29-Years-Old Bachelor Was… Brought To A Different World To Live Freely Volume 1 Chapter 12

Next chapter should be tomorrow.
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Translator: Geraffe
Unedited

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29-sai dokus.h.i.+n isekai de jiyuu ni ikita…katta
Vol.1
Ch.12 – When I arrive at the capital, I have an audience with the King.

One hour after leaving the Buring Golden bed, we were being shaken by a carriage.
An escort is a unit led by Captain Walls, the first member of the Crossroad's Knight Order.

[……….]

There is no conversation in a four-seater carriage.
Marl is next to me.
In the front of me is a Magic soldier-chan with tearful eyes – Linet.

“Hihhh!?”(Linet)

When I gaze at her she turns blue and shaking.
When we're leaving for Crossroad from the ruins, I leave Flam to the 1st company, so I'm sure that, they understand why Flam is in that condition.
I started to have fun teasing her from a while ago.

“Taichi-san?”(Marl)
“……I'm sorry”(Taichi)

Marl scold me for teasing her and pinch my thigh lightly.

It can't be helped since I have nothing to do.

So I take a look at status and skills after a while.

【Skill Point】 25 points
【Name】 Taichi Mitsuba
【Level】 18
【HP】 251 【MP】 882
【STR】 215 【VIT】 219 【AGI】 201
【DEX】 155 【POW】 336
【Skill】 Sword 4, Bare-handed 3, Polearm 4, Shooting 1, Spell fist 2, Fire Magic 3, Water Magic 3, Wind Magic 3, Earth Magic 3 Non-elemental Magic 3, Healing Magic 3
Boundary Magic 3, Life Magic, Physical Enhancement 1, Magic Enhancement 2, Magical Recovery 2, Negotiation 2, Cooking 1, Appraisal Eye, Magic Power eye, Poison Resistance 2

There are a lot of skill points left.
For now, It seems to be necessary to get the Poison Resistance to the level 3 and Maxed it.
And I also get the Signs Indication and Danger Perception skills.
I do not know when and where we're going to get attacked by a.s.sa.s.sins, and foods can also get poisoned too.
Why should I care for such a thing though, I was supposed to live freely.
Well, these skills are sufficiently useful.
I don't have to worry about poison, I can protect myself from traps and surprises attacks.
I'll be able to locate surrounding enemies, all these good things!

Yeah, let leave it at that.

So let's dump 9 points and set the Poison Resistance to level 3, and use 12 points to raise Signs Indication and Danger Perception to level 3.
Poison Resistance and Danger Perception aren't put to use yet, but Signs Indication is quickly used.
I can feel like something like a radar was mounted in a corner of my head.
I'm now able to grasp how much strength, distances, and how many of them, using myself as the center.
If the name and face match, I can identify what kind of signs are by rough guesses.
For example, the sign of the Crossroad's Knights and their horses, which are escorting this carriage.
I can also feel the sign of the horses that pulling this carriage and the man who is steering it too.

This skill is convenient.

It can actively turn on and off.
I think it exists to be used against skill that can acquire stealthiness.
And 4 points left.
I would like to settle down soon and improve production type skills too.
Like making your own weapons with Smithing skills.
And making potions with Alchemy skills or something.
Yep, I came up with good ideas.
If they'll give me something as apologies, I will request a manor or something that will be the foundation for a smithing workshop or an alchemy atelier.
If it is useless, I want a rights to buy, or worst case, construction permission and recommend of trustworthy merchants can be good.

“Oh, that …”(Linet)
“Ahh?”(Taichi)
“Hihhhhhhh! M, my apologies!”(Linet)

When I was drawing a happy and perfect future prospect, I was interrupted by a call and I gave her a yakuzlike reply.
No, no it's no good, I'm becoming mere thugs.
I'll have a problem If Linet gossiping while bad mouthing me.
Let be adults, yeah matured adults.

