For now, it’s been confird that the matter regarding Apri and May’s daughter can be resolved one way or another.
If we explain the situation, both Hiichirou and Guraru will likely hand her over to us.
Even Raiiren probably won’t put up strong resistance if we say we want to return the girl to her parents.
We’ll just need to prepare sothing in exchange.
-0-
The custody of Apri and May was left to Beezel.
While their circumstances were understood, they would still be held accountable for the commotion they caused by attacking the auction venue.
The others who were captured would face the sa judgnt.
They would simply have to await the Demon King’s Kingdom’s ruling.
Though Beezel ntioned that there is a proper system in place for filing grievances against unlawful actions committed by lords and that they should have used that instead of acting rashly, he also sympathized, saying it was understandable to lose patience when one’s daughter is taken.
…Is there really a grievance system?
「Of course. If there weren’t, rogue lords would start acting on their own all over the place」
I see.
Now that I think about it, is the lord involved in this incident soone connected to Nashii?
Nashii was originally from Huma Village and married Gutt, the son of Howling Village’s chief, but she was sent back due to mine cough, which led to strained relations between the two villages.
「Let see… After the conflict, she did marry Gutt-dono again and moved to his village, yes. However, this territory involved in the incident has no connection to them… I think. There shouldn’t be any direct ties… I’ll look into whether there are any familial relations later. I believe Count Pugyaru would know」
Please do.
「If there were a connection to Nashii-dono, would you try to protect them?」
Ah… I wouldn’t interfere.
I’ll leave it to the Demon King’s Kingdom’s judgnt.
「Understood」
But regarding the Kissinley couple and their supporters…
「We are already taking that into account as well」
Beezel looked over at the Foguma surrounding Apri and May.
「Hyahha! Fresh civil servants! Surround them! You’re not getting away!」
Miyo in particular seed quite eager.
Once they’ve atoned for their cris, they might end up in Shashaato City… Though they have their own village, so it’s hard to ask too much.
Oh right, Bell.
They were talking about those maintenance tanks. What do you want to do about that?
If needed, we could try negotiating a reduced sentence in exchange for them.
「No need. We already have more than enough maintenance tanks at Sun Castle. We don’t need Kissinley’s units」
I… I see.
「However, it seems there are more artificial lifeforms stored in their mory units than expected, so I’d like to cooperate with them on that front」
That makes sense.
They even bought so at this auction.
In order to allow those stored in mory units to move, their consciousness needs to be transferred to a physical body… an organic one, which requires those maintenance tanks.
Whether we actually go through with reactivating them is sothing we’ll have to decide together with Bell and the others.
「That’s right. Village Chief, we’re not interested in their maintenance tanks, but we are interested in their thod of transportation」
Transportation?
「Yes. Considering their village is near Howling Village or Huma Village, they arrived at the royal capital far too quickly. Even if they used a teleportation gate from Village Five or from Shashaato City, there must be so kind of travel thod they’re using」
Ah… I guess there should.
Got it.
I’ll ask them about that too.
-0-
With everything settled, we returned to Big Tree Village.
Though it was late at night, we took a carriage from Beezel’s estate to the academy grounds.
From there, we used the teleportation gate to Village Five, where everyone parted ways.
Those returning to Big Tree Village headed there.
Those staying in Village Five remained behind.
-0-
By the way, the items we won at the auction are scheduled to be delivered later by the Goroun Company.
So for now, we’re empty-handed…
However, despite the commotion during the attack, Raiiren and her group made sure to properly retrieve and bring back Apri’s daughter’s mory core.
The mory core is a large, transparent, teardrop-shaped crystal, about the size of what you could carry in both arms.
Strictly speaking, it’s not glass but a type of magic crystal, though I’ll set aside the technical details.
Raiiren had a vague sense that there was sothing unusual about this mory core, but since Hiichirou and Guraru both wanted it, she hadn’t paid much attention to it.
Dragons tend to be easygoing like that.
The mory core was passed from Raiiren to Hiichirou, and then from Hiichirou to Guraru.
Apparently, Guraru is currently sleeping while hugging it.
……
This is… going to be hard to bring up.
No choice.
Hakuren, help …
-0-
The next day.
A lot had happened, but in the end, the mory core was returned from Guraru to Hiichirou, and then handed over to by Hiichirou.
I’m grateful to both Hiichirou and Guraru.
I understand.
I’ll prepare sothing to give in place of the mory core.
