Manuke FPS Chapter 157

Published at 17th of September 2021 08:48:36 PM

AAt the center of the Kurtmerga Kingdom was the Robust Sanctuary Gravo Castle that towered over the city. Although the castle was located at the center of the capital, it was built on an artificial lake and surrounded with huge 20m high walls that gave it more of a fortress style. According to the materials found in the library from the founding, when the castle was first built, it was declared a country of freedom and peace by adventurers. 

The powerful adventurers who agreed with it took the lead to fight off the neighboring countries and monsters – recognizing and protecting the country. Eventually, those who fought for the country were eventually welcomed into the nation as aristocrats. From there, they were separated into magic nobles and regular ones.  The castle had continued on throughout history since that time.

I passed over the bridge and presented my card while I mentioned the purpose of my visit again. The guards then guided me to a waiting area and instructed me to stay there until my guide came. 

The inner area of the ramparts had grass and cobblestone roads that spread out. Beyond that, there were a number of spires and palace-like buildings. All of which I could view through a small window from where I waited as I kept an an eye on my map. 

Then I noticed a dot that headed towards mre. This might be the guide the guard mentioned. 

“You came earlier than I thought, Shwartz!”

“Hi there, Sharle-san. Didn’t think you’d come personally to come guide me in.”

“First of all, it’s a secret that the Zephanel family is visiting the castle. Gramps also told me to socialize, but I mean, why did no one tell me why Schwartz was visiting the castle?!”

Was the person mentioned the Honorary Chancellor Zephanel? Of course. I only told Ashley about the defeat of the pirates and the discovery of the teleportation circles. Sharle-san was not privy to those details, but since she knew me, she came here to guide me. 

“I’ll tell you later… For now, please guide me in.”

“… Alright. Neither gramps nor sis told me anything about this. Really now, really now!” 

We left the waiting area as Sharle-san mumbled her complaint. We walked across the castle courtyard. I could see the grounds were surrounded by huge walls from corner to corner.  The surrounding landscape changed from a lawn only courtyard to a garden lined with trees. Voices reached my sensors from all over the castle that gradually disappeared, replaced by the sound of flowing water. 

The flat stone turned into cobblestones and a house could be seen through the gap in the forest —

“That!”

“Nn? What’s wrong Schwartz?”

“N,Nothing…”

Hearing what I said, Sharle-san turned around and asked. But my eyes were focused on the house in the forest. 

“Ah, looks so foerign, doesn’t it? That’s something that the ancestors built here. It’s called ‘Tiled Roof’, I think? Anyway, it’s been renovated continuously for the past 400 years, so it looks a bit of a mess.”

That name…

The building seen through the forest was a one-story wooden building with a tiled roof. As you got closer, you could see the whole picture of the building on the map that came into view. You could see that there were several rooms in a row that made you think it was large. A samurai residence. Unless you step inside the building, it was hard to see the floor plan. 

“The entrance must be here.”

Without waiting for Sharle-san to guide me in, I proceeded on my own with the sliding door entrance.

“Hey, hold it right there! There are some rules you must abide before entering the main house! If you don’t, everyone will get angry!” 

Sharle-san overtook me and entered. She pulled the front door and politely asked me to take my boots off. But I wore thruster boots, a pair of shoes that assisted with high jumps and softened the landing, Taking it off manually was not easy. 

Whilst Sharle sat at the front door, I faked loosening my boots while I secretly activated the TSS. I removed the thruster boots and left my shoes equipment slot [None], revealing the white socks I wore. 

“Are you done? That’s quick. Anyway, you can’t enter the house while wearing shoes.”

“Of course. Since I arrived in this country, this is the first time I’ve seen a house like this.” 

“Of course, I mean, this is the only one in the whole country.”

“Is that so…”

By stepping into the building, I mapped out the mansion in an instant. I could see the rooms arranged in a mouth shape, with rooms connected to the northeast and southwest so to protrude in the shape of a mouth. It seemed that Sharle-san would guide me to the room that jutted to the southwest. Maybe it was a drawing room.

“Excuse me. I’ve brought the D-Ranked adventurer Schwartz here.”

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“Come in.” 

We walked down the wooden corridor while I marveled at the interior design, only to be stopped again in front of a shohji. I heard Ashley’s voice reply. 

When the shoji was set aside, I saw Ashley with an old man at her side, matching the number of dots displayed on the map. The room seemed to be a japanese-styled reception room, complete with tatami mats and wooden chairs and tables. An elderly man sat at the upper seat with Ashley next to it and an empty seat at the lower position. 

“Charlotte, thank you. Can you please bring us some tea?”

“… Understood.”

She glanced at me a little dissatisfied before she disappeared down the corridor. 

“Thank you for making it here, Schwartz-kun. I am Robert Bergman, the Chancellor of Kurtmerga Kingdom.”

Chancellor Bergman? Not the honorary Chancellor Zephanel? Bergman was a petite bodied old man with a stern, wrinkled, narrow eyed and had a little round face. The word strict was probably the best way to describe him. He was a man with such an impression. 

“First of all, please have a seat. It’ll be rude if we talk while one side stood up.”

“Then, excuse me.”

Prompted, I sat and faced the chancellor. On the side, Ashley looked at me with a smile. 

“I wish we can get to the point immediately, but let’s wait for the tea first.”

As if on cue, two more dots approached the room on my radar. I could tell from the footsteps that one of them was Sharle-san, while the other one was… A kid?

“Excuse me. We brought the tea.”

Appearing from behind the shuji was Sharle-san. She brought a tray filled with cups and green tea instead of the usual black tea. Quietly entering from behind was a little girl. Shiny white hair with ears that protruded out. She was obviously an elf or fairy of some sort. She walked on the tatami mat and took her seat at the corner of the room. 

“Thank you for the hard work, Charlotte. Now, please excuse yourself. I will call you when we need you.”

“Eh-!”

“Sharle…”

“… Understood.”

With not only Bergman but also Ashley urging her to leave, she reluctantly left the room. The only ones left were me, Ashley, Chancellor Bergman, and … the little girl?

Chapter end