The Branded Female Fencer

Chapter 51

When Peaceful Times Cease To Exist : Secret Maneuvering, Part 3 — Familiar

Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV

 

Chirp, chirp, chirp…

 

The sound of mooi birds chirping can be heard.
Migratory mooi birds migrate south from late fall to early spring, returning to the center of the continent when spring arrives in earnest.
Individuals that have mates bear and raise their young at this time, and those that do not decide on their own mates in the spring.
This is the time of the year when the chicks have already emerged from their eggs and are constantly demanding to be fed, and the parents are busy flying around.
The mooi birds were chirping and communicating with each other.
The fact that few people find their distinctive chirps depressing may be due to the beauty of their calls, or perhaps it is because people have more time on their hands.

Located here in the Holy City of Arnelia, the Palace of the Deep Green, the palace behind the Arnelia Church, is, as its name suggests, a structure that incorporates an abundance of greenery.
The greenery is not only used as shades, such as the fountain in the courtyard and the columns in various locations, but also incorporates much actual nature, with birds often using the trees as nests.
It is also the knee-jerk reaction of the Arnerian religion, making it the place where purification takes place most frequently in the world.
The air is therefore very clean, and the quiet animals like to congregate in the vicinity.
It is also said that the purification of the land to this extent will calm the temperament of those who live in this land.

In such a beautiful and graceful place, what could be heard was the sound of Miliazar’s fainting in agony for some reason.

 

「Miliazar-sama, please vote for this document as well.」

「The mayor has requested a meeting with you.」

「Hey~ hey~ Pettanko~* Let’s play~」

「Don’t say it all at onceeeeeeee!!!」

 

After parting with Alfiris and the others, Miliazar took Jake and the others back overland.
In truth, it would have been quicker to use transfer magic to return home, but the number of children was too large for Miriazar to carry alone, and as for the ninjas, they could not ask for help from the priests of the various parishes.
And many priests don’t even know that she is the Master Bishop.

She, therefore had no choice but to return overland, but despite her considerable haste, more than a month had already elapsed on the road to Arnelia, which is almost in the center of the east.

While it was fun for Miliazar to take the young children home for the first time in a long time, it was also difficult for Ruth to get lost on the way and for Mirce to get a fever.
After returning home exhausted, Miliazar was greeted by a mountain of work towering high above her desk.
Officially, she was ill, but the amount of work piling up would remain the same, as it should.
The work that had piled up for a month, like a series of Pirevos, was the cause of her fainting spell.

 

Miliazar, who used to be a fiend, does not need much sleep, but during the trip, her children begged her to sleep with them, so her sleep cycle became completely childish, and she had to sleep at night.
In addition, during the daytime, Milce and Ruth mainly come around to play with her (although Jake and Nelly seem to understand that she was busy and refrain from playing with them), so her work is not going very well.

 

「Guhhh~ I’ve got too much work to do~」

「You deserved it.」

「But why do I have to clear so much in such a hurry?」

 

Miliazar complains about the sheer volume of work as she works with her hands.

 

「It is probably because Miliazar-sama had the luxury of wanting to keep in touch with the continent to the east and with the Magic Association.
This is the result of the collection of related materials.
This year also marks the 400th anniversary since the Holy City of Arnelia was moved to its present location.
A commemorative ceremony for this purpose will take place this fall, and preparations for it are imminent.
We must also contact the royalty and dukes of each country.
It is already past the time.」

「Who agreed to such a pain in the ass?」

「Thirteen years ago, you murmured at a dinner with the archbishops.
That is what Archbishop Manadil gave shape to.
Well, in short, you are the initiator.」

「Tsk, those three baldies… That’s the only thing he’s firm about.」

 

The bald-headed, stubborn Archbishop Manadil comes to mind.
Before Manadil became archbishop, Miriazar had already been to see Manadil, whose name was often mentioned as a handsome monk with a promising future.
He was not even a priest at the time, but with the mischievous intention of teasing him somewhat, she, in her younger form at the time, sneaked into his room at night, and dressed a scantily to arouse the man’s lust.

Manadil seemed to be studying something at the time, but she remember that his face turned red and he was flustered when he saw himself.
He certainly had a fearless face, and his appearance was so cute that she unintentionally revealed her identity to him, but when he heard this, his face turned red and he became angry in a different way.
For some reason, she, the Master Bishop, was made to sit on my knees and preach.
Now that he is a nagging, stubborn bald man, Miliazar feels something irksome.
Well, she was happy and depressed at the same time with his presence, as she says things to her without hesitation.

 

「(Come to think of it, all the current archbishops I met was when they were young… Their reactions were also threefold.
I had an all-night talk with Dryd about the state of the Arnelian religion, and Minar was not interested in my sculpture.
But after meeting with me, they all started to emerge rapidly.)」

 

Although she is completely unaware of it, a short conversation with Miliazar naturally reveals how much she thinks about society as a whole.
A larger perspective that considers not only their own group, but also society as a whole, and a smaller perspective that cares about each and every one of them who are a part of it.
It was a source of pride for those who served below to have such a person at the head of the group to which they belonged.
Moreover, Miliazar seems to be perfect, but she is also somewhat sloppy, which makes those below her even more determined to support her.
In short, she has a personality suited for leadership.
She is not aware of it, but that may be a good thing.

Just as Miliazar was about to get a little pensive, thud! And new documents are piled up in front of her.

 

「Come on, now, there’s no time to be pessimistic!」

「Can I at least go to the bathroom?」

「You can’t.
Going to toilet is limited to three times a day.」

 

Kuchinashi slowly waves her finger sideways in front of Miliazar’s eyes.