Hiichirou wants to make sothing by hand?
Oh, that’s a great idea.
I’ll handle the materials and tools on this end.
So, what are you going to make?
A brooch?
You saw a few at the auction?
You’ll ask Gutt to teach you the steps?
I see, I see.
I’ll ask him as well, just in case.
Do your best, alright?
…..
Ah, ano, Hiichirou.
You do understand, don’t you?
It’ll be tough to make more than one, but… no, not for .
You know, the people who are always looking out for you.
Yes.
Right, they’ll be happy to get one.
Good luck.
Also, um… I know it’ll be really hard, but don’t forget to make one for your mother too.
Sorry, but I’m counting on you.
-0-
On another day.
To return the mory core of Apri and May’s daughter, we traveled to the royal capital.
As usual, my escorts were Gulf, Daga, and Reginleif.
Frau also ca along since we’d be stopping by Beezel’s estate.
Thanks to the teleportation gate, the capital is much closer now.
We went to Beezel’s estate and t with Apri and May, who were under house arrest in a separate building, and handed over the mory core of their daughter.
They were overjoyed.
I’m glad it all worked out.
-0-
According to Beezel, Apri, May, and their supporters do bear a fair share of guilt, but their punishnt would likely be light labor.
They attacked the venue, though. Is that really okay?
Were they going easy because of ?
「No. If anything, it was more out of consideration for those connected to the lord and his child. 」
?
「This ti, it was the child who acted on their own, but since they used their parent’s authority as a lord to carry out illegal acts, the parent also bears responsibility. A failure in raising their child properly. 」
I see.
「In these cases, it’s common for the family to expel the problem child to protect the household… But the parent refused to do that and defended him. 」
Defended him?
「Yes. They said all of the child’s sins were their own responsibility as the parent. 」
That’s… an admirable parent.
「Well, apparently the child is turning thirty this year, though. 」
S-Still, a child is a child no matter how old.
「Exactly. The child saw how his parents struggle daily with finances and tried to find sothing valuable to sell at the auction… which led to all of this. 」
…..A misguided thod, but the intention was to help his parents.
「That seems to be the case. The parents didn’t know the item was obtained illegally and submitted it for auction, which unintentionally triggered the raid… but the situation was seen with so sympathy. Also, Count Pugyaru said he didn’t know the child well, but vouched that the parents weren’t bad demons, which helped reduce their sentence. 」
As a result, to lessen the charges against the lord and children, the attack on the auction was officially treated as a minor incident rather than a major one.
I see.
That explains the lighter sentence.
「There were almost no casualties or physical damage. And since the incident didn’t escalate, the auction hosts—both the Dalfon and Goroun Companies—also petitioned for a reduced sentence. 」
…Did Miyo make a move in order to acquire Apri and the others?
「The final punishnt for the lord and his child will be a fine for the disturbance and the confiscation of a portion of their land… specifically, the village managed by the Kissinley couple. Will that be acceptable?」
Asking if it’s acceptable puts in a tough spot.
I already said I wouldn’t interfere.
「This is more like a confirmation. So, what do you think?」
Hmm… Ah, what about Nashii?
「On the surface, she’s unrelated. Her parent is listed as residents from Huma Village.」
That phrasing ans…
「Behind the scenes, one of the lord’s younger brothers, who is presud to be her father, was working at the estate where the problem occurred.」
I see.
Well, she’s mostly unrelated then.
Was anyone hurt in all of this?
「No, it seems he escaped without fighting, so he’s unhard.」
Good to hear.
And then…
Will the organizers of the auction that was attacked receive any form of compensation?
「The fine will be paid directly to the rchant groups that hosted the auction. However, the fine likely won’t be a large amount, so the Demon King’s Kingdom will probably provide so additional compensation.」
Understood.
If that’s the case, I have nothing more to say.
That sounds fair to .
「Understood. Thank you very much.」
Beezel let out a breath of relief and left, saying he would speak with the relevant parties.
Since his daughter had co all this way, Frau looked a little displeased that she wouldn’t stay longer.
Co on now, Beezel still visits the village often enough.
「He’s always clinging to Fracia when he’s there.」
Ahaha.
Yeah, that’s true.
「I don’t rember him doting on like that back in the day.」
Well, that’s just how fathers are, I suppose.
While calming Frau down, I decided there was no need to rush back and spent so ti listening to Apri and the others.
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