“No, sorry, I still felt a bit nervous, what's up?”(Taichi)

I tried and asked Linet with a normal voice.
Linet opens and closes her mouth several times.
And after repeating that for some time, she finally speaks.

“Ah, well, actually I'm keeping a letter from Commander Twanich.”(Linet)
“……..Hoh” (Taichi)

I peel off the sealing wax of the letter that Linet has shown me and look through the contents.
What was written in the letter is the fact that Commander Twanich dispatched the 1st company led by Captain Walls to that ruins.
When the matter about trolls was reported, the higher-ups have ordered to give goods which have the Secret Seal of Pursuit as a reward.
And he was curious about that order, so I was found out that I was a Hero by the Status checker and was reported.
At that time he was instructed from higher-ups to approach me for a while and keeping an eye on me.
He feels suspicious at the higher-ups and began investigating.
And he learns that a non-regular unit called “Sweeping shop” in the military was aiming at me.
And as soon as he tried to protect me, he also learned that we had already fled from Crossroad, and dispatched the 1st company with tracking of Secret Seal of Pursuit.

“……………..the story seem fits.”(Taichi)

I handed the letter to Marl and think.
In other words, the Kalendale kingdom – or to be precise “Kalendale kingdom's army” has marked me before checking my status, when they received a report of trolls subjugation.
And when they learned that I'm a Hero, they were already moving in the direction to eliminate me.

“Just this letter is not enough for a evidence.”(Taichi)
“Well, with this speed, the possibility of  this was all Army's decision alone seems to be high.”(Marl)

Yes, that is the problem.
Processing time and the movement is way too early.
Let's a.s.sume that they think I'm a Hero at the time they received a report about the trolls.
Since the reporting itself was sent through Magic tools for communication, it is done almost without time lag.
If I took the day of reporting of trolls matter was sent as the first day. We were attacked on the sixth day.

Let's look back on our actions.
On the first day, I was exhausted after I ate and drank like a millionaire and went to bed.Perhaps there should be reports of trolls subjugation on this day.
On the second day, I spent the day going on dates with Marl.
At this timing, Twanich should have prepared the hunter knife.
It was not written in the letter, but they can't make it if they weren't prepared at this stage.
On the third day, I went to the Knight Order and was confirmed as a Hero after receiving a status check. Marl and I prepared the fled on this day.
On the early morning of the fourth day we left Crossroad, then I arrived at the ruins for three days.
On the sixth day, the a.s.sa.s.sins attacked by the sunset.

According to the story, from the Capital of Alfen to Crossroad it took day by fast horses, about three days on foot.
As they can't make it on time by foot, at least until Crossroad, a.s.sa.s.sins have moved by horses.
Given the fact that I didn't find a horse when I left the forest, I wonder if they moved from Crossroad to the ruins on foot.
Since the monsters in the way were wiped out by us, did they marching speed became little faster?
Well, this is what I can't be sure of.
There is also no guarantee that they came on the same route with us.
a.s.sa.s.sin troops should be at Crossroad on the day we left or the next day at the latest.

In other words, when I checked the status with the Order, a.s.sa.s.sin troops were already at Crossroad, that is to say, that they were ordered to a.s.sa.s.sinate me before that.
Considering the time to prepare the hunter knife, they decide to a.s.sa.s.sinate me within the day they received the report.
There is also a fact that knife with the Secret Seal of Pursuit was prepared, which is almost certain that the time schedule is like this.

“It's certainly too fast.”(Taichi)
“Well, unless it is a military dogmatism, it's too fast to move, so we still have to talk with them.”(Marl)

There is no merit to think deeply here.
Besides, as Marl says. If I don't go and have a talk with them, I can't be certain when I can sleep soundly at night.
Anyway, now we have to watch out for “unfortunate accidents” on the way.

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Two days after leaving Crossroad.
The carriage that carrying me and the Marl was arriving at Alfen, capital of the Karendale Kingdom without any delay.