 

「You brat, are you an oni!?」

「If you can’t stand it, I’ll put on a diaper on you and go to work.
Some people, such as doctors who are busy with their work, seem to do that.
Isn’t it common knowledge that even in war zones, people don’t go to the bathroom, etc?」

「This is the of city of peace!」

「Pettanko, are you wearing a diaper?」

 

It is Milce, playing in Miliazar’s room, who asks the question with a malicious eye.

 

「Peeing is seriously embarrassing~! That’s what they call a『hundred-year love affair gone cold,』right?」

「Why should I be told that by you people who stink of piss?」

「Please do not use foul language with children.」

「Besides, you’re the one who’s going to be pissing your pants soon, aren’t you? You’re old.」

 

At Kuchinashi’s comment, Jake came into the room as if to make a match.
In his hand he carried a wooden sword for practice.

 

「Who the hell is going to shit their pants!」

「But more importantly, can I borrow Albert?」

「You dumped me and then ignored me!? Well, I don’t care, but you’re back to practice.」

「Yeah, because I promised my sister Lisa that I would.
First I’ll be able to get one from Albert!」

 

At this comment, Miliazar and Kuchinashi look at each other.
First of all, they feel that the end goal is also close to the end goal, but they don’t want to say that.
Alberto also said that Jake seems to have a lot to look forward to, and apparently he will be able to use his own magic.
One can’t qualify as a temple knight without qualities, but apparently Jake had the bare minimum to get to the starting point.

 

「By the way, I have a letter in the mail from your beloved Lisa and her company.」

「…I still can’t read much hard writing.」

「You don’t deny that you love her? Well, it can’t be helped.
I’ll read it to you then.」

 

The ladies around her looked on in bemusement, but they could not stop the children who were looking forward to the event with sparkles in their eyes, so they gave up.
Before they knew it, the other children and Albert had also gathered.

 

「Let’s read it then, what is this,『Dear, old-flat chested hag…』Kih!!!」

「…Fuh」

「Calm down, I’m not that flat down there.」

「No, not the old hag!」

 

The children were rolling around and laughing as they listened to the exchange.
It has been like this around Miliazar for a long time now.

In the letter, Alfilis thanked her for all the arrangements, Miranda gave her an update, and Lisa wrote a message for each of the children.
Lisa is blind, so Miranda seems to have written for her.
The handwriting is strangely dark only in the teasing part.

Recently, the girls, after apparently fulfilling Fenna’s request, have turned their course toward the Midland Highways.
According to the letter, they are to drive Fenna to the largest village of Seekers.
No detailed location was mentioned, but perhaps they felt it was too risky to mention in the letter.
However, they said they were planning to stop by Arnelia afterwards, so they would talk about the details at that time.
Well, actually, Miriazar knows all about where they are and what they are doing, because she was secretly watching them without talking.

At that moment, Miliazar felt a flicker of recognition.
She became tense for a moment as she wondered if it was an enemy, but there was no way she could sneak into the depths of the Green Palace unnoticed.
The lack of hostility suggests that they are messengers, but if they are able to get through the wards that surround the palace and send out messengers, there are naturally only a limited number of users.

 

「Alberto, go with Jake to sword practice.
Jake, go get the little kids.
I have work to do and I need to concentrate.」

「Ahh, okay.
Are you alright?」

 

Jake turns his meaningful eyes toward her.
He is not a sensor, but he has a pretty good intuition, probably because he has been by Lisa’s side for so long.
At times he shows a brilliance that makes it hard to believe he is only 10 years old.

 

「Nothing to worry about.」

「Nhn.
Let’s go guys, don’t get in the way of Pettanko.」

「Eh—」

「Milce, don’t be so extravagant.」

「Tad said he was going to play with me today~」

「Even Ques is like that!」

「Look, let’s go.」

 

At the end, they all left at Nelly’s urging.
Only Miriazar and Kuchinashi remained.

 

「…That’s enough, come on in.」

「Long time no see, Miliazar.」

 

Entering the room was a talking little blue bird.
As Miriazar guessed, it must be a messenger.

 

「Even if you don’t use a messenger to get through the wards, there are many other ways to contact me, aren’t there?」

「I don’t trust my people any more than you trust yours these days.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow.」

「It’s not easy being the head of the Association of Magic, Tetrastin.」

 

When Tetrastin and Miliazar called out each other’s names, she thought she heard a self-mocking laugh from the bird.

 

「That’s what you meant.
I’ve been meaning to contact you myself, but it’s not easy.
But I can’t seem to say so, so I’m pushing myself a bit.
But I’m still stuck here, and I’d be glad to have you come to me if you can.」

「It would certainly be bad for you to come to our church.
Then I will go there soon.
First, though, I need to get all of this paperwork out of the way.」

「It’s not easy for you either.
I really want to talk to you now, but I don’t know where your eyes and ears are, and I haven’t seen you in person in a long time.
You’ll be waiting for me with delicious tea and pastries.」

「I’m not a big fan of sweets, but I am a big fan of tea.」

「Haha, I get it.」

 

With that, the bird breaks up and turns back into some kind of powder.
But the place where I returned to that powder was not good.
It was on the document that Miriazar had just written and sealed.

 

「Ahhh, Papers are covered in powder.
Think about where I’m going to put them back, good grief.
But it looks like it’s going to get even busier… Fuh.」

 

And then there was Miriazar, who sighed gloomily.