Chapter 7 – Shopping for clothes and collecting information

I spent one night in the bedroom and the workroom at the castle, finished breakfast and put on the armor I left the castle with Alice. In this capital the town spreads around the castle. The districts are divided in North, South, East and West. The East is the n.o.bles district, the West is the commoners district, the South is a shopping district and the North becomes the school district. As the name suggests, the place where a n.o.ble lives is in the n.o.ble district, the place where a commoner lives is in the commoner district, the shopping district has various kinds of shops and the school district offers a variety of schools. (TLN: Not sure about the last part 学園街は色々な学校の密集地である。Wanna give it a shot?) In the Southern District, I went to the mall. Here is the capital only doorway, there is the castle wall gate, It was the capital’s district where I entered for the first time. The inn where a traveler stays at and the guild are in this south district. Naturally there is also groceries, clothing, weapons shops that handles weapons and armors, there are a lot of general stores handling with magic items and daily necessities, furniture. Besides, there is the shop of merchants who came from the others countries, is the capital’s most crowded district. “It is so crowded” (Chie) I say while looking around. “Well, there is almost not one day when it is not crowded” (Alice) Alice that walked at my right side dressed in maid’s clothes said. It is 10:00 a.m. in the current time. The Crown Prince goes to the junior high school in the school street. Even in this world, elementary, middle, high school and University , attends school in 5 days in a week. In one week: Light day, Fire Day, Water Day,Wind Day, Earth Day, Darkness Day, Null Day it is the seventh day. The days to go to school are from the Light Day until Earth Day. 1 year in this world are 365 days, from January to December. To be honest, I was astonished that this part didn’t change at all compared with the Earth. This world probably seems to be moving in same time as the Earth. I have understood it a little here. What Amaterasu-sama said,It is the security condition of the capital as of now. That time, Amaterasu-sama said that I was sent 4 years before Yuusuke is summoned. In other words, Amaterasu-sama said that the capital is a safe place for  now  for what he knows. If I think I little bit I understand, It’s to say that I have been transferred to a different world and also have time-travelled. That means, 13-year-old me and Yuusuke exist in the earth now. When being called to be sent to 4 years ago, I should notice. Why was a Hero summon performed though there was me who was  given power to be able to fight the demon king on equal terms? I did not put too much confidence in myself, but was worried about that. Yuusuke was possibly summoned by worthless national expectation. Yuusuke seems to have been deceived. Oh, I understood various things when I thought about that. In short it was already decided that I would be involved with Yuusuke at that time. Because 17-year-old me had come and become  the Black Knight already 4 years before. In other words, it is present me. And the peaceful situation of the capital will be terminated in  4 years. Something like that is a very complicated feeling. It is delightful for public order to be cancelled, but I have to be involved with Yuusuke. “Aah~” “Nh? Is something wrong, Black Knight-sama?“ Alice asks me who have sighed unintentionally. I have acted useless in front of Alice. “NO, it’s nothing” “Is that so?” Alice said while looking puzzled. “Yes. I think I’ll buy plain clothes for one that, do you know a good store?” I said to change the subject. My purpose today was buying clothes and information gathering in the town. Time is precious. Alice looked puzzled, but stopped minding it and guided me to a clothes shop.

