Chapter 383
"They've come to visit the two of you?"
Seeing the troubled looks on my and Lady Esmeralda's faces, Gato sensed that the mayor wasn't here for him.
"Yes, I am the daughter of Gruude Edelgard, Duke of Edelgard.""And I'm a bit of a famous young lad among the nobility lately."It seemed the report from the gate guards had escalated more than I anticipated.Logically, it's probably because we completely ignored the courtesy visit we should have made.
"I see, I see. I had a feeling the young lady was of high status, but what exactly did you do, young man?""Oh, I sort of act as a messenger of the gods.""!"
They acted faster than expected.Could they have been watching Gato's house?
Perhaps because we ignored the mayor and went to Gato's place, his jealousy flared, prompting him to come personally.
"I see, I see."Hearing our words—Lady Esmeralda's and mine—Gato nodded as if swallowing them, thought for a few seconds, then glanced briefly out the window as if checking that no divine retribution was coming. He confirmed no heavenly punishment was falling.
"The two of you don't want to meet the mayor. Is that correct?""Yes, if possible, I'd rather not meet him.""What do you plan to do?""Oh, it's just an old man's wisdom. Living a long life, you end up remembering all sorts of bad tricks."Given the current nobility, there's no way they'd pass up a chance to meet me directly.I expected them to come, but I thought their pride would get in the way and buy us more time. Perhaps, triggered by the event of us skipping the mayor to meet Gato, jealousy won out over pride.
However, that doesn't mean I'm resigned to obediently meeting them. If you ask me, the answer is NO.If possible, I'd rather not.
Sensing that wish, Gato beckoned us.
"Wait here for a moment."He led us to one room and swiftly began preparations for departure.He donned a coat and casually slung a Magic Bag over his shoulder.
Only someone like me would notice it. It's a masterpiece you obtain by recruiting Gato. An item only discoverable through extensive travel.He has several dummy trinkets inside, making it look like it contains items from the outside, while strictly not carrying anything beyond that. He even places it casually as if it were everyday use.
He removes a painting hanging on the wall, retrieves a small leather pouch from a safe hidden behind it, and tucks it into his chest, diverting attention from the bag.The room has fewer belongings than expected. Once he attaches a well-used short sword to his waist, his travel preparations are complete in an instant.
There's no waste in these movements; it's not an exaggeration to say he's experienced.Knowing Gato was quite mischievous in his youth, this efficiency is born of experience.
"Are the paintings... alright?""I'll leave a message with the neighbor, it'll be fine. Now, this way."He probably keeps his valuables inside that Magic Bag at all times.Leaving the paintings completely behind, he briskly heads further inside.
"The kitchen... Even if we leave through the back door, we'll be found.""No worries, no worries. This is a small town."The destination is the ordinary kitchen found in any house.Led there, Lady Esmeralda tilted her head in confusion, but I know.
Seeing the anxious look on Lady Esmeralda's face, Gato flashed a mischievous, boyish grin.Smiling, he slowly moves the water jug aside.
"A hidden door? Does it lead to the backyard of the house behind?""Exactly. The mayor has his eyes on me, so I can't easily leave the house. I use this hidden door to ask the people in the back house to do my shopping."Shown something a bit too large-scale for mere DIY, Lady Esmeralda's eyes widened. Meanwhile, Gato passes through the small door into the backyard of the house behind.
If the well-built adult Gato can fit through, Nell and I can pass through with room to spare, and Lady Esmeralda can also enter easily.
I thought it might be trespassing, but given how Gato waves towards the window, it's probably tacitly permitted by the neighbors.They likely see it as a minor infraction compared to the trouble of getting involved with a bothersome noble, so no one makes an issue of it.
"What about Genjirou and the others? We also left guards and the carriage at the inn.""If we can slip into blind spots, it's to our advantage. You all seem to have high levels too, so follow me."Just as I thought we'd exit through the yard, Gato grabs the fence with agility rivaling a parkour athlete and swiftly climbs onto the roof.
Stat-wise, we're higher level, but in the original, Gato should have been nearing 70 years old.His movements are spry, showing no sign of decline.
"I'll go first.""Right. Esmeralda...""Yes, I leave it to you."Nell follows his movement, instantly standing beside Gato.Lady Esmeralda, with her magic-oriented stats, is carried by me in a princess carry.Her dress would make climbing walls difficult, and she's not used to it.
Accepting the arms she wraps around my neck, I leap across the house's blind spots and land on the roof.
"Impressive.""Not at all. Gato-san, your completely silent movement is a reference for me.""A scout who makes noise is second-rate. Sometimes you scout far ahead. It's a coward's technique, you might say."Once we arrive, Gato silently leaps to the next roof without making a sound.Understanding this town's layout, he knows exactly where eyes might be coming from.
His apparent disregard for the mayor's harassment was likely because he'd been slipping through the mayor's surveillance like this to communicate with people around town.
Even now, he's knocking on a certain wooden window of the neighboring house.
