Chapter 22

Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 22

Older Brother and the Merry Company 1

This is the first part of Tanabata side story.

It’s a playful comedy. There’ll be all sorts of tsukkomi elements.

The second part is particularly heavy on lovebirds, so it’s only for those who can lightly laugh it off.

‘Short play: The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl’

“What’s this?”

I was summoned to the hall used for small scale evening parties in the Royal Palace. Seeing the scenery in front of me, my face turned serious.

◇◇◇

It started a few days ago.

Unusually, there were six people in Freed’s office.

Freed and me. Will and Glenn. This much is the usual.

Moreover, for some reason Lidi and… Sion (the former Tarim tactician) who’d been recently staying inside the castle also gathered.

“What are you planning with so many people here?”

When I tilted my head, Freed breathed a displeased sigh. Then he turned his eyes to Sion.

“Sion, explain.”

“Yes, Your Highness Friedrich.”

The former enemy tactician, Sion, broadly smiled.

Sion hasn’t officially become Freed’s subordinate, but he often follows Freed’s personal requests. This must also be one of them.

Sion made sure everybody’s eyes were on him and slowly spoke.

“Actually, recently we have received a request from the citizens of the Royal Capital.”

“A request?”

I knit my brows at what he brought up out of nowhere. So did everybody else. Only Freed was frowning like he understood.

“Their ways of expressing it are different, but they generally wish for the same thing. Since there aren’t many fun topics recently, if possible, they want some entertainment.”

“Entertainment? Is there a need for us to prepare it?”

There are all sorts of stores in the four towns of the Royal Capital. They should fulfill the role of entertainment facilities.

I wonder if they aren’t enough then.

Sion nodded to my words.

“Certainly, there are many entertainment facilities in Lindwurm. However… It’s probably not about that. To put it frankly, I think the citizens are anxious.”

“Anxious?”

Will reacted to Sion’s remark. , Sion confirmed.

“Currently, Sahaja is moving suspiciously. Of course, ordinary citizens don’t know that. However, high ranking nobles and knights do. The citizens can vaguely sense the atmosphere that something is going to happen.”

“I see. Certainly, the knights are prepared to act in case war breaks out. Their air of tension might be getting conveyed.”

Glenn nodded like he was convinced.

Certainly, there’s some truth in what Sion said.

“And? What are you telling us to do with it?”

So far I understood what he was saying. In other words, it means us in top positions giving citizens a sense of security by providing entertainment and creating a fun atmosphere.

Just for example, citizens will be relieved to see Freed’s composed attitude.

The attitude and atmosphere of those at the top is transmitted surprisingly easy.

“Providing entertainment ain’t all, right? If anything, we had better take the initiative and show we are enjoying ourselves… is that right?”

“Yeah, it’s just like that. As expected of Lord Alexei.”

Sion, who smiled insightfully, truly is a shrewd man.

He still hasn’t officially become Freed’s subordinate, and yet this presence…

Even Freed’s stance shows he’s listening to Sion’s story. If he becomes a subordinate, he will certainly become a military asset.

He wasn’t the Tarim tactician just for show.

His abilities are certain. All that’s left is for him to take the oath of a vassal.

While sighing I asked Sion again. I can’t say after hearing this much that I don’t want to.

It’s already decided that we’ll do whatever he tells us to.

“Let me ask again. What should we do?”

Nobody objected to my words.

The atmosphere of resignation filled the place. Even my little sister silently listened.

, after a while Sion talked.

“I will call for everyone as soon as I’m ready. Let’s see. It will only take a few days. Please be sure to respond to the summons.”

“Got it…”

“Then that’s it for today. Everybody, thank you very much for gathering while you are busy.”

All of us sighed, certain that it will be troublesome.

◇◇◇

“… What’s this?”

And so, we arrive at today.

The hall we were summoned to was small from the start, but now there was a scene installed in it.

On top of it, just as if for performance of a play, a set was constructed.

My cheek unconsciously twitched. Next to me, I heard a voice of a similarly surprised man.

“Wha, what is… this?”

“Ooh… Will, huh…”

When I turned my gaze to him, I saw Will with his eyes glued to the stage just like me a while ago.

Next to him was Glenn.

Perhaps Freed and my little sister had come earlier, as they seemed to be talking with Sion about something.

“Eh!? You must be kidding. I absolutely don’t want that! Impossible!”

My little sister shook her head with a face like she couldn’t believe what Sion was saying.

Freed was frowning too, it was obvious at a glance he was opposed to it.

