奇米四色777

“Analyzing that Sir Davey has not found the enemy’s leader.”

“That’s right.”

The vampire Davey had encountered before wasn’t dead but had run away.

“Rinne, thinking that there is a need to discuss a plan.”

“Ah, that. I have something in mind.”

“Rinne, does not understand. Requires detailed explanation.”

“Come in.” Davey ignored Rinne and spoke toward the door.

A girl in the maid’s uniform slowly entered through the door. She was an ordinary maid, so she greeted Davey nervously, “I have brought tea, Your Highness.”

Despite the girl’s nervousness, Davey could see that she was strangely relaxed on the inside. He asked her, “I’ve felt that this tea has a nice and unique aroma to it. Did you brew this black tea yourself?”

“Pardon? Oh… Yes!”

Davey nodded, noticing the maid’s slightly delighted expression. He asked, “Thanks. It feels like it’s clearing my head. Your name is?”

“I—It is Yuri, Your Highness.”

“Yuri… Well, you’ve set foot in the territory, so your status or circumstance doesn’t change the fact that you are a resident of Heins.” Speaking calmly, Davey stood up and smiled at the girl. “Well then, I’m leaving the territory to you while I’m gone.”

“Pardon? I…am just a mere maid…”

“Just do what you can.”

“That is…”

“I’m just saying this to be polite. I believe that you’ve come here because you want something?”

The bewildered Yuri lowered her head, feeling some hesitation.

“But can I ask what you brewed this tea with? It’s very unique-tasting and nice.”

“Oh… Really? It’s an original, Your Highness. Made with the skin of cockroach wings…”

“Pfff!!”

Only after a long time did Davey realize that Yuri was someone who tried something very unique with tea.

* * *

The three empires were kingdoms that had very active movement through mana gates. Most had large mana gates on their land, with skilled mages managing those entrances. Thanks to that, it didn’t take long to reach the Lyndis Empire’s capital from the Heins Territory. The usage of the capital’s mana gate was strictly regulated, but the changed circumstances have made it slightly more lenient now.

“Wow…”

-It’s a beautiful city.

Feeling as delighted as a child, Perserque gasped in astonishment when she saw the eye-catching capital. She could spot it once she exited the building surrounding the mana gate.

There was the beautiful royal palace located right in the middle of the capital, and the lively streets that were paved in white. It was a scene that justified just why the Lyndis Empire was said to be one of the best kingdoms to live in. The scenery was generic but comforting; Davey liked those aspects about this place the most.

Perserque had asked Davey to go around and show her lots of places if he could. The scenery was familiar to him, but not to her.

-Amazing. The northern kingdoms of the eastern continent have progressed this much.

“You’ve never seen it before?”

-Caldeiras, the sword I was in, had almost never left the Pallan Empire.

“Does it look nice to you too?” Suddenly curious, Davey turned his head and asked Rinne, who was following him.

Rinne stared at Davey without emotion, then said, “Rinne, thinking, has no memory of her time before she’s activated. Rinne, only seen the Heins Territory.

“As such, Rinne, requesting explanation of new information.” Rinne spoke to Davey and pointed somewhere.

“Hm?”

“Rinne, analyzing that emotion circuit is operating rapidly at the strange smell stimulating senses. Later, this will cause major deficiencies in battle…”

“If you want it, you should just say so.”

Unlike Perserque, who didn’t eat, Rinne had a function where she could eat and convert that food intake into bioenergy even though she was a golem.

‘When I saw the organ-like things underneath her skin-like cover, I just knew.’

There was nothing strange about the way Rinne and Davey were acting, since everything inside of Rinne looked just like any other living thing except a certain mechanical part and her skin-like cover.

“Oh, welcome! A stroll with your sister?” The street vendor selling street food asked with a friendly smile.

“Requires correction. Rinne, property of Sir Davey.”

“Ah… Hm… You’re a slave.”

Now that he was here, Davey did hear that the Lyndis Empire was quite against slavery.

“Hm… I guess you’re from another country, brother. I might be overstepping, but it’s probably best to not call her a slave even if she is one. Especially in this kingdom.”

Thump!

“She is my sister. She has a weird personality and is just a strange person. I hope there aren’t any misunderstandings.” Davey lightly thumped Rinne on the head and quietly mumbled.

The look of wariness disappeared from the man’s face. He said, “Oh, is that so? Sorry. Living in the empire has made me dislike people who own slaves.”