Being guided by Alice, we arrived where  the clothes shops. It’ll be better to have entered the inside right away. “…I am being stared at…It is a similar fear…” “It’s because of the color of the mantle,isn’t it?” Alice smiles wryly while looking at my mantle. Certainly, this clothing store is generally available to the commoner and travelers. In such a place, a person bringing the bright red mantle which shows a person is near the royalty and the royalty puts on will be rare and will be scared. The person using an armor black from head to foot which buys daily necessities for himself. It is too doubtful. “That isn’t like it, I’m not interested in expensive clothes particularly and because I usually have on the armor all the time,I just wants easy clothes, pajamas and robe.” If possible, I’d like the clothes like the ones I worn under the armor now and the clothes that look like pants. By the way, at the time of armor installation the ones of the boots have changed in the armor. (TLN: Help! 鎧装着時はブーツその物が鎧に変化しています。) “But Black Knight-sama must be sometimes dressed up, too” Because she knows my gender, Alice is worried about me. I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in a dress at all. I also put on almost all practical clothes such as jersey at home, I lived a life in which I was unrelated to the fashion. As a result, It was cried by the whole family. But than I buy clothes with pocket-money, I bought a fake sword or a video games and manga comic books. I believe that is a good idea. My older brother told me I was wasting money, as expected from an Elder brother saying. Ninja goods being buried in the room. Oh, please put that. “Alice, because I am hiding my gender, It isn’t the situation that I’ll dress myself up, because when I go out, I put on an armor and go out.” “…That is right” Though she seems to have understood, Alice drops her shoulder in a feeling to be disappointed at the same time. Is this that? It is the same as the maid who often come out in novels and comics, Is it the that to which you say that I’d like change a partner and enjoy myself? If it’s so, it’s bad, but I don’t like to do that. I go towards the shelf in which men’s clothes are put. Because I think that it is strange to hide s.e.x distinction if I choose the woman’s clothes. The color choices are plain colors such as black and brown. The eyes that rose dissatisfied of Alice stick from behind, but I do not mind it. Four plain clothes, I choose two black as night-clothes, and next is a robe. The robe is just to make sure, I buy it to cover my face when I work in a place that is hard to move when I remain a Black Knight. After all the color that is quiet not to attract attention is good. The back is mobile and light. “Excuse me” “Ye-Yes!” I call the salesclerk who was near to hear which is the best. The salesclerks who have answered is a woman of red long straight hair in her the early twenties . The person came to me in a hurry. Even if I am not timid so much… “Oh, uh! Was there something?” The salesclerk says it with a shaking a voice. Somehow, I am sorry, Salesclerk-san. “Uh, I’m looking for a robe, and if possible one that is easy to move, and it’s a strong.” When I said so, the shop a.s.sistant chose while twitching. “How about this one?! It is a robe knit out of the wing of the griffon! There is magic resistance too and Light and strong!” The dark brown robe which she took out while feeling scared. It seems to be light and surely strong when I receive it. “Thank you very much.So, this one.” “Certainly!” The shop a.s.sistant who says so and opposes a cashier with the clothes I had chosen. However. “Kyaa!” ———Zutten! The Salesclerk-san and I trips and rolls. Clothes and the robe fall below. Seeing the scene, the people around look pale. No, such even if you don’t look pale… Alice goes to the Salesclerk-san who fell down with me. “Uh, Excuse me ‘I am sorry!!’” The salesclerk who completely shakes. I hold out my right hand to such a salesclerk. “Do you have an injury?” “Huh?” The salesclerk who would think that I was angry looks up at me with a blank face. I talk kindly. “Don’t be afraid so much, are you all right?” “Ye-yes…” The shop a.s.sistant who takes my hand and hold it out cautiously and stands up. Meanwhile Alice collects clothes scattered about a floor and takes it to a register. “Oh! We have another ones!” The shop a.s.sistant who tries to change the clothes taken to a register in a rushed state. “No, I do not mind it particularly” “Will it be all right?” Salesclerk-san is asking with an expression that seems to be uneasy. “Yes,the clothes aren’t torn, and I seem to have caused it so” Salesclerk-san is upset by the words. “Su-such a thing” “No, I do it because of me” I soothe to calm Salesclerk-san. Then from the depths of the shop “GAHAHAHAHA! You are quite a major attractions! !” With