Curious about what they were talking about, I approached them, leaving Glenn and Will behind.

“… is it still no good even so?”

Sion beckoned my little sister and secretly whispered something. Contrary to Freed’s displeased face, my little sister’s face lit up in the twinkling of an eye.

“R, really?”

“Yeah. I would not tell a lie.”

“… In that case I accept. I am not confident, but I will do my best.”

“Lidi?”

My little sister easily changed her opinion and unlike before smiled happily.

Seeing this, Freed didn’t try to hide his discontent. Sion smiled and also whispered into Freed’s ear.

“… is.”

“What? … Haa.”

Having heard Sion’s words, Freed turned his eyes to my little sister and sighed in exasperation.

“I understand. So that’s why Lidi changed her opinion. Sion, you seem to understand Lidi well.”

As Freed made a complicated face, Sion said, still smiling.

“Won’t you do it? I believe it will be very effective.”

“… Certainly, I think it’ll be effective. Moreover, I cannot refuse in this situation… You truly are difficult.”

“I shall take it as a compliment.”

As Freed’s anger abated, my little sister happily pulled his sleeve.

“Quickly! Okay, Freed?”

“… Now?”

“Of course! That’s why I accepted it!”

My little sister nodded with a wide grin. , Freed nodded with resignation under my little sister’s expectant gaze.

I don’t know what they talked about, but Freed. Aren’t you too soft on my little sister?

“… It can’t be helped. Really, Sion used something strange to bait you, Lidi.”

Freed lovingly stroked my little sister’s head and with those words left the room. While skipping, my little sister followed Freed.

Now that their feelings have become mutual and my little sister stopped trying to hide her feelings, her whole body seems to be saying that she loves Freed. I feel sorry for Will who has feelings for my little sister, but… if he clearly understands there’s no hope to that extent, won’t he be able to give up…? He won’t, huh.

Sion’s eyes chased their retreating figures, then he turned here.

“Thank you three for coming. Then, please give it a read once. Eventually, I would like you to remember it.”

“Nn?”

Sion approached and handed each of us a bundle of paper.

“… The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl… What’s this?”

When I read aloud the letters written on the cover, Sion lightly turned the page and explained.

“We talked about providing entertainment, didn’t we? And so… it turned into royalty and high-ranking nobility showing a play to everyone in the Royal Capital. Yeah, of course it’s the result of a questionnaire conducted in the Royal Capital. It is not my own decision. The future His Excellency the Prime Minister would not disregard the voices of citizens who want to see people they normally have no chance of seeing from up close, would he?”

“A play!?”

Before I could say anything Will reacted.

Well of course he would. It’s unthinkable that he’d nod to that.

Will raised his voice and got terribly angry.

“Why should I do something like this!?”

In a gentle voice Sion spoke to him.

“Princess Consort readily consented, right? Aah, of course His Highness Friedrich too.”

“… What?”

Will’s eyebrows raised with a twitch. Pretending not to notice it, Sion continued.

“Yeah. Princess Consort seemed to be particularly looking forward to it. And, err? … Lord William doesn’t want it. I see. Princess Consort would certainly be disappointed, wouldn’t she?”

“…”

I could tell Will froze upon hearing that my little sister is looking forward to it.

… This guy. He knows exactly where to attack Will.

Will was silent for a moment, but in the end he said, while trembling.

“… If it’s for the sake of citizens, high-ranking nobles have the duty to help… I am unwilling, but let’s cooperate.”

Weak! You’re too weak, Will!!

Without mentioning the quick change in attitude, Sion nodded.

“Thank you very much. Lord Gregor… Of course you will cooperate, won’t you?”

Sion turned to Glenn. Glenn nodded immediately.

“If both Freed and Elder Brother agree, I have no choice of refusing. Citizens certainly seem anxious. I will cooperate.”

“…!”

Amazing…

If Will and Freed are defeated, Glenn can’t refuse. This guy understands the order of defeating us. After Will and Glenn, Sion finally turned his eyes to me.

While smiling, he tilted his head. His eyes were certain of his victory.

“Now then. Lord Alexei. What will you do?”

Asked a question that he’d already predicted the answer for, I deeply exhaled.

“… I just have to do it, right? They nodded, so I can’t refuse…”

“Thank you very much. I’m glad. With this I obtained everybody’s consent.”

“…”

… As Sion got me to say it after having everybody else agree, I dropped my shoulders, crestfallen. As expected of the former tactician who obtained successive victories.

Editor: Valeria