Whoa, whoa, whoa!

"Okay, Kaede loses!　Kaede crumbled it, so you need to rebuild the tower properly!

Yes, sir.

　Kaede, who has broken down her Jenga after being told that by Spring, who laughs innocently, rakes up the blocks.

　It's like she's doing to Kaede what she did to me perfectly.

　I don't dislike the stance of taunting Kaede, who is a beginner and weaker than me, because she can't beat me, but is that enough?

"Mmm-hmm, come on, Kaede, hurry up and stack them up!　You won't be able to win another game!

'Yes, sir!　

　Kaede's expression slackens as Spring commands her to do so.

　Well, it's fine. The most important thing is that they seem to be enjoying themselves.

''Well, I'm not busy waiting for the tower to be built like this, so why don't we briefly introduce ourselves?''

''That's true too. I am Kaede, who has been assigned to be Haru-sama's bodyguard.

　Kaede, who was sitting in the doorway of the shrine like me and Haru, bowed her head lightly to regain her composure.

　Her long black hair is tied up at the back of her head and she has slit black eyes. She has a spring-like, well-defined face, but this is a woman who is more appropriately described as beautiful than pretty.

　Her dignified expression and graceful gestures are characteristic of a woman's swordsman.

　Looking at it this way, it's hard to believe that this is the same person who was staring at the spring from the bushes a while ago.

This is very polite. I'm Alfried, I'm from the Kingdom of Misfirito and I'm here as a tourist.

'The Kingdom of Misfirito is the same country as the Triera Chamber of Commerce that has been in and out of our country recently, isn't it?　

Yes,

'Oh, I'm not a great man, so you don't have to use respectful language.

　Really?　Well, then, feel free to let me use my usual language.

　Even so, thanks to Tory's Chamber of Commerce having entered the country several times, people who know about the kingdom know about it, right?

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''........Who's that over there?''

He's my bodyguard, my adventurer, Roomba.

I see. So, you're saying that Lord Alfried is a nobleman or a merchant's heir?

　Oh, it's the first time I've ever been called Alfried-dono in person. It's a strange name to be called, not like a sama.

He's the second son of a nobleman.

Hmm?　Is Al a great man in the kingdom or something?

　When I reply, Spring, who has been listening to the conversation in silence, asks me.

'Hmmm, blah blah blah?　I'm not the head of the family, and I'm not an heiress.

　The head of the family has a Nordic father, and the heir is Brother Silvio, the eldest son.

　I'm the second son, I'm just the brother Silvio's replacement, and I don't have any particular role to play.

　It's just that Nord's father and the others are great, and it's not as if I, their child, am great, either. But I'm respected to a certain extent for being a child of a nobleman, and I'm a bit of a cheapskate.

I'm sure you're right. Well, me and Shuichi are of a similar status.

''........Since Haru-sama is the daughter of a daimyo-sama. You can think of a feudal lord as being like a nobleman from Alfried-dono's country. And the general of this country will be what we call royalty there.

　Kaede explains to me to supplement Haru's words in more detail.

'Hoho, that means Haru and Shuichi are of the same status as me, right?

Yes, sir.

"...um, yeah. Well, yeah.

　Wait a minute. Why does Spring, the person himself, look so clipped?　

　I have a slight bad feeling about this, but I'm going to leave it alone because it's going to be a pain in the ass to go into it.

　Stay away from troublesome things. This is how to survive in society safely.

　I change the subject, pretending that I don't care about anything.

'By the way, why were you hiding in that place, Kaede-san?

Haru-sama and Shuichi-sama don't really like to walk around with their guards, so there's always someone sneaking around like this, watching over them.

　I see, so you are protecting the target of your guard who walks out of the house freely while in the shadows.

It's a good thing that you can find Kaede so easily. I'm sure you'll be able to find her, too.

'It really surprised me. I never thought I'd be backed by a kid like this...

I'm good at hide-and-seek.

　I can't tell you. I can't say that I was trained to run away from my sister incessantly.

