Chapter 4

Patron, I see.

I understood now.

While he was a trading merchant from another country, he had settled down in Ryukoku.

He bought an old mansion and spent a fortune adding a magic barrier.

It was not likely that he would be leaving this town at any time soon.

As for his business, it was quite expansive, and many locals worked for him.

It seemed that it was doing well.

Yes, in scale, he would be considered a great merchant.

So I had no complaints about him being a patron.

“It seems like the young, up-and-coming master was disliked back in Shoukoku.”

Said my brother in law.

“Oh, right. He’s from Shoukoku.”

Well, he came from Makoku, but he was originally from Shoukoku.

“He worked hard to extend the market. And he still has a few stores in Makoku as well. However, clearly, he didn’t feel like staying there. He chose Ryukoku for his final resting place.”

Well, that’s the impression I got after all of the searching I did.

He must have had a hard time in Shoukoku.

While selling a large variety of products might sound good on paper, it had actually been the result of not being allowed to sell the most lucrative products.

He had been treated coldly by the others for over 10 years.

“So, the start line for him was much farther back in Shoukoku. Not only that, but he alone had obstacles in his lane. And yet he was able to expand his business without resorting to lawbreaking. It’s quite impressive.”

Even I had to admit it.

No bribery or trickery. No illegal products.

I had only found records of honest transactions.

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

My brother said with a grin.

He was clearly up to no good.

Depending on how bad it was, I would have to tell my sister about it.

“Didn’t the master of the mansion have a daughter? How was she?”

“What do you mean?”

“Was she pretty? Beautiful? Shapely, kind, honest, elegant… Also, would you see her as a good wife?”

“That’s what you’re thinking about!!”

Indeed, there had been such a person.

Her face…well, it was fine… Okay, she was quite beautiful.

But…

“This seems way too convenient a way of getting a patron!”

I nearly shouted.

It was the middle of the night.

“…Well, there is still a whole year left. You’ll find one soon. The one you are fated to be with.”

“Hmph. Someone like my sister?”

“Exactly.”

Ugh, I was being sarcastic.

“…By the way, what kind of magic barrier was protecting the mansion? I heard that it was the latest type from Makoku. It seems a little excessive for a single mansion. But Her Majesty is very curious about this barrier.”

Yes, it had been quite annoying to get through.

But, the latest?

It practically announced every trap in my path.

“I went through the shadows a few times, so I don’t know everything. But I can write down what I do remember.”

I didn’t watch the place for 10 days for nothing.

“Then give me as much of the details as you can. Yes, this will aid all intelligence activities within the country. There are several other buildings with the same barrier. And since we didn’t know what kind of traps were set up, only the people who were able to ‘Shadow Cross’ their way in could get inside.”

Yeah, right. Well, maybe not.

Unlike us ‘Right Hands,’ the ‘Left Feet’ did not fight. So it would be difficult.

“So, that’s why there was no information beforehand.”

“Well, we knew he was pretty much innocent. I was ninety percent sure it was about finding a patron.”

“Then you could have told me first.”

“Well, unexpected encounters are important for these kinds of things, aren’t they?”

Unexpected encounters are not supposed to be set up like this. Damn it.

Infiltrating and searching for ‘something’ was what I did all of the time, and so I hadn’t thought too deeply about it.

“Anyway, about the investigation report. I’ll drop by to pick it up this afternoon, so finish writing it by then.”

“Afternoon? That’s quite early.”

“Her Majesty is very impatient. As the fastest of the ‘Right Feet,’ I’m the one that is going to deliver it to her.”

“From here to the royal castle? You’re a strange one, brother.”

I wouldn’t want to go.

Security was tight in the capital. It was scary.

“I’ll go anywhere if it’s for Her Majesty. Maybe we’ll meet over there.”

“…I wouldn’t count on it. I’m going to travel slowly, so we probably won’t see each other.”

“In any case, just get the report ready for me by the afternoon.”

“I’ll try. …Well then, for Her Majesty.”

“Aye, for Her Majesty.”

We ended the conversation with those words. And then I melted into the shadows.

◯

The man was alone now. He looked in the direction that Leon had disappeared in, but there were only shadows.

“…I always wonder. Shouldn’t ‘Shadow Crossing’ be faster than the speed at which we ‘Left Feet’ travel?”

And then Christan looked at the mansion that Leon had snuck into.

It didn’t seem like anyone had noticed. It was quiet.

“He clearly hasn’t realized just how difficult it is to infiltrate this place. It’s ridiculous at his age. Really.”

So, this trade merchant who was hated in his country and distrusted in Makoku had now come to live in Ryukoku.

It was a good thing too. But perhaps due to prior experience, he had the latest magic barrier protecting his house.

Maybe the fact he had a young daughter was one reason for that.

Still, he must have had some good connections to acquire the latest and best magic barrier.

This detection barrier was so new, that there was no established method of disarming it.

It was too difficult, that Her Majesty’s Shadows had thrown in the towel.

Leon had been given 10 days to do it.

They had expected him to get in once at the most during that time.

And yet somehow, he had infiltrated it every night and returned in the morning. Christan was stunned when he first heard this.

“Things will be very lonely here in Sol when he leaves. Maybe I should request to be transferred to the capital. But my wife is so scary…and will definitely be against it. What should I do…”

He muttered. But there was no one there to answer him.