“Whoa, this is a big one.”(Taichi)
“The population of the capital Alfen is 70,000, it is said that if you enter short-term staying adventurers, peddlers, people living in the slum, it will surpa.s.s 100,000 people.”(Linet)

Linet began to explain to me who is looking around at the cityscape.
The capital Alfen is surrounded by four walls, including those under construction.
Now our carriage is running at the outer edge of the fourth wall that is under construction, this is a chaotic section where various shops and miscellaneous lodgings are connected roughly.
Although it seems that it is organized properly as it approaches the castle wall under construction.
It seems that the slave market is on the outer edge.

“This is the same in every country.”(Taichi)

As Marl said.
Many people were engaged in the construction of the fourth wall.
Such a work seems to be done not only by slaves and criminals but also adventurers who were paid as a day laborer.
It seems that is good at building muscle for adventurers, they seem like they're hitting two birds with one stone?
I'm sorry, leave me out.

Beyond the Fourth Wall, people are actively coming and going.
It seems that this is a so-called commoner parcel, there are shops and inns that are better than the outer edge, and there are also workshops of craftsmen.
It looks like Crossroad but bigger and more active.
There are ordinary markets here, and various products are being sold and bought.
The Adventurer guild seems to be installed in this section.
On the inner side of the Third Wall wall, more excellent stores and inns line up.
Others are public buildings such as government offices, churches, and Magic schools.
There are many other wealthy merchant houses, castle soldiers, higher than commoner Knight's houses in this area.

“My parent's house is also in this block, I have not returned for about a year.”(Linet)

Linet is narrowing her eyes in reminiscence on the homecoming for a long time as she watching the streets.
She seems to be a graduate of a Magic school. With this beautiful face and proportion, I guess she was a popular hottie for sure.
But a Magic school looks interesting. I don't think I'll go there at this age though.

The inside of the Second wall can be said to be a parcel of a n.o.ble family.
There are only good dressed people here, or else guards.
There are no adventurers here, they shouldn't have business here though.

And finally, it is the Royal castle.

“Big…, as expected of the true Castle”(Taichi)

The castle that I can think of is the one that was the castle of a princess in a certain dream country.
But the castle in front of my eye is enormous. It looks alive.
I can't express it well, but the king lives there, as the center of the country, it makes me more amazed.
Several spires are visible. That spire is not just decoration, but it is made for something and it is actually can be used.
I'm getting excited somehow. It seems like it was the first time I saw the cross streets of Crossroad.

From here, it seems that the castle is surrounded by a moat.
A drawbridge is hanging in front of the castle wall, and this bridge will be raised when defending war happens.
I guess this castle has surely experienced many wars.
Before becoming such a powerful country, it seems that this first wall protected people from monsters and the battle with other countries.

When I looked up at the castle and indulged in my own fantasy.
Captain Walls who seems to have handed over to the escort duty to the knights of the royal castle, call out to us.

“Our escort end here, Taichi-dono, take care.”(Walls)
“Oh, thank you. And sorry for the time at the ruins.”(Taichi)

Captain Walls waved his head to my words and showed me a smile.

“Don't mind, I think I'd do the same if I was also in your position, Marl-dono is your important person right.”(Walls)

After he said that, Captain Walls left with the rest of 1st company.
Look like it would be his concern, for why he talked in a crushed tone at the end.

“From here on, we will show you the way.”
“Oh, I'll go now”(Taichi)

I and Marl go through the gate of the first wall and step into the royal castle of the Karendale Kingdom.

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“Whoa, it's amazing.”(Taichi)
“It is exactly the royal castle, isn't it?”(Marl)

Soldiers wearing expensive looking armor are covered in front and back, the cool looking maids and butlers squeezed from the right and left. we were walking in the royal castle like that.
When I asked where are we headed, they say it reception room.
Even so, as expected of a royal castle.
Pots and one Paintings decorated here and there are full of luxury.
I wonder if the rookie maid breaks the pot, how can she cover it.
No, in this world you can fall into slavery for to get relieved from the debt?
Let's not touch the furniture, Yeah.

