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Chapter 379 – Side Story: Alice Sunborn’s Travels
It’s me! Alice Sunborn, a super spy from Quinbland Empire, also known as Alice the Gifted!
I must say, I was surprised. I didn’t expect to meet Silver Face aka Silsil in Vireocean’s capital, Ville Zentra! See, when I heard about an invisible killer, my first thought was…
「I bet it’s Silsil!」
In fact, I was about 30% sure it was him. I heard he traveled to the New World, played at an active role there, then disappeared. But I didn’t expect him to actually be here.
Well, anyway.
So yes, Silsil apparently did great in Grand Dream.
Afterwards, I heard from the spy team I belonged to that he killed the boss of the vicious monsters living in Grand Dream, and that he furiously defended Dream Maker. I know, it sounds like a made-up story, but this is Silsil we’re talking about. I bet he actually did it! He’s scary in a way that makes you think he might just do the impossible.
「You need something?」
Silsil lifted his head from the book he was reading. I happened to be staring at him.
We were in an inn of a post town located on the way to Quinbland. His Majesty, Emperor Kaglai, asked Silsil to come visit him, so we—other team members were also with me—were accompanying him.
Now, Silsil. I know the Empire’s shouldering all expenses for the trip.
「Don’t you think this is a little too much?!」
Without a second thought, Silsil chose the best room in the inn! Plus, the table was filled with snacks, snacks, tea, and snacks! He was having a tea break with his masked friends!
「Well, what are we supposed to do? We have to stay here until tomorrow morning anyway. Or are you saying we should’ve forced our way through the mountain? You’re the one who said we should spend the night in this town at the foot of the cliffs because the road up there is dangerous, Alice Sunborn.」
「You can’t just mention a spy’s name so casually!」
「We’re the only ones in the room. Besides, those people right outside the door are your colleagues, right?」
「I don’t know what you’re talking about. Phew~ Phew~」
「Please stop that awful whistling. It doesn’t really matter who’s out there, though.」
Silsil returned to his book.
Ugh! Fancy, much? And what’s more, he was reading a book called “Biographies of Quinbland Empire’s Prime Ministers”. Who even wants to read that kinda book? Masked people, apparently.
「Argh… What if we can’t charge the expenses to the Empire?」
「Spies have special expenses, don’t they? Don’t worry about it. Besides, the Emperor himself invited me. Pretty sure they won’t skimp on the budget.」
「We’re pretty stingy. I don’t know about the rest of the world, though.」
「I see…」He gave a half-hearted reply.「This book does mention a Prime Minister who thinks simplicity and frugality is everything.」
「If the top brass don’t splurge, the people under them won’t be able to have even a little bit of pleasure. I didn’t know the Empire had such a strict period.」
「His name is Jee Sakakimiya.」
「That’s the current Prime Minister!」
「I see. So he’s Marquis Sakakimiya.」
I think Silsil is also acquainted with our Prime Minister. Like celebrity friends. Even though he’s an awfully suspicious-looking masked dude.
「Well, then. You might not be able to charge the expenses.」
Oh, God, no!
So I left the room, wondering if we would be able to charge the cost of lodging and other expenses (entertainment expenses). My spy colleague Aqua was waiting outside.
She was a cute little girl with curly blue hair, but she didn’t seem suited for fieldwork.
「H-H-H-H-How was it, Alice?」
I mean, just look at her legs. She’s shaking like a puppy. So cute.
Her introversion and timidity were surprisingly good for spywork, so she was kept in the intelligence department, and was usually tasked with being a liaison or doing paperwork, rather than field work… or so I’ve heard. After all, Aqua has worked in the intel department longer than me.
「He was the same old Silsil. We should be able to leave early tomorrow morning.」
「O-Okay.」
Gestured by my colleagues, we stepped away from Silsil’s room. Aqua kept glancing back. It looked like she was scared of Silsil. When I asked her why…
「I can’t stand masks.」she said.
I’m gonna kept this a secret from Silsil. It might hurt his feelings.
When we returned to our room—we took the most reasonable one, by the way—Aqua finally looked relieved.
「I received an encrypted transmission.」she said.「The boss says to return quick.」
By encrypted transmission, she meant a coded message. We pretend to be adventurers and use the long-distance communication tool installed in every Adventurers Guild, the Linga’s Quill Pen. The message is often seen by the guild staff, so we use codes.
『Quest complete. I’ve obtained a silverwork souvenir. The guest will be pleased.』
Translation:
『Mission was a success. Silver Face is with us. His Majesty will be delighted.』
「The boss himself contacted you?」
「Yes. Apparently the progressive noble faction is acting fishy.」
The Empire of Quinbland is a nation centered on His Majesty the Emperor, but it seems that nobles have their own circumstances. They’re split into two factions: the conservatives and the progressives.
「The boss wants us to gather intel as well… I think.」
「That so. I guess we’d be bringing Silsil over at an awful time.」
「Should we ditch him?」
「No. You say the most outrageous things sometimes, you know that?」
She’s way too scared of you, Silsil.
The next day, after traversing the mountain without any problem, we crossed the border into the Quinbland Empire. From here on it was a level road to the capital city of G. Quinbland. I can take it easy and relax.
「I disagree, Star face. That doesn’t solve the underlying problem.」
「How about this then? We constantly cast endurance-enhancing magic.」
「That relies too much on the caster’s mana. A more fundamental solution is necessary.」
I could hear Silsil and his friends talking. We were in the same carriage, by the way. They never got tired of talking. Be it food, thoughts on the books they read, a town’s sights.
But they never talked about Grand Dream. To be honest, I’d been listening closely to their conversation. They’re too cautious!
Today they were talking about how to improve the carriage we were on. Silsil seemed knowledgeable about Sorcery. He talked about mana conduction, catalysts, etcetera… I’m getting sleepy.
………
………
………
「I think it’s a specialty in the southern part of the Empire. Hey, incompetent spy. Wake up.」
「Huh?」
I woke up to something hard hitting my forehead. It hurts. I just got hit with one of Silsil’s finger flick.
「What was that for?!」
「What are you doing? You’re supposed to be escorting and guarding us. Why are you sleeping?」
「Yes, I’m an escort, but you can’t expect me to actually protect you! Believe it or not, I’m not strong at all!」
「Why are you being defiant?」Silsil seemed dumbfounded.
「Hmm? That thing you’re holding..」
「Yeah, it’s what I wanted to ask you. I bought this from a peddler.」
I noticed that the carriage had stopped. Apparently, there was a traffic jam at the entrance to the next town.
I was impressed by our citizen’s boldness, using the traffic jam as a chance to sell goods.
「What are you nodding about? Is this fruit edible?」
「You bought it without knowing that?」
「It just looked similar to what we had back at my hometown.」
Silsil suddenly looked sad. A round, lumpy, yellow fruit sat on his hand.
「We call that a kounatsu. It’s sour, but also sweet.」
「I see. Kounatsu, huh?」
Silsil returned to his seat with an impressed, nostalgic look on his face. After peeling the fruit, the three masked fellows savored the kounatsu, their faces puckering just a little bit.
A refreshing citric aroma filled the carriage. It made me want to eat some too.
The kounatsu, of course, was a specialty of the progressive faction.