Chapter 47

"Big sister, Big sister!"

"Morning, you guys!"

"Get up, get up, you guys!"

"Umm..."

Urinbo children are all over my arms, face, and body.

Rolling around on my body, they all woke me up.

"Phew... Alright."

Morning.

Now, it's time to prepare for departure.

After getting ready, I leave the house.

Yesterday, Uga and Garai led the selection of goods with everyone from *Beowulf*.

About ten carts, piled high with goods, are prepared.

Mainly vegetables, fruits, fresh flowers, and Garai's crafts, along with materials for making crafts to meet demand on the other side—wood.

Baskets for making flower arrangements and other small items, everything is ready.

"Alright... everyone! Wake up! It's time to prepare!"

I shout at the *Beowulf* members who are lying down in the square, probably having had a party last night.

"You're energetic this early in the morning."

Sure enough, Garai is already up.

He seems to have washed his face with well water and is shaking his head to get rid of the water.

"Of course. Displaying goods is the most fun part of setting up a store."

When I was a new staff member at the home center, I used to work with salespeople from various manufacturers to create various displays.

It's really the only part where you can be free and have fun.

With that, the *Beowulf* members, who have started to get up slowly, and I proceed with the preparations for departure.

"Alright! Let's do our best, Kora!"

"Deliver the goods to the capital safely, Kora!"

"Kora!" "Kora!"

The boars, who are responsible for pulling the carts, are encouraging each other with their voices.

At their feet, the Urinbo children are playing around.

Just then.

"Huh? Are you already starting to load the goods? It seems your plan is going smoothly."

Two familiar figures appeared suddenly.

"Iksa! Suaro too!"

"Hey, Mako. I finished my work here, so I came to help."

Iksa waves at me with his usual cheerful smile and light tone.

"Hey, Garai. Still being bossed around by Mako, huh?"

"......I'm honored."

"Hey, Iksa. Don't say such mean things about Garai."

Garai, scratching his head, and I, indignant.

Iksa looks at us alternately and sighs in relief.

"......I'm relieved. It seems nothing happened over there."

"?"

"By the way, what's that big black wolf?"

"......Who are you?"

Iksa, who noticed something strange in my expression, immediately became interested in Kuro.

"Kuro, this is Iksa. He's the son of the king of this country... one of the princes."

"......Oh? A prince, huh."

Kuro snorts in his usual haughty manner and steps forward.

"Nice to meet you, human prince. I am the leader of the *Black Wolf* pack, known as *Black Star*. I stand as the knight who protects Mako. Please remember me—"

"Who's your knight, Black Broom!"

Entia, who flew in from the side, kicked Kuro.

"Mako, what did he say?"

"Well... 'Nice to meet you.'"

"Heh, polite, isn't he?"

...Kuro's first impression was preserved.

With that, Iksa and Suaro joined us.

We left Abatokusu Village before noon.

We proceeded down the road we returned to a few days ago and yesterday.

"......Hmm?"

After a while, I felt something strange inside my clothes and looked down.

Something was crawling around under my clothes.

"Eh!? What...?"

"Kora!"

Plop.

The face that appeared from the chest of my clothes was a small Urinbo.

"Ah! Could it be...?"

"Kora?"

It was one of the younger Urinbo I played with yesterday.

The little one, not knowing where he was, looked around curiously.

Oops, one of the Urinbo I slept with last night must have crawled into my clothes and stuck to my body.

"Oh? What's wrong, Mako? Who is this child?"

"What... What is this cute creature?"

Iksa, surprised, and Suaro, covering her mouth with her hand and looking at the little one with sparkling eyes.

"Umm, it seems one of them accidentally came along."

"Kora! Kora!"

The little one is shaking his head happily.

Maybe he doesn't understand the situation or doesn't care.

"Once we've come this far, it might be hard to turn back, right?"

"Can't be helped. Sorry, little one. Let's go to the capital together."

"Kora?"

"Lord Mako... Can I touch it...?"

Suaro, excited, reaches out her hand.

"Kora!"

But the little one, scared of Suaro, hides back into my clothes.

...Suaro is really disappointed.

"Hehe... Don't worry, Suaro."

Iksa, that's the kind of guy he is.

Now.

While having such conversations on the road, we head for the capital.

Since this is a long journey, we can't move as fast as when Entia and Kuro pulled us.

On the first night, we stay at an inn along the road we used on the first day.

After two days, we return to the capital.

...Unbeknownst to us, an unexpected scene awaits us there.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"......"

When we returned to the capital and went to the store, the interior was vandalized.

Shelves and tables were knocked over, and holes were in the brightly painted walls.

"A... Mako."

Maul and Meala, sitting on the floor.

Orchidea and Fressa are hiding and trembling near the table that was supposed to be the cash register.

"M... Mako... This is..."

"Sorry, we couldn't stop it..."

Lam, Bagoz, and the other *Beowulf* members, who noticed our arrival, stand up.

Some of them have scrapes and cuts.

"Hey, you guys! What happened!"

Uga shouts.

After that, Garai and Iksa also notice the unusual situation and frown.

"Is everyone okay?"

I first ask the panicked group.

At my words, everyone stops moving.

"A... Ah, we're not seriously hurt."

"Right... What happened while we were away from the capital?"

I ask, trying to keep my voice calm.

In the home center era, we were taught in elementary education how to handle customer complaints and incidents in the store.

The most important thing is to stay calm.

"......This happened just a moment ago."

