Chapter 23: Crisis After Crisis

I got off the carriage headed toward the Jurden estate and made my way to the nearest station.

If I returned to Jurden territory like this, Gloria would kill me.

I was currently wearing an ordinary one-piece dress. Since the black maid uniform I’d worn had been slashed by a sword and couldn’t be repaired, I had on a gray, dress-type one-piece with a blouse—something William’s side had lent me. It had fluttering frills, but here, that was considered normal.

As for why the maid’s uniform couldn’t be repaired… well.
It’s only natural—the fabric isn’t something a needle can pierce.

……This is delicious.

While waiting for the teleportation circle to open at the station, I bought a sandwich. It had a thin slice of ham, some shredded cabbage, and a strong, greenish mustard sauce that really kicked. Maybe because it was the last day of the weekend, the station was fairly crowded. Others were eating sandwiches too.

When I quit being Therese’s maid… should I open a snack bar near the station?

Selling fish cakes… or maybe tteokbokki.

Though that might be hard with no factories around.

Then maybe sushi in a bento-style box wouldn’t be so bad. Rice was reasonably available. I’d just have to squeeze it tight and lay a slice of fish on top.

Come to think of it, there’s no custom of eating raw food in this region.

I’d probably just go bankrupt.

I thought eel or salmon might be more palatable, but apparently, eel is treated like octopus here—looked down upon like in Northern Europe.

Well, I’ll think about it later. Not like Lady Therese will let me go so easily anyway.

[The teleportation circle for Norndeasel will be opening at 15:25. Passengers going to Norndeasel, please have your tickets ready and proceed to platform 7.]

Should I go?

I shoved the last bite of my sandwich into my mouth and tossed the wrapper into the trash can.

A trash can in plain sight. Paper being mass-produced enough for food wrappers.
The level of development in this world was always jarring.

Humanity in my old world made it to the moon roughly 450 years after inventing the matchlock. But in this world, the first gun had been developed around 7,000 years ago.

Of course, the existence of magic was a huge reason guns hadn’t become the spear to pierce the heart of the beast called the class system—but there was another reason.

The Mehrenia religion.

The human empire, Drakilainia, had adopted it as the state religion.
Mehren, the chief god worshipped by the Mehrenia Order, was the embodiment of immortality. And the Order had decreed:

Progress is a sin.
To remain still is to be immortal.

From what I skimmed in their books, since Mehren and the first emperor founded the empire and its laws together, it’s only proper for inferior descendants to preserve their legacy—forever.

I’m surprised the world’s even functioning.

And yet, the empire had survived for over 10,000 years.

The beastmen to the west were still caught in tribal squabbles. The demons of the northeast stagnated due to an even worse class system—and the hero’s suppression. The elves in the southeast? Stagnant too, leisurely as always.

It was a relief that demons were humanity’s only real threat.

Or maybe, the reason the beastmen are still tribal… is because merchants of death like Therese are manipulating them from the shadows.

“Ugh!?”

Something touched my butt.

It wasn’t an accidental brush.
There was intent in those fingers.
Like a bug crawling on my skin.
Disgusting.

“Heehee. Heeheehee.”

A revolting giggle came from behind me.

Of course. It happens sometimes.
No matter the era or place, people like this show up.

Not that it’s fair to judge everyone based on one pervert.

I turned around immediately and grabbed his wrist.
Then I looked up.

The top of his head was shining. A priest.

“H-heeeek.”

“You don’t want your wrist broken, do you? Behave yourself.”

Then I let go.

If Therese had been with me—or if he hadn’t been a priest—I would’ve snapped his wrist. But getting caught and investigated would only complicate things.

“H-heeeek! You’ll be punished by heaven!”

“Hah……”

He shouted that and ran off.

People stared, but I glared once, and they scattered.

Unpleasant.

I’d always been with Therese. This was my first time experiencing something like this directly.
Few would dare to mess with a maid standing beside a noble lady.

The purple-lined cape wasn’t just for show.

Of all times…

Normally, I’d have sighed and thought, What’s so great about a man’s butt that you’re giggling about— and moved on.
But this time, the feeling wouldn’t go away.