"Oh, Gato-san. Another shopping request?""No, Chelsie-san. I'm thinking of leaving town for a while.""My, my. Finally had enough of the mayor?"The resident responds familiarly. A plump woman in a headscarf pokes her head out from inside, and they converse cheerfully.
"No, no. It seems I'm going to chase a dream, unbecoming of my age.""Oh my, is it with these people?""Yes, that's right."A conversation on the roof, and the increased number of people. The woman accepts it without surprise, showing considerable composure.
"So, I'm sorry, but could you look after my place until I return? Here's the key and the payment.""If that's the case, leave it to me. You helped my son a lot, Gato-san. But if he hears you're leaving, that child will be sad.""Ho ho ho, I'll come back to visit.""That would be a great help."After entrusting the house's care to the neighboring woman, he immediately moves to the roof of the house across the street.
"Ah, they're doing it, they're doing it.""The man shouting there is the mayor, right?""He came here himself?""Once he heard a ducal daughter was here, the head of a baronial family probably couldn't sit still.""If he heard a messenger of the gods recognized by the King has come, it must be hard to wait.""Maybe he panicked because both of you were together."In our line of sight, the noble who arrived by carriage and his guards are confronting Genjirou, who is blocking the entrance.
'So! Let me in! I am Backer, Baron of Dure Town!!''I have no permission from my lord.''Kiiiiiiiii!! You mere soldier!! I'll have you arrested for lèse-majesté!!''I hold a permit from the ducal house and entered the town formally. An unjust arrest will turn the ducal house against you.''Guh!?'
Genjirou stands firm, while the mayor flies into a rage.They're completely on different levels. I whistle, imitating a bird's call.
'♪~'The whistle pattern is a coded signal for emergencies; this one means "Withdraw."
'!'Genjirou notices the sound, but he's currently dealing with the mayor. Instead of shifting his gaze, he subtly changes his stance, signaling another guard to locate the sound source.
I see the guard (a Gardener Retainer) look my way and nod.The guard reports to Genjirou.
'...Let me say this one last time. My lord is not here. Understand, this is the final warning.''Don't lie!! My soldiers saw them enter this house!''Is that so? Then the warning has been given. We shall now take our leave.'Now aware the house is empty, Genjirou leaves a final warning and departs from the scene, heading towards the inn.
"Can we get out of town like this?""Yes, leave it to me. I'm quite good at this sort of thing."With Genjirou and the others gone, the mayor, now unrestrained, shouts even louder and pounds on the door. Ignoring him, Gato sticks out his tongue with a "gotcha" expression and triumphantly traverses the rooftops to reach the main street.
"Hey, Gemyuu-boy!""Ah, Gato-san! I'm 22 now. Please stop calling me 'boy.'""Ho ho ho! Who was it that taught you swordplay when I returned to this town?""Oh, come on, not that again. So, what's up today?"He then boldly enters the central guard post.Naturally, soldiers stationed to protect the town are there, but not a single one tries to apprehend Gato.
"What is it? It seems these guests came to see this old man instead of the mayor, and he got angry again.""Sigh, the usual, huh?""That's about right."They seem more exasperated by the mayor's actions, sighing as if they can't even find words.
"So, I have a favor to ask. Will you hear me out?""Forget the mayor's cronies! There isn't a single town guard who hasn't been helped by Gato-san!! If you're dressed like that to travel, we'll gladly open the gate for you!""That's a quick answer. You're a lifesaver.""Hey, if needed, we'll run right over to the mayor and tell him Gato-san left through the opposite gate.""Ah, then I'll go tell the guys at the gate to get their stories straight."Some nobles on this continent are really disliked, except for a few.Well, this level of scheming is still manageable.In some places, the residents' patience reaches its limit, and rebellions can erupt.
The mining regions in the territory of the Eastern Warthog Duke are prime examples.I'm worried, and there are named characters there I want to scout, so I should have the Entertainers investigate the state of the fuses in those areas later.
"You are well-liked."Lady Esmeralda, now set down from my arms, murmurs while watching the soldiers happily offering help to Gato.
"We were troublemakers as kids. Playing pranks, getting scolded, finding everything boring. But Gato-san was the only one who accepted us for who we were, listened to our various troubles. That's why we could grow without losing heart and become soldiers determined to protect our hometown. Well, the mayor is like that, but our superiors were also helped by Gato-san and don't order anything unreasonable. Hearing from folks in other towns, this place doesn't seem too bad either."The soldier named Gemyuu, who first offered help, scratches his head shyly.
"So, Gato-san, please come back! We'll protect this town properly, so when you do, let us hear your new travel stories over some drinks!""That's right! We're running a bit low on material lately, we know.""We've heard plenty since we were kids! Even Gato-san would eventually run out of stories!"They ask the departing Gato for souvenir tales with smiles.
"Yes, lots. I'll bring back lots of stories.""Are souvenir stories with Liberta's help going to be okay, I wonder?""Will the listeners' hearts be able to take it?""Hey now, you two, what do you think of me?"While interjecting with such remarks to the two who worry the souvenir stories might become outrageous, we escape the town together with the carriage retrieved by Genjirou and the others.