exciting laughter the alone man is to keep being present. Red short bed hair and a sloppy short red mustache. Moving aside the wrinkle between the eyebrows, look is bad, but it is not the face like the atrocious person. With the structure of a muscular structure which a gymnastics athlete lose face, with a height of 190 keameito, and the age of an uncle who is in his 50s. “h.e.l.lo, Byron-san” “Aah, is it Alice?” Alice seems to be friendly with this uncle. “I will introduce Black Knight-sama.This one is Byron Ozli-san. He is the store manager of this store. Bayron-san, this person is the Black Knight-sama whom I serve” (TLN: Oh G.o.d, Help me out with this name! バイロン・オーズリー) I introduce myself after Alice introduced Byron-san. “Somehow Byron is fine for me comfortably.” He is laughing broadly displaying his White teeth, Byron-san holds out his right hand. “Nice to meet you Byron-san. There are circ.u.mstances and I can’t  give the real name and I am sorry “ I take off the gauntlet and shake hands. My gender isn’t reveiled particularly if it is my hand. Because the way of talking is also polite, it’s OK, isn’t it? Then Mr. Byron has an expression to which something was astonishing. When they looked around, the other guests who were in the store, a shop a.s.sistant and people outside the store were a similar expression, too. Did I do anything? Being insecure I look at Alice who is smiling. When I’m wondering. “GAHAHAHA! I am pleased with this Customer” ——-BATSUN! BATSUN! While Byron-san claps my shoulder with the left hand, and is laughing excitedly again. Did I do anything? “When you came over on a black unicorn, I thought whether it was a dream! And I was amazed that he was at the store today to come in with a scarlet mantle. I caused any problems I thought, you permitted shop a.s.sistant’s misconduct in a store and worried conversely. Moreover you answered to the handshake of low birth like me with a bare hand intentionally! As is expected, it is the gentleman chosen by the Legendary Unicorn!” “No, Do you think that you are ordinary?” While being pushed towards the atmosphere to which Mr. Byron says that he was moved for some reason. I reciprocate. However, What did you think of again?Byron-san, who is behind me and turn around and grab my shoulders. And said towards curious spectators. “Hey everybody! It is the knight that was chosen as a legend!It’s the person with the highest capacity!” (TLN: I practically made up this one, but I hope it is close to the real meaning, for those gentle souls who knows j.a.panese: 「まぁ、バイロンさん分っていらっしゃる。なんてったって黒騎士様は兄上とカイル様、直々に指名された帝国騎士隊長で、皇帝一家たっての希望で皇族専属騎士になられたお方。私もこの方にお仕え出来る事は名誉の事です」) Hey! If Alice says such thing at this place now! “Did everyone hear? It’s admitted by the strongest knight, Knight’s a.s.sistant and member of the Imperial family of  the empire, too, and a Knight has come to buy clothes at my store intentionally!” In the words of Byron-san. “Black Master! Come to my shop by all means this time!!!” “Master, come tom y vegetable store later!” “Please also come to the weapon shop!I have in stock a good weapon!!” People said one after the other. In the same period, I came to be known as the “Black Master” at west commoner’s district and in the south shop’s district. But I am a woman… (TLN: The Danna which Chie is called can also mean Husband, but I am using Master instead.) Several minutes later, the uproar finally settled and I’m paying the bill at the register. “It is one silver plate and five silvers in total” The money in the world is copper, copper plate, silver, silver plate, gold, gold plate. As for the value, copper is 10 yen, a copper sheet is 100 yen, Silver is 1,000 yen, a silver board is 10,000 yen, gold is 100,000 yen and a gold plate is one million yen. The form: copper, silver and gold are the same size and shape as a ten yen coin, a plate is a rectangular plate with size of a 500 yen coin . It become 15,000 yen when I convert  to the yen. I take out two  silver plates from the brown bag which I got from Amaterasu-sama. A silver plate entered closely when I thought that it was heavy.(TLN: 重いと思ったら銀板がぎっしり入っていた。) I had received 100 yesterday when I counted it before sleeping. Now if I don’t think gold and gold plates is not good. I think the person of the shop to have been certainly in trouble. “Byron-san, Isn’t there a strange thing in the situation of the capital recently?” I said it while receiving five silvers for the change. Byron-san seems to be a person who is popular and trusted in the shopping district. Naturally he knows a lot at this mall. “Well…” Byron-san crosses his arms and thinks. “This is the talk which isn’t only in the capital. Quite  a lot of nice young men are missing” “Young men? How old are these people ?” “There was a kid just ten years old and a man ans his late twenties” “Don’t men and women ask about that?” “Aah. The majority was caught by slave dealers and thieves of the dark guild I think.”