I knew why.
And that made it worse.

I should have broken his wrist.
Me.
I’m not the type to brood, am I?

Ever since talking with William, I’d been piling up irritation with no outlet.
The wound throbbed.
My condition was the worst.

“Show me your ticket.”

I handed it over.

I wanted to see Therese as soon as possible.
At the very least, I wanted a blade at my fingertips.

The teleportation ended instantly.

Every time, it amazed me—so much faster than a train.
It’s sad that even with this, this world hadn’t developed further.

It could move people, sure. But mass transportation of goods was still a problem.
They still needed trains and ships.
But if they tried, teleportation could have more applications…

“Oh! Miss Cornelia!”

Someone I vaguely remembered called out.

He stood up like he’d been waiting.

So, I tried to act like I didn’t know him.

“Wh-who are you?”

“Haha. You’re joking, right? My beauty’s not something so easily forgotten.”

“……”

Well, yeah.
He did have the kind of unforgettable face actors are born with.

If you’re born looking like that, maybe it’s only natural to be so full of yourself.

His name was… probably Orlevette.
He’d visited Therese before and warned her to behave.

He was the one who gave me FBI or CIA vibes.

“Ah. Did Therese not introduce me that day? I must really be disliked.”

“I’m sorry, young master. I didn’t know you were acquainted with Lady Therese……”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. My name is David Orlevette. Here.”

He showed me something like a police badge from inside his coat.

Wow.

I didn’t know what the badge meant—but I did know I was screwed.

Last time, he’d worn a golden cape with a purple lining. Now, he was just in a suit. That made me even more wary.

And the fact that he was waiting specifically for me?

That screamed undercover cop.

He’s here because of the Saintess incident, right?

Uwaaaaaaaah.

“Excuse me, but, um… What can I do for you?”

“Actually, I went to see Therese about something, but she wouldn’t open the door.”

“Ah…….”

“I learned it was because you weren’t with her. But, oh—”

Where did he find that out!?

Did he investigate? Shake down every witness?

Just thinking about it made cold sweat form.

The power of the state is scary.

Really scary.

“Are you hurt? Your movements are a little…”

“Ah, well.”

Ah.

I’m screwed. My life is ruined.

“Well, the young lady told me to check something at Borein Street, so I went… and got attacked. But a benefactor saved me.”

“Ah. I heard Cecilia was attacked. You must’ve been caught up in that.”

His smiling face was terrifying.

He can’t know. He’s bluffing. Deny everything.

Wait—what can he even do if he knows?

Waaaaah.

The area was crawling with suspicious people.

Or maybe I was just being paranoid.

Still, they’d already set up an ambush.

With my injury and no weapon, I didn’t stand a chance.

“Hey. Sir knight.”

A savior appeared.

When I turned, there stood Prince William.

I bowed quickly.

“My, my, Prince William. What brings you here?”

“I figured you’d do something foolish and came here directly. The attacker has been caught, so please withdraw.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s been caught.”

Orlevette touched his ear.

A headset? Or maybe a magic tool.
A telepathy spell?

“……Thank you for your cooperation, Your Highness.”

“Yes. Our Virden is quite good at his job. Now let her go.”

“But, Your Highness. Just in case, a little investigation—”

“The benefactor who protected her was me. Do you not understand?”

“Tch……”

Did he just click his tongue at the prince?

Orlevette revealed his true colors, glared at me, then turned and left.

The suspicious people stood one by one and followed him.

“That disrespectful guy. Leaving without even a proper farewell.”

“……Thank you.”

“Of course you should be thankful. I’m stacking up favors, after all.”

“But… how did you know?”

Was he bugging me…?

Prince William looked at me like I was pathetic.

That expression. So annoying.

I’ve seen it before.

“I saw you get off the carriage mid-ride and head for the station. So I followed you. Why ignore my kindness?”

“Well.”

“Never mind. It must’ve been for some silly reason.”

He leaned in close, voice dropping.

“Because of you, I had to dye one of my men’s hair white and abandon him. Be more careful next time.”

“……I’ll keep that in mind.”

Really… nothing is going right.