“Please relax here. If you have anything, please do not hesitate to tell us.”

The butler makes a pleasant and refres.h.i.+ng bow.
What was guided was a room like a reception room full of furniture which seemed to be ultra expensive again.
It seems like we have to wait here until the audience is ready.

“Hey Marl, it's rude to be armed when you have an audience right?”(Taichi)
“Well, yes, I think it would be better not to. For me, it is a chast.i.ty protection sword, so it's okay.”(Marl)

Then Marl showed me a sword that has the red ribbon tied to the handle.
It seems that it isn't rude to have “Sword of chast.i.ty” when you have an audience with the royalties.
It's mean “Don't try to make me your concubine because I already have a man who pledges my chast.i.ty to.”
When I heard such a thing from Marl, I suddenly wanted to hug her tightly
Nope, endure it, do not lose yourself to whimsical urges.

“Butler-san, can we leave weapons to you?”(Taichi)
“Yes, with pleasure.”

Nice looking middle-aged butler, took care of my weapon carefully.
Three things that we deposited were my Mythril sword, hunter knife, battle staff.”
The ring that was magic conductor remains on my finger.
And in the inventory, there is a poison-coated longsword and dagger from the a.s.sa.s.sins.
With this, I can do something in the worst case.

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Then after waiting for a while, we headed for the audience room.
but I did not get so bored as there was excellent tea which I had never drunk in the former world.
Right now, we are kneeling towards the king at the audience.

“I'm the current king of the Karendale Kingdom, the Kalendale the 14th. O, Hero, raise your face”(Kalendale the 14th)
“It an honor to have an audience with your majesty for the first time, My name is Taichi Mitsuba.”(Taichi)

Then I raise my face.
So, he is Kalendale the 14th, the king of this country.
He is an old man whose appearance is over 40, with elegant Kaiser beards and luxurious costumes, the crowns on his head are accompanied by large and small jewels.
Well, as you see, “The King” just by looking.

“Umu, that is a good eye, O attendant girl you can also raise the face……!?”(Kalendale the 14th)
“I really happy to see you in good health like always, your majesty. I'm Taichi-sama's attendant, Marl.”(Marl)

The king who saw Marl's face turned pale in an instant.
Royalties should have the toughest poker face, but the opponent is too bad this time.
Well, she is the royal family of another country, the first princess to boost.
There is no doubt that it would be a tremendously big deal if the public learns that the a.s.sa.s.sins were sent after the royal family of another country.
The higher-ups n.o.ble whose stand beside the king also turned blues.

“Long time no see, your majesty, I wonder if it's has been three years already, thank you for [inviting me] this time”(Marl)

Marl smiling like a flower. And she doesn't forget to emphasize [inviting me].
Good job, Marl, go for it.
When the king says something roughly to his aides, most of the people who were present during the audience, including the guards who were guarding him, left the audience room.
There are only a few people left, the king, the queen-like woman, and others that seem to be his close aide.

Marl pulled my hand to tell me to stand up.
I receive her hand and stand up.

“P, Princess Mariel, this time………………”(Kalendale the 14th)
“Your majesty, I have a proposal”(Marl)

Marl block the words of Kalendale the 14th with her.
The king tried to move his mouth ups and downs for a while, but he sighed and gave up.

