Low Dimensional Game Chapter 86: Saint Baptism Ritual (3)

08. Meeting Sir Patron

Aside from replenis.h.i.+ng supplies, the Geirias Mountain Range commando unit returned to the main force with fresh food (it's just monster meat though) as present.
We were praised. The power of bribe is amazing.

At present, only those who belong to Brattle army can eat meat. Oh, Brattle is the family name of the feudal lord who governs my village.
I guess the lacking quant.i.ty makes it impossible to distribute it to everyone so the higher-ups mainly eat them. The bones are made into soup stock for the lower cla.s.ses.
Though I don't know how many people partic.i.p.ated in the war this time, feeding all soldiers is probably a tough job.
I made a visit to Sir Red, the person managing that hard logistics.
The actual purpose for this time's supply replenishment is actually to meet him.

......No, it's not so we can indulge in earthly pleasures between men, y'know?
From my previous life, I wanted to have a female partner; I have a normal preference.

Due to some unknown considerations, the people around us seemed to misunderstand Sir Red and I as "gay buddies" but it's not like he had ever ordered me to drop my pants.

For some unknown reason, society has labeled the status of "mistress of an influential person". In this current world...gender is of no relevance.
And yet, that was absolutely not the case in the game from my past life.
Is it a setting behind the scenes or is it because this is a parallel world that's falsely similar to the game?
Well, I was reincarnated and not transmigrated so I practice "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

***

"----But if possible, I don't want to get topped by a man."

"? Is something wrong, Kariya?"

"No, Sir Red. It's nothing."

Did he catch my monologue? I deceived Sir Red, who looked like he was curious, with a smile.

Currently, I'm in the middle of a late night tryst.

Just as I expected, I received words of grat.i.tude for the meat I provided a while ago. At the same time, I was also told not to do dangerous things too much.

Sir Red is so kind~~.

Suggesting to leave a monster to riot within the territory, one would absolutely not expect that from the relative of the Feudal Lord.

"By the way, thank you very much for the mages you dispatched the other day."

Mages were necessary to make a wetland so I requested for them. The person who made arrangements was him.

"Yes," Sir Red smiled, seemingly shy. "It looks like they were helpful. I did not think you would let water acc.u.mulate again and change the dry land into a wetland. Kariya's way of thinking is interesting."

"Is that so?"

"I was afraid that the whole Chloe Plain will become a wetland if we pour water on purpose."

"The magic power of several water mages isn't enough to reach that extent. If we want to do so, it would be impossible without drawing water from the river that flows to the left of the plain. However, there is no advantage in turning the whole plain into a wetland."

"----I wonder if there really isn't an advantage in turning the entire plain into a wetland?"

"Are you referring to when we retreat even if our country suffers a crus.h.i.+ng defeat? We would be forced to stay. The Empire is adjacent to the west of the Chloe Plain. Our ally, the Empire, has taken into consideration the change in the river flow when they made their decision."

In this battlefield - the Chloe Plain - lies the Ragion Empire to the west. In the north is the enemy country Claciel and in the south is our country Ticia.

Chloe Plain is a place that's just perfectly in contact with the three nations.
It turns to a wetland in summer. In winter, monsters wander from the Black Forest that is located to the east. Because of these reasons, no country wants to make the plain their own territory. Management really is troublesome...

"You're really well-versed, Kariya."

"No, not really. Actually, I came back to the main force this time because I want to consult with Sir Red----------"

While saying so, I took out the white mushrooms gathered during the day.

When I placed them on the table, Sir Red looked at them with great interest. It looks like he had never seen them before.

"These were growing in the Black Forest."

"What about this mushroom? Can it be eaten?"

"It's not that humans can't eat it, but these are mushrooms liked by monsters. Despite winter arriving soon, it has grown at the borders of Black Forest. ...I'm afraid that high ranking monsters living deep inside the Black Forest will be enticed near the border to eat this mushroom. The Zepar Sir Red had eaten tonight was also attracted nearby like that. Normally, they do not appear near Chloe Plain."

"......."

Sir Red's gentle expression tensed.
While being directed with a sharp gaze, I indifferently presented my thoughts.

"...It seems to be the work of the enemy country. I fear that this may be a trap devised by their reincarnators. ...Sir Red. In the middle of war, making a monster train... No, uhm, maybe they have a strategy to lure monsters and attack the enemy on purpose? Like maybe use themself as a decoy, plunge into the enemy's camp and then run away with a teleportation skill?"

"----With the enemy's strength, teleportation is impossible. But it's likely they can make the monsters rampage even without setting up a decoy. That method of offense is very reincanator-like."

"Then the enemy might try to use that method. Please be careful."

"I will report it to the higher-ups. If you find monsters nearby, deal with them like you did until now."

"Wouldn't specialists like adventurers be more suitable for full-scale subjugation of monsters?"

"The Adventurer Guild is also partic.i.p.ating in this war but we can't have them deal with that. After all, we need them to restrain the enemy's reincarnators. Sorry but I can only ask you for this."

"------Understood."

In this world similar to >, the most fearsome things in wars are reincarnators.

Inheriting their abilities from the previous life's game, with overwhelming abilities that can kill even a G.o.d, they are humans who annihilate their enemies the same way as monsters do.

An SSS rank player can even easily destroy a country.

No one but their fellow reincarnators can fight them head on.

An NPC's --- aka ordinary person's --- role is to watch over from a safe distance and provide support while the reincarnators clash in the battlefield.

No matter how skillfully they can wield powerful weapons or how high the abilities possess, even reincarnators can't continue fighting without support from their surroundings.

The ones who support them are the Adventurer Guilds they belong to.

In the previous life, "Adventurer" is the job name of a player who hunts monsters...
In this world, former Players are called "reincarnators" instead of "adventurers" so it ended up having a different implication.

"Adventurer Guilds" receive requests and also defeat monsters but their main role is to support reincarnators registered under them.
Apparently, past reincarnators personally established them based in the guild system that existed in >.
The headquarters is in Ragion Empire but there are branches in each country. They basically cooperate according to the policies of the country they are in.
They also partic.i.p.ate in wars.

...This may be late but should I also register as a reincarnator in Ticia's Adventurer Guild?
I partic.i.p.ated this time so I can leave the village without trouble nipping at my heels in the future, however I don't want to go to war if possible.

I want to live leisurely~ In the first place, my attributes lean towards production skills so I can't fight directly.
No, I was recruited as a normal person for now. So that means I can disguise my combat abilities since they don't expect anything?
Should I reveal myself as a reincarnator or not? That's the problem.

***

―― The report regarding the mushroom was also finished. When I was leaving Sir Red's tent, I received a compliment from him about how the white ribbon tying my hair suited me.
I always wear your gift, y'know? Please don't worry.
It's an item that can defend my virtue just by wearing it. It's important to me.
As always, this time too, I wasn't ordered to drop my pants.
He might really be just a good person, after all... Thank you Sir Red.

I'll do my best in order to return your kindness~

Translator's Notes:

The word "reincarnator" does not exist but I'll use it for convenience's sake.

Kariya uses -sama to address Red. I debated between using Lord(n.o.ble) and Sir (knight) but I went with Sir since Red is just the nephew of the feudal lord and he's working in the army as a Knight.

About the romance:
This is slow burn. The story's more on adventure and politics/warfare. The first arc is just an intro so it's somewhat short and will end at Chapter 20. The second arc is a bit longer because that's where major things will happen. Romance won't start until the latter half of arc 3.