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Chapter 32: Supporter
“...Just what exactly did you do? The guild informed us that both the royal family and House Castiano want to provide support for us...”
After the huge event of meeting two of the kingdom's most influential figures, Rey Castiano and Chris Ireisa Cainliese, life had finally started returning to something resembling normal.
Then, out of nowhere, I was summoned by the brigade captain, Saioji.
Wondering what was going on, I headed to the office within the brigade's team house. Saioji was sitting behind her desk with a slightly exhausted expression. Without a word, she spread several documents out across the table.
The papers were made from a special material infused with Oath Magic, a magical contract used for important agreements in this world. These documents were extremely expensive and far beyond the reach of ordinary people, which meant this was undoubtedly a matter of great importance to the brigade.
Е n ǔm̆ā..ї d́
Before speaking any further, I skimmed through the contents.
“...Well, a lot happened.”
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Among the documents was one bearing the personal signature of Chris Illeysa Cainliese, the kingdom's Second Princess—or rather, Sakakibara—and another bearing the signature of Rey Castiano, heir to House Castiano.
The contents were simple. They offered various forms of assistance to the Dawnmoon Brigade during its activities in the royal capital.
In other words, they wanted to become the brigade's sponsors.
“Unlike before, operating in the royal capital means becoming affiliated with some faction or another, whether you like it or not. That's why we've suspended our adventuring activities until now...” Saioji said. “But thanks to you, all of my plans have gone completely out the window.”
E n̄ ŭ_m̄ a . îd̀
“...Did I get in your way?”
Saioji picked up a stack of papers from beside her desk and tossed several sheets onto the table.
The pages were densely packed with writing in her handwriting, making it obvious how much effort she had invested in solving the problem.
Her expression was complicated, filled with mixed emotions that were difficult to describe. If I had to summarize it in one phrase, it was the look of someone who had worried for nothing.
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“No. Honestly, this is a tremendous relief,” she admitted. “No matter how famous you become elsewhere, once you come to the capital, there are people who look down on you simply because you're a woman. I've approached all sorts of merchants and nobles, but almost every one of them was garbage.”
“Is that really how it is?”
Е́ n̆ ũ mа́
“Men are men, after all.”
Judging from her tone, Saioji had accumulated quite a bit of stress.
According to her, for an adventurer team like the Dawnmoon Brigade to function properly in the royal capital, strength alone wasn't enough. They also needed support from influential figures within the city.
That support covered everything, from procuring supplies to securing blacksmiths capable of maintaining equipment and obtaining various permits and connections.
In a provincial city, it was enough to get approval from the local lord. The royal capital, however, was an entirely different beast, filled with countless competing powers.
That was why Saioji had spent so much time approaching important figures in search of a suitable sponsor.
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“It sounds like Japan a few decades ago,” I remarked.
“In terms of male chauvinism, this place is even worse. Especially among wealthy commoner merchants in the capital.”
According to Saioji, the belief that men go out to work while women stay home remained deeply entrenched throughout Asphial. Ironically, the attitude was often stronger among commoners than among nobles. Since arriving in the capital, she'd repeatedly encountered people who dismissed the brigade simply because it was led by women.
“One of them even said that if he was going to sponsor us, I should send myself—or some of the girls—to him.” She sighed. “I've always been confident in my appearance, but that's the first time I've received such a direct proposition.”
“...That's remarkably fearless.”
“Exactly. He's the first person who's ever looked down on me that much.”
W̌e.b n о̄ v̈ е̌ l̇ Е̇n̈ um̌ а̃.
Even in a world overflowing with handsome men and beautiful women, Saioji stood out. Her glossy black hair, resembling polished lacquer, was rare in a land where brown and reddish-brown hair were common. As people once called her the Black Princess of Erakton, she was undeniably beautiful.
Because I knew her far better than the average person, I could never imagine telling her "Become my woman." Apparently, however, there was a merchant foolish enough to do exactly that.
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The proposal was so insulting that Laphine, the vice-captain who had been present during the negotiation, completely lost her temper, and the talks collapsed on the spot.
I'd heard that Laphine disliked men. But honestly, you didn't need to hate men to be angry about something like that.
“By the way, what was that person's name?” I asked.
“The chairman of the Burn Trading Company. Alex Barn. A disgusting, middle-aged man who's let himself go.”
Wеb̂_ṅ оv̂.ѐ l̂_ Еn um̂ а̃
“Alex Barn... Is he a noble?”
“No. Apparently he rose through the ranks by ingratiating himself with a knightly family that had fallen on hard times. His business mainly handles transportation between the capital and regional cities.”
Since he had both a given name and a family name, I had initially assumed he might be a noble. According to Saioji, however, that wasn't the case.
Barn Trading Company. I engraved the name deeply into my memory. It was a company I would need to be wary of during my future activities in the royal capital.
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