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Chapter 4: The Strongest Onmyoji Meets
We were in a room on the top floor of the city hall.
A large man with a beard in front of us was leaning back on a three-seater couch.
“But then again, you really are all kids.”
I answer with a grimace.
“I see. But I’ll be an adult this year.
“Fifteen is nothing but a kid. What is a fifteen year old but a brat?”
“…… Well, I guess that’s true for you. Chairman Silas.”
The big bearded man —- Silas frowns as he hears.
Lakana is a free city, that is, a city without a ruling lord.
It grew out of the camps of adventurers who conquered dungeons, and because of its origins and the temperament of its inhabitants,—- that is to say, all of whom are monster-hunting ruffians, it has long maintained its freedom from feudalism.
The city is run by a council called the Free Citizens’ Council of Lakana, of which Silas is the chairman and head of the executive branch.
In other words, the cooperating chief that —- Fiona was talking about is the bearded man in front of me.
“Why don’t you stop calling me the chairman? It’s too formal for me. No one calls me that except the members of the House.”
“Then what should I call you?”
“Anything as long as it’s not the chairman. I don’t have such a position.”
“Then …… the mayor.”
That’s probably what most people call him.
Silas sniffs and says.
“So, Is it true?　That you are the bandit who destroyed the Imperial City with great fanfare and escaped here?”
Amiyu and the others sitting next to me stiffen nervously.
It seems that Fiona had told them about us without hiding anything.
Maybe even before Amiyu was kidnapped.
I let out a small sigh and tell him.
“Of course, there’s no such thing… Only the imperial castle was destroyed. Moreover, I managed to restore it properly before escaping.”
“Kakka!”
Suddenly, Silas opened his big mouth and laughed.
“Funny little guy!　The princess has sent us a terrible one. I might as well turn you in to the imperial army before you do something to Lakana!　Along with that young lady Hero over there.”
Amiyu hears this and turns her head slightly.
I say quietly.
“I wouldn’t recommend it…… here in Lacana if you don’t want it to be a city that is spoken of only in history.”
“Kakka!　You’re talking big!”
“And I’d appreciate it if you’d refrain from making jokes in poor taste that might unsettle my companions.”
“Hmm …… companions?　You mean you’re not making a joke about yourself?”
I sigh at Silas’s condescending tone.
I’m not very good at this kind of thing.
“Yes. Then let me ask you frankly. Are you really in Fiona’s camp and willing to …… hide us?”
“Hmph, what’s that? No, I don’t think so”
Silas says, puffing on his cigar.
“First of all, neither I nor Lakana belong to any camp. This is a town of freedom-loving adventurers. We decide everything for ourselves. We must not be swayed by someone else’s agenda. We are just using each other with that princess.”
“……”
“Well, kid. Do you know what I mean?”
“I want you to stop trying to test me. I have no way of knowing that, but… if I can just guess, yes. Only the Holy Princess… doesn’t want Lakana… …Is that the reason?”
“Kaka! You’re so smart, kid! You’re right.”
Says Silas.
“All the current imperial children are drooling over this city. If there is no war and no new land is acquired, it is naturally difficult to reward supporters. But in order to maintain our camp, they must promise them something in return for winning the battle for the imperial throne.”
“……”
“Here in Lakana, which belongs to no one, would be the perfect quid pro quo. Every prince would be promising his supporters a share of the city’s imperial wealth. And, of course, a share of the wealth that the dungeon will generate. But the situation is different for Princess ……. The very simple fact is that the Holy Princess has a lot of money. She doesn’t want anything in return.”
After all, I think.
With the power of futuristic vision, any investment will do well. To rise from the ashes with no backing, money was at least a necessity.
I could imagine that Fiona had considerable assets, although there was no such story circulating on the street.
In addition, for Fiona, who sees the power of the people above all else, feudalism must be a system that goes against that dynamic.
She has little reason to go to the trouble of acquiring Lakana.
“We only have a loose working relationship because of that situation. Thanks to the Princess’  support for distant trading companies, we can sell the resources in the dungeon at a good price. If the other side’s trading company is prosperous, they can recover their investment. It’s a win-win situation. However, if something …… goes wrong, we could betray each other at any time.”
“…… I see.”
It seemed to be a more pragmatic connection than I had imagined.
But …… this might have been a good thing.
If Silas had been a follower of Fiona’s, it would have been very difficult to read his inner thoughts.
Sometimes politics involves love, hate, and honor. The same was true of the struggle for the throne that he was involved in at the end of his previous life.
That kind of thing is very unmanageable.
If they were only connected by profit, the signs of doom would still be easy to see.
Silas laughs with his eyes rolled back and continues.
“What do you think, kid? Are you satisfied with this stupidly honest answer?”
“Yes, I am. I’ll back it up later to see if it’s really stupidly honest or not. But ……”
I’m going to try a little counterattack here.
“Having received such an answer, I can’t help but feel uneasy. At this rate—-if I don’t get rid of you, threaten the council, and take control of this city, I dont think I can rest easy.”
“Kuckakka!!”
Silas spits out his cigar and leans heavily toward me.
“Oh. Try it, kid.”
“…….”
“But this town won’t be so easy to get your way.”
…… No good. He doesn’t seem to be someone who can be swayed by threats of this magnitude.
Real politicians sometimes make even their own life and death a part of their policies. This man must be one of those freaks.
I was not a good candidate for bargaining with him.
When I remained silent, Silas pulled his upper body back and leaned against the back of the couch as if nothing had happened.
“And you don’t want to make an enemy of the princess either. If the Holy Knights join the pursuit, it will be a heavy burden even for you.”
“I see. No, I think so.”
My eyes widened for a moment, and then I answered shortly.
Oh, I see.
So this guy thinks I’m just at that limit.
It is not unreasonable to think so.
A child who has not yet reached adulthood would not expect to be able to clear this town in one night.
That would be convenient.
If they think they can hold me down with just a holy knight, so be it.
I’m more than grateful that I’m not feared.
“……Yes, of course,”
I nodded and said.