New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

Journey to the Royal Capital (2): Accident

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On a journey, various unforeseen things are bound to occur.

Hmm. This town appears to have many soldiers.

This place was Larris, a town situated at the border between the territory of Count Emily and the marquisate of Marquis Maxim. It was the lodging place for the first night.

As I walked through the town, I frequently passed by men wearing metal plate mail only upon their torsos. It did not give off an overly oppressive impression, yet it was evident that this place functioned as a military stronghold. Well, the military encampment itself was apparently located beyond the earthen rampart that ran north to south on the eastern side of the town.

On this side of the rampart, the town resembled a smaller version of Emilia. Shops clustered about the highway that ran through the center. By the time I confirmed these circumstances with my own eyes, the sun was already slanting westward and the glow of evening had begun to dye the sky.

I realized anew that there was no one in this town whom I knew. With a sigh, I revised my destination of exploration toward the establishment recommended at the inn’s reception, namely a place said to be inexpensive yet delicious. The dish to be eaten, I was told, is the fish caught in the Rieizu River.

Turning one street westward off the highway, the atmosphere changed considerably. The roadside along the highway was relatively tidy, yet within but a few dozen meters, some tens of meters, the clutter and vulgarity increased.

Well, Emilia is not so different in that respect. In any case, it ought to be somewhere around here.

Looking up at the street sign, I found that I was indeed in the right place.

Ah, there it is. The eatery Okean. Its façade appeared rather respectable. Could it truly be inexpensive?

“Welcome. Are you alone, Sir?” (Waitress)

“Yes.” (Leon)

At first glance, the establishment possessed around 30 seats. Perhaps because it was still early in the evening, only about one-fifth of the seats were occupied. Judging from their appearance, the patrons did not seem to be of particularly high social standing.

“Here is the menu.” (Waitress)

“Thank you.” (Leon)

After being seated, I examined the menu.

Let me see. Whole fried white trout with Loreia sauce.

Yes, this was what the receptionist had mentioned. One portion cost one Cecil and 45 Dalc. That is slightly more than my hourly wage, but with bread and a side dish included, it would be just under two Cecils.

I raised my hand and summoned the waitress who had guided me to the seat, and placed my order.

 

—

 

Phew. Since it was river fish, I had assumed it would possess a strong odor, as fish in Emilia are often muddy in taste. However, since it was fried in oil, it was fragrant and easy to eat. Moreover, the slightly sweet and sour Loreia sauce complemented it well, rendering it quite delicious. However, as it was served as an entire fish, the portion was rather large. With my stomach filled, I rubbed it contentedly as I returned to the inn.

Since a tub of hot water had been provided, I wiped my body with a hand towel and refreshed myself. Afterwards, as was my habit, I lay upon the bed and read the magical art model documents. This continued for about three hours, but since I was weary from the unaccustomed long journey by carriage, I resolved to sleep a little earlier than usual.

 

—

 

What is this? Morning already?

A bell was faintly ringing within the depths of my ears. As consciousness returned, the system clock appeared beneath my eyelids.

4.12 in the morning! Had I mistakenly set the alarm? No, the setting for seven o’clock is clearly displayed at my side. Ah, that is it.

I recalled that I had invoked the infrared-sensing magic art, Serpent-Sense Pit Viper, as a precaution against intruders. Someone had triggered it by standing in front of my chamber. Perhaps some guest, still half-asleep, had wandered to the front of my door.

When I silenced the warning, the room grew quiet again. I thought to allow them to leave and then re-activate the spell before resuming sleep. Yet it was not to be. The door, which I had surely fastened with the interior latch, opened slightly.

What?

The sparse glow of the magical lamps in the corridor seeped through as the door immediately closed again. During that moment, there was not a sound. The intruder crossed the room and advanced toward the wall. By directing my consciousness, I discerned the figure of a biped.

Opening the closet, it began rummaging through my clothing, and then through my bag. Clearly, this was a thief.

I extended the range of Serpent-Sense to its maximum, yet detected no other presence in this corridor. Thus, he must be acting alone. I disliked the thought of leaving my belongings to be handled further.

I adjusted the position of the activation symbol and covered my face with my hand.

≪Flash of Light Version 0.51≫

“Guaaah!” (Thief)

Even though I shielded my eyes with my hand, the searing brilliance burned through my eyelids.

What agony, then, must the thief who beheld it directly have suffered?

Yet the thief proved capable. With a swift turn, it attempted to flee in the direction whence it had come.

Ah, the pain.

*Thud! Crash!*

It appeared the thief had collided forcefully with something.

≪Activate! Illumination≫

The room brightened.