Lam mutters.

Meala helps Maul stand up.

The two run to my feet and cling to me.

"Maul, Meala"

"......Scary-looking men came."

"And they suddenly told us to get out of here."

The two explain, trembling.

"Scary-looking men?"

"Yeah, they looked like they weren't upstanding citizens."

Uga mutters, grinding his teeth.

"......There are several dark streets in the capital."

Iksa whispers from the side.

"Dark streets?"

"Streets where thugs and ruffians, who can't walk the streets openly, gather."

...I get it.

Like yakuza.

"Who else would barge into someone's store and cause a ruckus? But why target this store..."

"......Maybe it's a rival store's doing."

Garai, with a sharp eye, looks around the store.

"That's a possibility. If they're willing to pay, there are people who will do dirty work for them. If they're trying to get this store to leave and say 'get out,' it might be because they want to eliminate a business rival—"

"No, no, Prince Iksa, that's jumping to conclusions."

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice echoes in the store.

It sounds similar to Iksa's light tone but is more frivolous.

Everyone turns to the voice.

At the entrance stands a man in a black coat.

His hair is split into black and white, and he has a cheap smile on his face.

"Who are you?"

I ask, nodding to Maul and Meala.

They shake their heads.

It seems this man wasn't among the group that attacked the store.

...But it's obvious he's related.

"Ah, my apologies. I'm the head of a small gang that runs a bodyguard business in the dark streets. My name is Brad. Nice to meet you."

Brad, talking rapidly, bows.

"Bodyguard business?"

"Just a front. They're the ruffians who will do anything for money, as I mentioned earlier."

Iksa says sarcastically.

"So, what do you mean by jumping to conclusions? Brad, was it? If you're going to contradict me, you should explain yourself properly."

"Watch your mouth, you lowlife. You're in the presence of Prince Iksa Raven Grouga, the third prince of the Grouga Kingdom."

Iksa says coldly, and Suaro says assertively.

In response, Brad says:

"Ah, my apologies! It's unthinkable for a lowlife like me to address a prince! I really apologize, I'll leave to avoid offending your eyes."

"......I told you to explain. Speak quickly."

Brad, bowing and talking rapidly, says in a carefree manner.

...I see, this mysterious atmosphere, he feels like a yakuza boss.

"We came here with a legitimate reason, following the wishes of a certain person."

He puts his hand on his forehead and says:

"Actually, we wanted to have a peaceful talk. But you guys, well, didn't really understand us, and it turned into a 'tit for tat' and 'you started it first,' and before we knew it, it was a big mess."

"......"

"No, no, I do feel bad. But our young guys weren't unscathed either. Let's call it a draw."

He talks smoothly, like a comedian... No, I apologize, comedians, I didn't mean to insult you.

So far, Brad hasn't said anything about the core of the problem.

"......So, what's this 'legitimate reason' and who is this 'certain person' who ordered you? Quickly."

Iksa, annoyed, asks.

I thought he wouldn't reveal the identity of the person who commissioned this—

But unexpectedly, Brad smirks and says:

"Of course, of course. If Prince Iksa says so, I can't refuse."

He shows his sharp teeth and says.

With his black coat and sharp teeth, he looks like a bat.

"......The Eighth Prince."

My thoughts, which were already shocked, were further shaken by his next words.

"The Eighth Prince, Nero Bahamut Grouga. He commissioned us."

"!"

Iksa's eyes widen.

His expression is filled with shock... and disgust.

"That guy..."

"Ah! Ah! Don't misunderstand, Prince Iksa! Prince Nero isn't trying to take this land or store by force!"

Seeing Iksa's displeased face, Brad hastily adds:

"He's willing to buy this land for twice the price the Weeble family paid."

"......Is it because of my name?"

Iksa mutters.

"Because I supported the opening of this store using my name... That's why the 'tyrant' found out, right?"

"No, no, Prince Iksa. There's no need to blame yourself. It's probably just a coincidence. Prince Nero just wants to buy a prime location in the capital and open a store he supports."

It's obvious that's not the case.

Judging from the situation—this is a clash between princes.

Just like when Iksa interfered with Antimishka's conquest—this time, another prince is trying to hinder Iksa's actions.

Iksa's face is filled with self-blame for causing this situation.

I put my hand on Iksa's shoulder.

"We can just open the store in another location. I'm sure you can make it work anywhere, right?"

But they will probably find a reason to stop us from opening the store in the next location.

And the next, and the next.

"Is that prince treating us like toys?"

I say, still holding Iksa's shoulder.

Brad, then, turns to me again.

"Miss, I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but... this situation is something to be happy about."

Brad smiles unpleasantly.

"Because the opponent is royalty. If he wanted to, he could easily get rid of you."

"......"

"Come on, now that you understand, let's move on. First, this—"

"Iksa."

I look at Iksa.

Iksa's eyes, which were momentarily wide with surprise, narrow.

"......You're going to do it, Mako."

"Yep."

I don't want Iksa, who supported us, to feel guilty.

I feel bad for the head of the Weeble family, who trusted us and gave us the land.

Most of all, I can't let what everyone has worked hard to build be taken away so easily.

By such dirty people.

"Brad... You were commissioned by Nero for this, right?"

"Yes? Yeah, I guess."

"I see, so this is a conflict between those supported by princes."

I glare at Brad along with Iksa.

"A conflict between princes... I will call a supervisor of the royal succession battle. I will declare war on Nero as a proxy. I won't give up this place."