the stall behind with a smile.
Once they were in a place the shopkeeper couldnt see, Inugami put Tomoe down, crossed his arms, and looked her straight in the eye. I ask you to forgive for shouting at you. But Little Sister...
Y-Yes...?
Why did you ask a question like that?
Inugami maintained as calm a tone as he could manage so as to not intimidate her.
Tomoe looked at him with upturned eyes, then hesitantly confessed, I thought if I wanted to be able to help Big Brother and the others, Id need to study up on other countries. Thats why...um...I wanted to ask him...
Tomoes voice gradually shrank quieter as she spoke.
Inugami sighed. There are spies who disguise themselves as rchants. If he were one of them, you might be marked for special attention because you wanted that information. Its very dangerous.
I-Im sorry... Tomoe seed genuinely contrite, and her wolf ears drooped.
Seeing her thoroughly discouraged, Inugami plopped a hand down on Tomoes shoulder. So, if you want to know about other countries, tell . Ill teach you everything I can. Naturally, I cant tell you anything classified, though.
Then Inugami extended the bowl containing fruits preserved in honey to Tomoe. She accepted one, took a bite, and smiled.
This is so sweet, Dad.
I cant help but be sweet. Especially to my daughter.
After that exchange where they may or may not have been on the sa page, the two both smiled. To any who looked, they would seem just like a close father and daughter.
It was the next day that Souma and the rest t up with them.
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