第４４６堀：平穏な時間は破られる (Part1)
### Chapter 446: The Peaceful Time is Broken
**The Peaceful Time is Broken**
**Side: Mino-chan, Weed Monster Army Four Heavenly Kings General, commonly known as "Kind Mino-chan"**
"Scheduled report. No abnormalities."
That report arrived today, just as it always does, and I’m heading off to deliver it to Taiki-kun.
Things had been quite frantic as we poured our efforts into defense, but these past three days have passed peacefully without anything happening.
Half a day after that, Lowel-san and Higil-kun, the older sister and younger brother of Shera, arrived from Gartz. We finished discussing the defense strategy and have been rotating our shifts ever since.
Oh, and there have been no reports of the villages being attacked, which was a concern for An-chan and Taiki-kun.
Naturally, we were able to confirm the safety of Airi-san’s parents immediately using the dungeon’s functions.
I’m truly relieved.
With things this quiet, the real problem must be in the Kingdom of Swords.
I wonder if Mauve-san and the others, and Kirika, are safe?
Well, since I haven't heard any reports from An-chan, they must be fine. But worry is worry.
As I was walking down the corridor of Ranks Castle thinking about such things, someone suddenly called out to me.
"Oh, if it isn't Mino-chan."
"Greetings, General Mino."
Standing there were Lowel-san and Higil-kun.
"Greetings."
I bowed my head slightly to the two of them in return.
"Hey, Mino-chan. If you’re free, won't you join me for some training?"
It was Lowel-san who suddenly brought that up.
She loves battles as much as ever.
Since the gate trade with Weed began, she’s been challenging Seraria-neesan, Deryu-neesan, and others to "meetings" that are really just sparring matches.
Naturally, we get dragged into it too.
"Today, I’ll definitely land a hit on you!"
The troublesome part is that Lowel-san is quite skilled, so she can tell when we’re holding back, and she gets angry.
In that respect, she’s just like Seraria-neesan. They say birds of a feather flock together, and they really are good friends.
"…*Sigh*. Sister. You’ve said that every time we’ve come here, but this is an emergency situation. Putting aside personal training, two generals who oversee their respective armies shouldn't be crossing swords so casually. It affects morale, and if we get tired or injured, it will cause problems when we actually need to move. Shera has given you strict warnings about this, hasn't she?"
"Hmph. But, for the past year, Seraria and Deryu have been busy with child-rearing and haven't been able to spar with me properly. My skills will dull, and I don't intend to get injured. Even if I do, Mino-chan and the others will heal me, right?"
"Well, I’ll heal you if you get hurt."
It would be extremely problematic if she got hurt right now.
Actually, I absolutely cannot let Lowel-san die in battle, so while the number of recovery items is limited, I have enough leeway to bring someone back from the brink of death about ten times.
Well, using them would mean writing reports and letters of apology, so I really don't want to use them.
"See?"
"It's not 'see,' Sister. Queen Seraria and Lady Deryu are fulfilling their duties as mothers after having children. That is only natural. Besides, asking Weed for medical treatment would be our own failing! Charl-neesan will rain thunder down on us again. Have you forgotten how she got angry at you before when you commissioned a new type of shield from Narjia-san without permission, and the bill was so high it made our eyes pop out?"
Ah, I remember something like that happening.
Narjia-san had taken Lowel-san's request and gotten carried away, crafting a shield that easily surpassed the performance of Gartz's national treasure.
In terms of performance, it was an enhanced version of Ria-chan's original Hero's Shield, utilizing the magic sword and holy sword systems to draw mana from the core for multiple barriers, self-healing, and stat boosts—basically, it was a cheat shield.
She had come to ask if it was okay to sell it, and An-chan and the others were troubled by it.
By now, thanks to the technical prowess of Narjia-san, Zargis, Comet-san, and Taizo-san, the shield sold to Lowel-san is just a piece of scrap, but at the time, it was decided that such cheat equipment should only be used by An-chan’s inner circle.
At first, there was talk of preparing something else, but in the end, with the backing of Seraria-neesan and Deryu-neesan, who trusted Lowel-san's character, it was decided to sell it.
The payment was to be decided through Shera-chan in consultation with Charl-san, who handles the trade.
And Charl-san decided on an exorbitant price for that shield.
To be paid from Lowel-san’s personal pocket money and salary.
She said, "It's a good opportunity to correct that idiot sister's lack of foresight, so don't worry about it."
"Guh... That woman, she’s still deducting it from my salary... to the point where I’m having trouble even buying meals in Weed..."
"…Normally, you’d be charged with crimes like upsetting the diplomatic balance and be executed, you know? Also, when were you eating in Weed...? Please take me with you. And where are you getting the money from?"
"Hmm. Then do you want to come with me next time? Also, I don't have money, of course, so it comes from Mino-chan, John, and various others."
"Huh? Is that true?"
Higil-kun looked at me, his neck moving with a creaking sound.
There was no need to hide it, so I decided to tell him.
"It's true. After coming to Weed for training, we just eat there before heading back. You’re guests, so you don't need to worry about the money. We don't really have much use for money ourselves."
"Mino-chan is kind, Higil."
"I know that! Ah, geez, this idiot sister of mine!! Was she an idiot for begging for meal money from the generals of another country every time?! Ah, that's right, she *is* an idiot!"
"Wh-what are you so angry about? And stop calling me an idiot! I’ll get angry too, you know!"
"What's wrong with calling an idiot an idiot?! Ah, that's it, we’re going back to Gartz! You need to be disciplined by Charl-neesan and Teague-niisan!"
"Hah!? Why are Brother and Charl coming into this?! This is an emergency situation!"
"Idiot sister! What *you’ve* been doing is the emergency situation! Finding out that you’ve racked up another massive debt to Weed at a time like this... wouldn't it be better if you just went into solitary confinement?!"
Saying that with a sigh that sounded like his soul was leaving his body, he grabbed Lowel-san by the ear and started walking toward the gate.
"Ow, ow!? Higil, stop that!"
"Just shut up and follow me. If you come along quietly, there might be a chance for a reduced sentence... Ah, General Mino. Thank you for the valuable information. I will apologize later for dumping the defense of Ranks on you and for everything else. I will order my subordinates to follow General Mino's instructions, so please, take charge of them for now."
"Ah, yeah. Got it. For what it's worth, John and I don't mind, so please handle it peacefully."
"Yes. I am truly grateful for your consideration. This should at least help with my idiot sister's sentence."
"W-wait! Let's talk... don't let Charl do anything more to me..."
Saying that, the sister and brother disappeared into the depths of the corridor.
The world doesn't always go as smoothly as one would hope, does it?