第７１５堀：おてがみをとどけましょう (Part1)
Chapter 715: Let’s Deliver a Letter
Side: Aslin
We had been summoned to Big Brother’s office.
And at night, after his work was already finished.
This was quite a rare occurrence.
Generally, Big Brother’s diplomatic duties are handled by Ria-oneechan and the others, while we focus on maintaining public order in Betan on the If Continent and Haiden on the New Continent, along with various other odd jobs.
Of course, studying at school and playing with our friends is important, too. But unless something truly extraordinary happens, Big Brother never makes us work overtime.
So, I figured something truly extraordinary must have occurred.
“I wonder what happened?”
“If there is anything Firia and the others can do to help, I would be happy to…”
“He wouldn’t call us here if it were something we couldn’t help with.”
“Yes. That is exactly right.”
As we chatted among the four of us while waiting for Big Brother, he finally arrived.
This was also unusual.
Big Brother never keeps people waiting unless it’s part of a tactical plan.
He always arrives right on time and doesn’t make others wait.
“Sorry. Did you wait long?”
“Nope.”
“We just got here.”
“Yes, just as they said, we haven’t been waiting at all.”
“So, what happened? It’s rare for you to call us like this.”
When Shera-chan asked why he had summoned us, Big Brother answered with a troubled look on his face.
“It’s not exactly work, but I have a favor to ask—an errand.”
“An errand? What do you mean, Big Brother?”
Why call it an errand instead of work?
“It’s a bit too trivial to call ‘work.’ I just need a letter delivered, but given who the recipient is, I can’t exactly use the Weed postal service.”
“Nyu? Is it a classified document or something?”
If it’s a letter he wants us to deliver, it must be important, but Big Brother looked so conflicted…
“No, I’m not sure. I haven’t seen the contents. You know how we went to the Beast God’s country the other day? You know how I was entrusted with letters from the Beast God, Tra, for Lilishe and Faide?”
Now that he mentioned it, I think that did happen.
“Ah, that’s right. You haven’t delivered them yet?”
“Don’t say it like that, Labyris. We were debating how to handle it because it would be bad if the contents caused them to fall out with each other.”
I see. It would be a problem if the letters contained something that would make Lilishe-oneechan and Faide-ojichan fight.
“If you’re giving that role to us, does that mean you’ve decided how to proceed?”
“Yeah. We decided not to gather them both and hand them over at once, but to deliver them individually. The plan was to have someone nearby to listen in—regardless of whether the contents were good or bad—and provide follow-up support, but… an unavoidable job came up. The Queen of the High Elves has come to Weed in secret.”
“I see. So that’s why you’re in a rush.”
Unyu?
What does the High Elf Queen visiting have to do with the letters?
As Firia-chan and I tilted our heads in confusion, Labyris-chan answered for us.
“The High Elf Queen is friends with the Beast God, Tra. She was there when we received the letters, too. So, if she finds out we still haven’t delivered the letter to Lilishe-sama…”
“It wouldn’t be good to have promised and then not delivered it.”
“That’s right. Once you make a promise, you have to keep it. It’s a dereliction of duty.”
I see. He’s worried about getting scolded, so he’s trying to deliver it in a hurry.
“I could just tell them the truth, but then I’d have to talk not just about Lilishe and Faide, but about the other gods as well…”
“That wouldn’t be realistic.”
“And you’d just end up being labeled as crazy.”
Everyone doesn’t really think about gods coming and going in Weed, do they?
Though Luna-oneechan and Lilishe-oneechan live here.
“So, while I’m occupied with Queen Miyabi tomorrow, I want you to deliver the letter to Lilishe.”
“Just Lilishe-oneechan? What about Faide-ojichan?”
“I’ll deliver the one for Faide myself. I’ll do it while we’re drinking. Aslin and the others, please deliver the letter and then try to find out what was written in it. I plan to ask Hifie and Nonoa as well, but sometimes people find it easier to talk to children.”
“Understood.”
“I don’t really like being treated like a child, but fine, I understand.”
“It would be troublesome if Lilishe-sama and Faide-sama’s fighting escalated here, so I accept the task.”
And so, the next day, we set off to deliver the important letter.
“Well, even if we’re delivering it, it’s just moving within Weed, so nothing should happen, right?”
“Don’t let your guard down, Labyris. Weed has a lot of people coming and going lately, and I often hear Tori-san talking about thefts and the like.”
“We won’t let the letter be stolen by thieves.”
“That’s right. Firia and the others will protect Aslin and the letter.”
“That’s right. We’ll protect Aslin and the letter.”
“Yes. So, Aslin, please take care of the letter.”
“Un.”
With that, we set off with high spirits. Since it was a familiar path, we reached the church without any problems.
There were people visiting the church for prayers, but since it was a weekday morning, it was sparse and quiet.
“Umm, where is Lilishe-oneechan?”
“Come to think of it, this is my first time coming in the morning, so I don’t know where she’d be.”
“Perhaps she’s inside the church praying?”
“…As a priestess, that’s only natural, but is it strange for Lilishe-sama to pray to herself?”
“Don’t say things like that.”
“I’m sorry, Labyris. It just crossed my mind…”
As we were talking and about to enter the church…
“You there, what are you doing at this hour?”
We were stopped by a sister who was cleaning in front of the church.
“Eh?”
“Unyu?”
Surprised to be called out by someone unexpected, we watched as the sister approached us with a weary expression.
“Honestly, you shouldn’t be skipping school. That’s a place for your own benefit, isn’t it? Just because Lilishe-sama is kind, you shouldn’t take advantage of her, you know?”
It seems there are school children who come to the church during class hours.
Skipping school is bad.
But why are they skipping?
“Thank you for the valuable information, Sister. But we aren’t here because we’re skipping school.”
“Eh? Then what are you here for? Is school okay?”
The sister didn’t seem to know Labyris-chan and asked normally.
“Sister, thank you for your concern. We have already notified the school that we are out on official business, so there is no problem.”
“O-official business? Ah, official business. My, what complicated things for children to say…”
She didn’t seem to know Shera-chan either.
Is she a new recruit?
But if she doesn’t know Labyris-chan or Shera-chan, how should I explain it?
She didn’t seem to be saying it out of malice, but out of genuine concern…
While I was worrying about that, Lilishe-oneechan came out from inside the church.
“Yes. The morning prayers are over, so let’s do our best today, everyone.”
She was sending off the people who had come for the morning service.
Saved, I thought, expecting Lilishe-oneechan to explain for us, but…
“Lilishe-priestess. Um, some children have come here saying some strange things.”
The sister spoke to Lilishe-oneechan first.
“Strange things?”
“Yes. They say they’ve come to see you on official business…”
“Official business?”
Oneechan, with her usual laid-back tone, tilted her head and turned her face toward us…