第１９２６堀：少し気になること (Part1)
**Excavation 1926: A Little Something on My Mind**
**Side: Orelia**
“Phew…”
I paused my work and let out a long, weary breath.
Lately, our duties have been mounting, particularly with the ongoing response to the New Continent. That isn't to say I am pushing myself to the breaking point; if I tried to handle every single detail with absolute perfection, there wouldn't be enough hours in the day. Under Prol’s guidance, we have been limiting our scope to keep the workflow manageable.
I do my best to ensure the mountain of paperwork on my desk doesn't grow, yet it never seems to shrink, either. I suspect Prol adjusts the volume with exactly that outcome in mind. Her sense of balance is truly uncanny.
And paperwork is only half the battle. We often step in to handle negotiations on Lord Yuki’s behalf. Knowing that she factors those excursions into the sheer volume of these documents is nothing short of astonishing.
Setting that aside, the reason for my sigh was simple: I had finished today’s scheduled office work, and only my outside rounds remained. Generally, our routine involves handling internal Weed business in the morning and dedicating the afternoon to the New Continent, negotiations, or site visits.
“It is about that time. Lord Yuki, it is the lunch hour.”
Prol had apparently finished her own tasks as well; she called out to Lord Yuki while glancing at the clock. Lord Yuki was buried in paperwork just as we were, but he showed no signs of stopping.
“Lord Yuki. Work is over. You have finished your scheduled amount, so please, stop,” Prol insisted, her voice sharpening. Yet, he didn't look up from his documents or cease his typing.
*Sigh.* I consider myself the type to focus intently on my work, but Lord Yuki is on another level entirely. Well, he does rest when he finally decides to, but still…
“I know, I know. There, that’s the last of it. I just wanted to reach a good stopping point,” Lord Yuki replied. He had heard her after all, and he finally set his pen down.
“Honestly, Lord Yuki. For someone who tells us to take our work slow, you’ve finished far more than your own quota again today, haven't you?”
“Well, I had the momentum. You never know when an emergency might crop up, so it’s better if I stay ahead of the curve, right?”
“That may be true, but we worry that you’re overextending yourself.”
Prol was exactly right. He constantly instructs us to work with plenty of breathing room rather than pushing our limits, yet he is the definition of a workaholic.
As these thoughts crossed my mind, Hovis arrived carrying tea.
“Lord Yuki, tea is served~!”
“Oh, thanks.”
Hovis had clearly been timing her entrance. It seemed that if he had tried to keep working, she was prepared to force a break by way of a tea tray.
“Ah, delicious. Right then, it’s lunch. After this, we’re all heading our separate ways for the afternoon?”
“Yes,” Prol answered. “Yayui and I will serve as your attendants for the inspection of Glass Port Town and the New Continent business. Meanwhile, Orelia and Hovis will remain in Weed to handle the merchants and nobles. Afterward, they will inspect the operations of the shops in Glass Port Town.”
“Oh, that’s right. The shops in Glass Port have officially opened, haven't they?”
“Yes,” I informed him. “For now, the personnel dispatched from Lady Jessica’s department are managing things well, but I intend to see for myself if there are any underlying issues.”
Reports on paper are one thing, but seeing the site with one’s own eyes is quite another.
“Good point. Direct confirmation is vital. If there are any problems, report them to me. I’ll provide whatever support is needed.”
“Understood. I shall report back if anything arises.”
“Got it~!” Hovis added.
It was our usual routine, but these briefings were essential. Even though we could reach each other via Call at any time, keeping everyone informed of our general movements was a matter of principle.
“Alright. Now, what was the plan for lunch?”
“Lord Yuki, we are scheduled to eat here today, since we’ll be splitting up immediately afterward.”
“Right, I remember now.”
Generally, we eat our meals together. Of course, if someone has a prior engagement, they are free to prioritize it, but as Lord Yuki’s aides, we are usually by his side. Even if we decide to eat out, we go as a group.
“What about you, Ria?”
“Me? Oh, I’m definitely eating with you guys. Also, I’ll be joining Orelia and Hovis this afternoon. I need to go check on the ‘Flower.’”
“The bento shop? I thought Kirika’s subordinates were running that place now instead of Canaria?”
“They are. But even so, Canaria or I drop by once every three days to see how things are going. Oh, do you want me to bring back some karaage or something?”
Since finishing her stint accompanying Lady Canaria, Lady Ria had returned to her duties as Lord Yuki’s guard, but she often handled various errands in his stead. Since we had become capable of handling more, she had taken over several miscellaneous tasks. She also oversaw our training, for which I was deeply grateful. Though, of course, Lord Yuki’s protection remained her top priority.
“Sure. Wait, are you talking about joining us later? Or adding it to dinner?”
“I’m bringing it as a snack, obviously! I’m your guard, so once my errand is done, I’m heading straight to your location.”
“I see. Give me a heads-up when you’re on your way, then.”
“Will do.”
“Alright, let’s eat.”
“Yes. I’ll get the tea ready. Hovis, give me a hand.”
“I’ll help too.”
With the discussion over, we began preparing for lunch. However, since Hovis had already brought the tea, there wasn't much to do beyond setting out the cups.
“…”
“Hovis?”
For some reason, she didn't take the cup I offered, her gaze fixed intently on a single point in space.
“Hey, Hovis, what’s wrong?”
Yayui must have found it strange as well; she called out even louder than I had.
“Hmm? Oh, thanks for the cup~” Hovis blinked, finally taking the vessel and beginning to pour the tea.
“Did something happen? Was there a troublesome document in the pile?”
“Or did you spot someone suspicious during our rounds?”
Yayui and I voiced our concerns, worried by this uncharacteristic behavior. To see the usually cheerful Hovis lose her smile and stare vacantly suggested she was deeply troubled by something.
“Ah… yeah. That’s it. Orelia, you’re coming with me, so you know the one, right? One of the merchants we’re meeting today.”
“Ah. The pushy one. The one who holds a noble title.”