Chapter 16: Stranger

「Are you the honored Sensei‑sama?」
「Uh, yes… that’s what they call me, anyway.」

The dark‑skinned woman drops to her knees and bows deeply to me, who is left standing there in a daze.

「My name is Nokia. It is an honor to meet you. I humbly ask for your favor.」
「Ah. Yes—likewise.」

Flustered, I hastily kneel as well and return the bow in the same manner. It’s close to what you’d call a full prostration, though I don’t put my forehead to the floor.
Her intonation is a little unusual. The greeting gesture is one I don’t recognize.

「…By any chance, are you from another village?」
「Yes. Your surmise is correct.」

When I ask, the woman who introduced herself as Nokia lifts her face and gives me a gentle smile.

「She says she’s from a country way off to the east called Mashiro.」
「Is that… across the sea?」

At Yuuka’s words, what comes to mind is that village where Rin was nearly executed—the one where Ai might have been reborn.

「No. It’s contiguous land from Mashiro to here. I walked the whole way.」
「I’ve been hearing all sorts of stories about other countries from Nokia‑san!」
「Oh? That’s fascinating.」

As far as I know, this is the first time a human has come here from another country. Of course, people go back and forth daily from the merfolk settlements, the four‑legs, and the lizardmen, but humans are exceedingly rare.
That’s because the humans around here have more or less all gathered into Hiiro village.

「I had no idea there was such a large country in a place like this. And… that elves and humans live together.」

She flicks her gaze to Nina and Yuuka and speaks. I recall that village that persecuted non‑humans, but I don’t see any particular hostility or malice in her expression.

「In other countries… um. Are elves disliked?」
「Huh?」

When I ask without thinking, Nokia‑san widens her eyes in surprise.

「No, no, no… not at all. Quite the opposite. Elves are a strong, long‑lived race possessed of deep wisdom. It is the elves who prefer not to get involved with weak, short‑lived humans.」

I see—put that way, it does make sense. In fact, almost no elves settle in Hiiro long‑term. The two right in front of me are among the rare exceptions.

「Um… Sensei‑sama. I have a favor to ask.」

Nokia‑san straightens up and once more sets her knees to the floor.

「Ah, um, please—Sensei‑sama, you may remain as you are.」
「Ah—right.」

We don’t wear shoes indoors here, and I’ve no intention of nitpicking another country’s customs, so when I try to imitate her I get flusteredly stopped. Even so, having someone give me an almost‑prostrating bow while I’m sitting on the sofa feels awkward.

「Um… might I receive permission to observe this country?」
「Ah, sure. Go ahead—feel free to look around as you like.」

When I answer that way, Nokia‑san’s eyes widen in surprise.

「I‑is that… truly all right?」
「Actually, I’m not sure it’s even my place to decide. I should check with Misera…」
「I have already met with the Sword Clan. They said if Sensei‑sama approves, they have no objection.」
「Ah, so that’s why you came to me.」

At Nokia‑san’s words I can’t help a wry smile. The Sword Clan is already the one running this village—there’s really no need to come ask me every little thing.

「If you like, I can show you around. I am, after all, the oldest resident here.」
「Would you?」

When I offer, Nokia‑san blinks in surprise.

「Of course.」

I’m also curious how big the gap is between our civilization and others’.

「Okaaaay! I want to help show her around too!」

Chryse suddenly throws up her hand and declares as much.

「And Mommy, too!」
「I told you—call me Nina‑san.」

Nina gives Chryse’s head a firm shove.
Whether it’s simple embarrassment at being called that, or a dislike of being made an unwed mother, unlike me Nina stubbornly refuses to let Chryse call her “mother.” The first time Chryse said it, Nina was just as shaken as I was, so I don’t think it’s that she wasn’t happy.

「Tomorrow’s your day off, right? Can’t we?」

Chryse gazes up at her with dewy eyes, and Nina heaves a deep sigh.

「…All right, fine.」
「To be guided by the king and his consort—this is the utmost honor.」

For the third time, Nokia‑san lowers herself to the floor and bows deeply.

「I’m not a king.」
「And we are not a married couple!」

Our protests ring out in unison.


* * *


The next day. With Nina and Chryse, I led Nokia through Hiiro village.
I’m usually buried in research and hardly ever stroll the village like this, so it feels strangely fresh.

「So then, all the countries you know are monarchies?」
「Yes. I had been told you were the highest authority here, so I assumed as much.」

Being addressed as “Sensei‑sama” makes me itch, so I told her just to call me Sensei. We agreed to drop honorifics with each other.

「No, not at all. It’s not like I hold any particular powers.」

Would you say Hiiro counts as a monarchy, too?
The leaders are plainly the Sword Clan, and it’s more or less hereditary. Honestly the term doesn’t quite click for me, but at the very least it’s still too early for democracy—and that’s probably true in any country.

「Yes, it feels somehow… peaceful. It’s nice.」
「Oh, that I can vouch for. Everyone’s good people. Right, Nina?」
「…I suppose.」

When I toss her the line, Nina answers with a sullen nod. Huh? Why is she in such a bad mood?

「Even so…」

Nokia turns her eyes to a passing carriage and tilts her head.

「There seem to be so many strangely shaped beasts around here. And what are those tags hanging at their necks?」

The horses pulling the carriages vary—some horned, some scaled, some covered in long hair—and all of them wear number tags with digits around their necks. To the unaccustomed eye, it would indeed be a curious sight.

「They look like animals, but they aren’t real creatures. They’re spirits—uh, living magic.」
「What?」

At my explanation, Nokia blinks rapidly.

「And those tags are number plates… which probably doesn’t mean much to you. Um… they show who the owner is, and that the handler is licensed to use that spirit.」

A Brownie Hood gifted to a spirit becomes part of that spirit and can’t be removed. And only the original summoner can call the spirit that bears that Brownie Hood; if a different magus summons the same spirit, it appears without the Hood.

In other words, a spirit that can be replicated endlessly acquires individuality through being given a gift.

We use this to permit only spirits properly woven through with the Six Orders, and have them wear plates as proof. Well, nowadays that magic is so widespread that almost no one tries to make spirits on their own; it’s simpler and safer to buy a spirit‑horse summoning from a licensed magic shop.

「Um, no, I understand… spirits, but… are these all spirits?」

Looking around, flustered, Nokia takes in the scene. Carriages and spirits are still pricey, so it’s not as if there are that many. It’s a busy holiday hour, but counting the ones parked along the road there are maybe ten in all.

「Yeah. We do sometimes hitch up deer, though…」
「Ah, right, that’s the usual way, isn’t it?」

Apparently, in foreign lands deer‑drawn carts are more common.

「Well, great‑antler deer are a bit high‑strung, so they’re not really suited…」

We tried it to death back in the day and couldn’t make it work; it’s a little embarrassing to be behind the times like this.

「You’re hitching them without Elf drug!? And by great‑antler deer, do you mean Cruel? That monster about ten feet long!?」

Oh—so they use feet. If one foot is about thirty centimeters, then ten feet is three meters. That lines up with the great‑antler deer. Yeah, that checks out.

「I think that’s the one, yes—but what do you mean by Elf drug?」
「Isn’t it that thing—you used to call it Zombie Powder.」

Nina throws me a lifeline as I tilt my head. Ah—right, that. The elven drug that robs living creatures of their will.
I dislike it, so we don’t use it.

「Eh…? Without Elf drug, how do you make beasts obey…?」
Nokia’s face tightens as if she can hardly believe it.

Want to go take a look at the pastures?

「Yes. Please, I would love to.」
We headed for the ranch.