From my vantage upon the bed, I saw that in front of the wide-open door lay a person clad all in black. The face was hidden beneath a mask. Rubbing my right shin, I stood. Since the thief showed no sign of movement, it must have stumbled upon my outstretched leg protruding from the bed, crashed into the door, and thereby lost consciousness. I descended from the bed and pressed two fingers to the thief’s neck.

Ah, alive.

Having no choice, I pulled its arms behind its back and bound them with the sash of my nightclothes.

“Wh-what is the matter?” (Male Guest)

A man in nightclothes, like my own, peered into my room. He was likely a fellow lodger in a nearby room. Considering the considerable noise that had been made, it was no surprise he was awakened.

“Ah, I beg your pardon for the disturbance. I have apprehended a thief who had crept into my room.” (Leon)

“That fellow dressed in black, lying there?” (Male Guest)

“Yes. I must apologize greatly, but might I impose upon you to keep watch over this thief while I fetch someone, or else.” (Leon)

“No, I shall summon them myself.” (Male Guest)

Even as we spoke, two more faces appeared hesitantly at the entrance.

Well then, let me see the face.

I tore away the mask.

“This man.” (Leon)

 

—

 

“Fwaaah.” (Leon)

I was sleepy. Having been taken to the Larris Guard Station, I underwent questioning.

I concealed the fact that I had used magic art, saying only that the thief had crept into my room, stumbled, and was thus captured. The thief maintained silence, but it was discovered that he had prior offenses, and thus he was to be imprisoned forthwith. By then it was eight o’clock. Though I had my luggage with me, I returned once more to the inn. Several soldiers of the guard remained there still. I presented myself at the reception.

“Greetings. The questioning has concluded.” (Leon)

“Ah, Leon-sama. We must apologize most deeply for our failure to ensure proper security.” (Receptionist)

“Not at all.” (Leon)

“Permit me to confirm once again. Did you suffer any harm?” (Receptionist)

“No. Neither money nor possessions were stolen, and I myself am uninjured.” (Leon)

Though my leg had hurt a little, it soon healed.

“That is indeed fortunate. However, it is difficult to say, yet the one who crept into your chamber was in fact a guest lodged in another room of this very inn.” (Receptionist)

“Ah, I had heard that already at the Guard Station.” (Leon)

“I see. As we have caused you grievous inconvenience, we shall refund the full lodging fee. We beg your forgiveness thereby.” (Receptionist)

Ah, they must think me a member of the merchant association. Losing a favored patron would be harsh upon them.

“No, that is unnecessary. More importantly, the door of my chamber seemed damaged–…” (Leon)

“Yes, indeed, it was damaged. Yet that is no problem. We shall address it ourselves.” (Receptionist)

Since the thief had collided with it after tripping upon my leg, I inquired just in case. But indeed, it was the thief’s doing.

“Very well, then.” (Leon)

Leaving the inn, I made my way toward the square where the stagecoaches departed. I approached the carriage bearing the sign for Maxia. It was the same driver as yesterday.

“Once more, I entrust myself to you.” (Leon)

Showing the wooden ticket, I boarded. Soon, it was nine o’clock, and the driver rang his bell. Yet the coach did not depart. The two men seated before me began murmuring restlessly. Then the door opened.

“Our apologies. The departure time has arrived, yet one passenger has not come. We shall wait five minutes before departing.” (Coachman)

The absent one was the elderly man who had addressed me yesterday. There was no need to wait. At this very moment he was within the prison, and he would never come here. Before long, the coach departed. There were three passengers in second class.

Yet what perplexed me was why he had targeted me. I could not believe that I appeared to possess such wealth.

The guard too seemed to think likewise. According to the hypothesis of the investigator who questioned me, it was not mere theft but rather an attempted kidnapping. The plan, he conjectured, was that once I had been deprived of my traveling money and left in despair, the man would approach me with cunning words, and at an opportune moment, bind me.

Most likely, because my face resembled that of Tou-sama, whom he had somehow recognized, he surmised that I was kin to the proprietors of the Liones Merchant Association. Thus he must have intended to demand ransom from the association. That was what the investigator declared, and indeed it seemed plausible. After all, I had boarded the stagecoach from the town of Emilia.

Nevertheless, it was but conjecture. Unless he confessed, the truth would remain unknown. And having been caught, he would hardly confess to an attempted kidnapping that would increase his charges from theft to attempted abduction or preparatory crime.

Phew. For now, I shall surrender myself to sleep.

 

—

 

After that, we spent one night in Maxia and another in a town along the way, yet no incident occurred. At last, the stagecoach drew near to the royal capital, Salomea.

 

—

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