　As I was laughing bitterly while thinking about it, Kaede finished stacking the tower.

'Okay, you got the tower. Let's go again!


　You're not going to be able to do that.


　That's how the three of us continued to play Jenga, with Kaede and Haru losing repeatedly. Occasionally, I would break down a few times too, perhaps because I was in the wrong control, but basically the two people who were losing were Kaede and Haru.

''Gunnu, one more time!''

　As I say this, I rake up the Jenga that Spring has broken down.

　Maybe it's because Haru likes Jenga and hates to lose, but he'll challenge me to a match as long as I don't lose again and again. I feel a little bit like Elinora's sister in this way.

　Well, it's fine because I just pull out the blocks while talking leisurely, so I don't think it's too much trouble.

　I exhale and look up at the sky and feel uncomfortable in the bushes again.

　Had one of the guards come over, like Kaede?

　Suddenly, I checked Kaede with a sideways glance and she seemed to be looking at me with a bit of a softened gaze.

　She wants to leave this place for a bit, but doesn't seem to be able to decide if she should.

''Ah, if you're curious, why don't you go ahead and do it?''

What?

　I say in a small voice, and Kaede gives me a surprised look.

'No, it looks like someone is peeking out from the bushes, but you know Kaede, right?

"...yeah, yeah. Do you still understand?

Well. Why don't you go and have some time before Spring builds the tower?

''Excuse me, I'll leave for a bit then. In the meantime, I'll leave you to deal with Haru-sama.

　When I said that, Kaede bowed lightly and walked towards the bushes.

　Then a man in a kagura suit came out of the bushes to join Kaede. He came out of the bushes to join Kaede.

　Well, Kaede-san, the man who watches from the shadows, is in front of the spring. It wouldn't be a problem for him to come out a bit now.

　The rest is because he doesn't trust me or Roomba enough to keep a perfect eye on him. This is the right decision as an escort, and I don't feel uncomfortable about it.

''Kaede-sama, there's something I need to discuss with you...''

What?

　Perhaps because the distance between Kaede and the man is not that far away, I can hear the faintest of conversations between them.

''Actually, Kaede-sama's brother has reportedly decided to quit his job.''

What?　Isn't that what you always say about your brother quitting his job, etc. Did you interrupt my time and Lady Spring's time by doing that?

　The man flinches at Kaede's pressure.

　I'm scared, Kaede. He was a dignified and gentle looking swordsman just a moment ago.

　I mean, I feel like I'm being dressed up to the hilt while saying I'm not a great person.

''However, you seem to be more serious than ever today.

'Only you guys look like that. You know, your brother is a guy who has a dignified look on his face, but in his heart he's only thinking about stupid things, right?

Huh, huh...

　Hearing Kaede's words, the man turns his jitzy gaze to Kaede.

　Kaede-san, do you know the word boomerang?　Kaede also has a dignified expression on her face, but in her mind she's thinking all sorts of stupid things.

''........What's with those eyes?''

No, anything!

'I know it's hard to tell your brother because of your position, but if that's the case, call my mother. That way, we'll be square as usual.

'Ha!　I understand.

　When Kaede said that, the man bowed deeply and ran off.

　After seeing him off, Kaede-san came back to us with a neat gesture.

''Did your brother say he's going to quit his job or something?''

'You heard me. I'm ashamed to say that I've put my people to shame. Well, it's not a problem since your brother always says that.

　Kaede doesn't want to say any more, but then she turns to Spring as if that's the end of it.

　Hmm, the problem of wanting to quit your job is something that can be found everywhere, isn't it?

　I'm sorry Kaede, but I'll support your brother who says he wants to quit that job.

　Speaking of quitting the job, I wonder what's going on with Kojiro, the same swordsman.

　I hope he's quit his job safely and is on his way to becoming an eel shop.

'Alright, Kaede's back and Jenga's back on track!

　That day, I played a lot of Jenga with not only Haru and Kaede, but also Rumba and Shuichi in the mix, and we played until the evening.