“Well, say it………”(Kalendale the 14th)
“Yes, thank you, your majesty. This is a suggestion from me, why don't we took it as [Nothing happen], what do you think?”(Marl)
“[Nothing happen], huh?”(Kalendale the 14th)
“Yes, Taichi-san and I visited this castle only to be recognized as a Hero today, [There is no other reason] for anything.”(Marl)

In other words, it is a proposal to forget anything that happens, even the a.s.sault of the Karendale's a.s.sa.s.sination unit itself.
The merits for the Karendale Kingdom by this is obvious.
To make this a.s.sa.s.sination attempt against me as [Nothing happen],  means that the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt on the first princess of the Miscronia Kingdom by the Karendale's is also [nothing].
It will be possible for the Karendale Kingdom to be able to “make it nothing”, because that this incident that could cause a fatal crack between the two countries.
And that the princess in question herself is proposing to do so.
It is not impossible for war if things become public.
Besides, they also violate the treaty on the protection of the Hero, there is no mistake that the international embargo would happen too.

“Fortunately, I have not received a wound from the protection of the Hero-sama.”(Marl)
“W, Well, yeah, it was fortunate……………What do you want in return?”(Kalendale the 14th)
“First of all, I would like you to thoroughly ensure that no more [mistakes] will occur in the future, and about keep matter about me being here as a secret”(Marl)
“Well, yes, let's thoroughly do it, but, about your whereabouts”(Kalendale the 14th)
“If I was brought back to my country, I will have to reveal [all of this] with every single detail, your majesty”(Marl)
“I, I understand. Let's do as you say.”(Kalendale the 14th)

Marl-san is too overwhelming, the king is shrinking down.
But is it okay? Won't they retaliate stealthily, and finished us off.
But look at the surrounding it should be fine.
Well, Marl's word is also strong and it seems to be OK.
For now, Marl's request is two things, not to attempt to a.s.sa.s.sinate again.
And not to report her whereabouts to her country.
The latter is not a big deal, you just need to ignore and pretend that you see nothing.
But for the former, you need to take good care of army and n.o.bles.
Whether it is a lot of effort or not, it is also a royalty's job to suppress such saying in the first place.
Although it is a pressure, it isn't an unreasonable demand.

“Thank you very much, your majesty. And about Taichi-san support.”(Marl)
“Very well, state your wish…………….”(Kalendale the 14th)
“Yes, thank you. Now, Taichi-san.”(Marl)

Marl went back down behind me after she says so.
The tired eyes of the king and high tension gazes of the upper-cla.s.s n.o.bles focusing on me.
Calm down, Marl arranged the stage for me. I just have to say my request.
In addition, it is good to compromise a little and buy the other's favor.

“If you do not mind, I'd like to have a base here in Alfen.”(Taichi)
“Base, why?”(Kalendale the 14th)

The king's eyebrows rise.

“Yes, the citizens of Alfen managed by your majesty were very active and were filled with smiles, I would like to work in such a wonderful place. I am also an adventurer, Information and works gather at places like this.”(Taichi)
“Hm … but is that good?”(Kalendale the 14th)

The king says, “Is that good? Isn't it dangerous to put yourself under the jurisdiction of hostile forces?” I guess.

“Yes, I'd like to trust your majesty in that regard, even though I don't have confident to suppress all the sparked fire by myself, so please contact us at that time you need my help.”(Taichi)

I said so and makes a smile.
The point is that if he tries to strengthen the kings.h.i.+p by cutting off the power of the n.o.bility who does not listen to what he said,  I will give him cooperation.
It is advantageous for the royalist's side to be able to use “independent strengths” equivalent to at least one knight company.

“Hero does it himself. I do not know anything ” can be used as a good excuse.

“I only want to live a free life as an adventurer, I may want gold and some honor, but I'm not interested in any power, so please understand.”(Taichi)

“Woman” was not included in my content of interest. Because there is Marl, yeah.

“……………I understand, Sondark I leave the details to you.”(Kalendale the 14th)
“Ha!”(Sondark)

The aide that has been standing by the king's side lowered his head.
Yeah, the negotiation should be like this.
It will be busy for a while, but I eventually sell a favor to the king.
I only have to run when I'm in really deeply in troubled.

