落とし穴１２２堀：サマーデイズ 夏休みという意味で (Part1)
The sun beat down with a strong intensity, as it had been for the past month, gradually growing hotter.
The cicadas, a quintessential sound of summer, chirped incessantly, their calls piercing the ears.
And then…
"Let's go to the pool today! The teacher said it's open today!"
"Then I need to get my swimsuit ready!"
"Let's meet up at school later!"
"Ooooh!!"
Children, their faces beaming, reveled in the summer vacation.
Yes, just like in Japan, Weed had entered its summer break.
"…Excuse me, Yuki-san. I should have had about five or six more summer vacations, shouldn't I?"
"You came here in your second year of high school, right? Depending on the university, you probably would have."
"Is that so… I wanted to enjoy my youth…"
The one asking me this was Taiki, the Hero King of Rankx.
Today, Rankx Royal Castle was entrusted to Doppel, and I was visiting Weed for work. As I was observing the ordinary streetscape of Weed, I happened to witness such a scene, and it seemed to have stirred up some lingering regrets or trauma.
I couldn't find any words to respond to his statement.
After all, summer vacation is the longest break for children, a time for adventures.
And for working adults, it's a distant, idealized dream.
"…What are we working for, anyway? Isn't it wrong to work just to live? We aren't living to work…"
"Calm down. Don't ask questions like that, the answers to which you can't find. It's futile."
It's an eternal question of life.
Do people live to work?
No, while the wording is incorrect, the content is correct.
In this context, "working" refers to earning a living, not being a cog in society.
Therefore, "working" is the wrong word.
To be precise:
To eat, to earn a living.
This is the principle of biological action. And then, to leave offspring.
Well, considering the current social structure, people work to obtain money, which can be exchanged for many goods. Wages cover not only food but also housing and entertainment. Thus, the word "work" also implies obtaining sustenance, so it's not entirely wrong.
But enough of such complex matters. In a world where working is essential for survival, one might suddenly feel nostalgic for the freedom of the past.
Of course, even a child's freedom is limited, but it's also true that the summer vacation spread out before us back then was enjoyable.
"Our summer days will end with work again this year…"
"We're adults now. I didn't even have the energy to go to the beach in the summer. Ah, I was playing games at home."
"Games, huh… Yeah, I was doing that too."
"Well, that's the proper way to spend summer vacation at home, isn't it?"
"And then our mothers would kick us out for playing games all the time."
"Classic."
That's where the adventure would begin.
We'd travel a bit further than our neighborhood, using bicycles.
We'd explore unknown places until sunset, return home exhausted, and get yelled at for dirtying our clothes.
If we complained that they were the ones who kicked us out, we'd get an even bigger scolding.
"Well, I've said a lot of things, but I want a long vacation."
"…A long vacation for us, huh…"
I suspect that would cause various departments to halt operations.
I'm relatively fine, but Taiki is the king of a country.
"But, you know, there are times like when you're sick and need a long recovery. What happens to the operations then?"
"Well, in that case, the relevant parties would probably step up. Or perhaps a successor or a relative would take over."
"Then we can go!!"
"Calm down, that's for unavoidable circumstances. Just wanting a break for personal reasons would cause problems."
As we were talking, Ruth, who had been following behind us, suddenly spoke up.
"No, that's not the case."
"Huh?"
"Even kings are human and take vacations. Besides, without convenient transportation like cars, local inspections or visits to other countries often mean being away from the capital for months."
"Ah…"
Ruth, Taiki's comrade-in-arms and now captain of his Royal Guard, continued to explain.
"During that time, the ministers usually manage the country. Of course, some matters require the king's approval, but if a policy is provided, they will act accordingly. And matters that require immediate approval are rare. Furthermore, with the advent of gates enabling same-day travel and communication, there are no vassals who would particularly object to Taiki-sama taking a vacation. After all, he has served the country diligently for so long."
It was a very convincing explanation.
Recently, information transmission speeds on Earth have become abnormally fast, making it feel like one has to work all the time. But in the past, it wasn't like that, so countries had to have such systems.
"Besides, aren't you visiting Weed quite often even now?"
"…"
Taiki fell silent when he was called out on that.
"It's technically considered diplomacy, and it serves as a foothold for the new continent, so I'm visiting for work. But if you truly want to rest, you can simply apply for a leave."
"…"
Taiki froze for a moment, then turned to me with a bright smile.
"I'm taking a summer vacation! I'll be going to Weed with Airi and Soel."
"Wait, Soel? Isn't that the one from Popuri's magic academy? When did things get to that point!?"
The name Soel was barely a memory, but I recalled she was the woman Taiki had easily defeated in a duel tournament organized by Eoid for his confession to Amanda.
Indeed, I had said various things to liven up the event back then, but I hadn't expected things to progress this far.
"Well, after that, it was more of a casual relationship, but Airi and Soel really hit it off. And then, the intercontinental exchange was announced, wasn't it?"
"For Soel-sama's family's trading company, it was a huge opportunity. When Taiki-sama's true identity was revealed, an engagement was quickly arranged."
"Ah…"
I see.
While not a major power on the Rogari Continent, a man who is the ruler of a country and wields the Sword of the Hero, an item superior to a magic sword, would be an excellent match.
"Moreover, I've known since our time at the academy that you are on good terms with Yuki-sama. Being able to establish a relationship with Weed, which is respected by major powers, or rather, effectively the coordinator of major powers, is an unparalleled stroke of luck."
"…So, you had good judgment, huh."
"If you say that, then Samantha and Cleena, who pursued Yuki-san at that academy, struck gold!"
"Hohoho. As expected of the Hero-sama. You understand well."
"Mhm. Our judgment in men is amazing. Well, Soel isn't as good as us, but choosing Taiki makes her amazing."
Samantha and Cleena, who were accompanying him as guards, became cheerful at Taiki's words.
"Well, honestly, I didn't expect the two of them to be accepted by Yuki-san, not even as a joke."
"I didn't either. Wanting to become a wife to a married man is strange."
"Oh, Yuki-sama, you jest. No woman would remain unmoved by such sincere kindness."
"Mhm. Yuki accepted my panties."
"Cleena. Please stop talking about that, really, stop."
At that time, I didn't even know what I had been given.