(TLN: HELP! 大方奴隷商人に雇われた、盗賊や闇ギルドの奴らだろうぜ) Slave dealer? “Slavery… In the definite empire for more than 100 years, it was abolished. ” It seems to be the way in the Holy Country and the Kingdom, but in the empire it was abolished. The reason is because the royalty avoids discrimination. There is the difference of the social position that I called a n.o.ble and a commoner, the royalty and the n.o.ble protect a country, They keep an interdependent relation once that the commoner works for the country. There are n.o.bles who look down on commoners among them and there is the commoners who dislikes n.o.bles, but it is extremely a part. Because it’s such country, the slaves are unnecessary. Despite this, a slave dealer? “The slave surely is prohibited in the empire,but Is it from three years ago? There was a rumor going around that an auction was held somewhere in the capital. ” “Auction?!” The information that any the bust has hateful. “Besides that regarding the young men, investigated by even the Imperial Army, but they can’t get a lead.” “The location would be the slums” The slum is a place with many low shop and people on the shopping district. There is the dark guild there, too. “There is also the possibility of a skillful sorcerer is there. His specialty is to put barriers. There may be interference of a n.o.ble too, and a considerably  influential one” “Nh?Why do you think so? What a n.o.ble who wouldn’t relate to politics? But I don’t know well” Byron-san and Alice shook their heads. “I don’t say that I say that it is a n.o.ble, and anyone can be concerned with politics” “Is that the case?” Byron opens eyes wide for the answer Alice declared. Because a commoner has many people who do not know n.o.bles well, there will be no help for it. Alice continues explaining it. “When I say about the ranks, na archduke is a position of the head of the royalty,part of the imperial Family, such as younger brothers of the emperor, the king or the Holy family. A duke is the person who partic.i.p.ates in Imperial House, royalty and St. tribe or Imperial family which equals that.BlackKnight-sama is in this position.” “Oh, It is great!” While Byron looks at me, I say. Myself am considerably dissatisfied. Alice continues explaining it more. “A count is a n.o.ble with a territory. A viscount is a n.o.ble with land. A baron is the last of the upper level n.o.bles who can become a senator. Others are called a low-level aristocrat. By the way, the older brother is the status of a baron.” Conrat is a baron. “That boy has come a long way, I burned hands in that naughty boy, now he’s the most successful person of us Plebs!” “Conrat was a naughty boy?” (TLN: I could have put “mischievous boy”, but I think I want Conrat to be naughty! Fufufu) That so serious Conrat? I can’t imagine it. “Yeah, that delinquent is now a Baron” “Delinquent?” Even the younger sister is saying “delinquent”, I can’t imagine it more and more! This is interesting! “Alice, can you tell me more this time as well.” “Yeah, I’ll be glad to.” I look forward to it again. By the way, let’s go back to the talk. “Oh, It is such a place at rank, as I mentioned earlier from Archduke to the Baron, the most excellent people are chosen and a political a.s.sembly is performed.Therefore, n.o.bles can not always intervene in politics.” “Huh, was it so? ” Byron-san said while admiring. “In fact, it is not unusual for that a human being with a strong influential voice communicates secretly, and a crime is performed when I stand on a while ago and think. It is natural to think that a some man of power is a.s.signed to the background of large-scale crimes such as the slave auction. Because that fellow is a wirepuller” It is the common template. “When I think to here, you can have focused, but there is no evidence as expected. The way which is most is to catch in the act.” There is a limit with me alone. The help of Conrat is needed here. “Alice, we will return to the castle immediately. When I return, won’t you bring me where Conrat is at?” “I don’t mind, but isn’t it a vacation day for Black Knight-sama?” Alice asks whether I have to rest. It’s necessary to take days off tightly certainly, but it’s such current state. Speaking frankly, I want to deal immediately if I follow for some time for three years. “I don’t mind, you have not to go from such thing if this situation is being overlooked, it is necessary to deal with it early.” “Certainly” “If there is also something at our way, I make a contact with the castle.” To be honest, the proposal is saved. Possibly because a commoner may know that the armed forces don’t notice. “Thank you very much. When you do that, they’ll be saved.” I said so, and Alice had a load with me and came back to the castle hastily.