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“My name is Sondark von Meister. Well, you can just remember me as his majesty's aides, Hero-sama”(Sondark)
“Taichi Mitsuba, I'm in your care.”(Taichi)
“I'm Marl, please don't mind me.”(Marl)

After the audience, we were returning to the reception room with the king's aides, Sondark.
Maids leave when they served teas, and only in this room are me, Marl, Sondark.
And the butler who lead me to this room.
Marl is smiling while drinking tea gracefully next to me.

It is can say that Sondark who is working as an aide to the king is still young.
I think that it is probably around the middle of 20's.
Brown hair close to black, sharp looking eye, his physique is about the same as mine. His face is not of a handsome person. His n.o.bleness is drifting because he is a high-cla.s.s n.o.bleman.

“You don't have to worry about wording, I'm also tired of maintaining a tone that I did formally”(Sondark)

Saying that Sondark drank a cup of tea.
He understands it quickly, now that's what I like.

“First of all, it is because hard-liner aristocrats who are close to the army and the army doing, We also grasp the information of the Hero via the adventurer guild, but they moved before our correspondence. For this, I really have to apologize, Princess Mariel.”(Sondark)

Sondark bowing his head. It is amazing to be able to lower his head properly although there is a position.
The angle is perfect too.

“Especially thanks to you, Hero-sama, we really appreciate it, even though this the army's own doing, but if Princess Mariel was a.s.sa.s.sinated by our hands, it was going to be a very unpleasant situation.”(Sondark)
“……Oh, I was overdoing it too.”(Taichi)

I remember the frightening face of Flam and the a.s.sa.s.sins I killed.
There was a sense of guilt, but that was necessary to have the “First time”. (TLN: He used the word that also means “virgin” in here if you know what I mean.)

“Let's go to a specific story. Firstly, Hero has succeeded in greatly cutting off the power of the army because you destroyed the Sweeping shop. In addition, by the existence of Princess Mariel, It became possible to shave off politically opponent's power, and the other party could not put they hand on you again easily.”(Sondark)
“Well, you don't need my help?”(Taichi)
“You speak about a dangerous thing so easily, I do not say it's absolutely not, but I think it's okay for you to leave it to us.”(Sondark)

I'm relieved to be told that.
Even though I said that but if I can, I don't want to be involved with problems between aristocrats.
But, I will do it, if I have to.

“As we have found the Hero, we have to share the information of the Hero with the member countries of the treaty, which is usually announced in a big way, but it also depends on the will of the Hero. There is an example so there is no problem. Hero-sama, how do you think about the announcement?”(Sondark)
“I'd like to be a free adventurer,  I don't want it to be big, what do you think about Marl?”(Taichi)
“I'm with Taichi-san!”(Marl)
“Okay, let's us proceed in that direction, then about the matter that of the Hero-sama wish, what kind of property do you specifically want?”(Sondark)

I think a little about Sondark's question.
Because this is a chance, I want it to be big, if they refuse, I just have to decrease its size.

“First I want a bath of reasonable size, and I also want a workshop that can be used for smithing and alchemy. Is there anything else, Marl?”(Taichi)
“Well, I'd like a big bed and comfortable sofa! In addition, because We'd often leave my house with to do adventurer job, I also want a trustworthy manager and maids.”(Marl)

I never thought about manager and maid. As expected of a princess.

“I understand, I'll arrange it to match your desires as much as possible, and please stay in the castle for a while, I want time to consolidate the stand we're in.”(Sondark)

He is planning to take an offensive now and greatly reduce the power of the army and hardliners.
In the meantime, he asked us to stay still.

“I understand, is Marl also good?”(Taichi)
“There's no helping it, I am afraid of walking around the city and getting stabbed from behind after all.”(Marl)
“I won't let them do that easily”(Sondark)

In this way, we decided to stay in the capital, Alphen.

AN: This time is Marl's battleground!
TLN: Marl is the best girl.

And check out my another translation! Click the picture below!