“Did you hear that? Don’t say anything that will cause any misunderstandings.”

“Rinne does not understand. The strong… Hup!”

“Don’t say anything weird.” Davey covered Rinne’s mouth and gave her a warning.

With a slight frown on her emotionless face, Rinne said, “Accepted. Cannot agree but understands.”

It was something that Rinne couldn’t understand, but she was forcing herself to agree with Davey.

“Rinne, question. Sir Davey is royalty. But why do you speak to them with honorifics?”

“Normally, nobility wear a uniform or a badge that shows their rank, or travel with an entourage. And they normally don’t buy something themselves from a street stall,” Davey explained.

“Rinne, does not understand why they do not do it themselves when they have hands. Thinks that they will not be able to deal with it properly in urgent circumstances.”

“Why do you think ranks were invented if people are going to live that realistically?”

Even while tilting her head in confusion, Rinne still nodded as if she just learned something fascinating. Then, she stated, “Warning. Analysis of ingredients. Predicted to be chicken. Judged to stimulate taste buds strongly. Requires analysis of info with one more.”

“Here. Have this, too.”

“Speaking of, maybe I’ll let Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon look around the capital as well.”

When Davey pulled out two swords in secret, they both turned into their human forms and went into his arms. He asked them, “Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon, do you want to have a playdate with Dad today?”

“Giggle!”

“Can Red Ribbon like…play a lot?”

“Just don’t cause any accidents.”

It was easy for Davey to communicate with Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon, because they both expressed their emotions in simple terms. After all, they were still infants who couldn’t communicate properly yet.

The Lyndis Empire’s banquet was two days later, but the capital was already booming with entourages of nobility. That explained why the streets were filled with entertainment and looked livelier than usual; it was clear that the Treasurer of the Lyndis Empire’s royal palace was really making the most of it.

It didn’t matter to Davey, who was interested in the auction being held for the banquet’s attendees rather than the banquet itself. Considering that the banquet would commence in two days and that the auction would be held on only the second day, he had a lot of free time on his hands.

Hugging Blue Ribbon in his arms and giving Red Ribbon a piggy-back, Davey held onto Rinne’s hand tightly so that they would not be separated. He then said to them all, “Well then. We’ll return to the lodgings in the evening. Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

The two children giggled in delight and Rinne pulled on Davey’s hand. Rinne even licked her fingers after taking a big bite of Davey’s food.

“Rinne, requesting further detailed analysis of the taste of the thing predicted to be chicken.”

“Okay, I’ll buy you more.”

Davey began to suspect that perhaps Rinne was an extremely big eater. Then, he chuckled. It was inevitable that everyone’s attention was drawn to them, since the girls were all cute enough to make people stare.

However, it wasn’t long before he realized that some had bad intentions, and that people walking on the streets were considered to be easy targets.

* * *

Thud!

“Ah!”

Bumping into a lot of people was inevitable in such a crowded place. As they walked along the streets, Davey was using both arms to hold onto the three girls to prevent them from separating. He accidentally bumped into a little boy and knocked him onto the floor.

“S… Sorry.” The boy on the floor was very small and was quite dirty. He apologized, looking up at Davey with emptiness in his eyes.

When Davey gestured that it was fine, the boy silently glanced at Red Ribbon, who was on Davey’s back, and Blue Ribbon, who was in Davey’s arms, then disappeared into the crowd with his head down. It was as if he was trying to hide.

“Rinne, question. Does not understand why you did not go after him.”

“Hm?”

“Seeing that he has taken your belongings. Seems like a gold pouch, from the shape and size.”

“Leave him.” Smirking, Davey glanced at the boy who was disappearing into the crowd.

“Does not think that Sir Davey is a charity worker.”

“That’s why I said to leave him.”

“Um… Does not understand.”

“You think that a pickpocketer should be caught on the spot, right?”

“Rinne, agrees very much. Highly values Sir Davey’s ability to catch on quickly.”

‘To just let it go because those children can’t put food on their table? Even though he knows that he’s pickpocketed someone? Nonsense.’

“People have to take responsibility for what they do. Whether they be adults or children.” With that answer, Davey couldn’t help but smile.

‘They should’ve been ready to be turned upside down if they chose to mess with me.’

Davey stopped what he was doing and walked in the direction that the boy had gone in with light footsteps.