Atelier Tanaka

Book 2: Chapter 29 (2)

Conflict

[Sophia-chan’s point of view]

I’m on a dragon. I’m on a dragon.

That’s why I’m clinging to the back of the noble mage.

This is bad.

“Oi, waitress, you can let go of me already. You’re annoying.”

“O-Okaaaaaayyy!”

I didn’t even notice that the wind had stopped whipping me in the face. The dragon had descended at some point and we were finally back on the ground. The place the dragon landed was a wide open grassland. There was a dreary camp setup not too far from us.

If what we’ve been told is true, this is the area where the battle between the Penny Empire and the Pussy Republic took place.

“The person you’re looking for should be here.”

“Really….”

The dragon was lying on the ground as she waited for us to get off. Once we were off, she stood up and patted the dirt off her dress. She actually looks rather cute but inside she’s still a dragon. I can’t be so easily deceived by her appearance.

After she finished cleaning the dust off, she turned her attention to the nearby camp. That’s our destination. A camp with several shabby looking tents set up. I don’t want to enter any of those tents if I can avoid it.

“Let’s go.”

Fahren-sama started walking towards the camp with the dragon following close behind him.

Naturally, I had no choice but to follow after them.

I don’t want to be left alone in a place like this.

“There’s someone over there!”

Fahren-sama called this out after he saw someone exit one of the tents.

This person looks very scary. His body is huge, he has a shaved head and an intimidating tattoo around his eye. Is he a slave soldier? Oh, but he does look kind of cool.

“Eh? What are you people doing there?”

“We’re looking for a man named Tanaka. Do you know of him?”

“Tanaka? Oi, ossan, how do you know him?”

“So you have heard of him?”

Fahren-sama spoke in a casual tone to the man with the intimidating face. He gave off his usual imposing nobleman aura, but the bald man didn’t seem to even care. I, on the other hand, couldn’t stop shaking.

“Yeah, that guy saved a lot of people here.”

After hearing Fahren-sama mention Tanaka-san’s name, the bald man seemed to relax a little.

Even if his scary face has softened, it’s still scary.

“So he left? Tell me where he went.”

“I don’t know. He’s probably running around on another battlefield somewhere.”

“The records in the castle say he was dispatched here.”

“Before he got here, we had been fighting for three days and three nights. Just when I was thinking we’d lose, that guy arrived and we were victorious in less than half a day. There’s no doubt that he’s truly a genius…. I’ve heard people called that before, but that guy is the real deal.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Oh? You actually know him, ossan?”

“Of course. I’ve been able to come to understand him a little bit.”

“…are you that guy’s enemy?”

The bald man’s face tensed up for a moment and returned to its original intimidating appearance.

At the same time, several people emerged from the tent and ran out to encircle us.

What’s happening? There are dozens of adventurers surrounding us. They’re holding swords, staves, spears, and all manner of weapons at us. They all looked serious.

This is terrible. I’m so scared. I can feel something leaking out between my legs. It’s dripping down my leg and my thighs are now moist. I can’t help it. I’ve been holding it in since we were at the castle and we never stopped for any bathroom breaks.

Tanaka-san was fighting with such intimidating people. I have so much respect for him being able to do that. I can’t even stand to be near these people. I want to leave. I want to go home.

“I don’t know who you people are or why you’re looking for Tanaka, but if you’re planning on harming him, you’ll have to deal with the Twilight Company first.”

This man is somehow able to make his face even scarier.

Having said that, I don’t think that’s a smart move on his end. I don’t think these adventurers stand a chance against Fahren-sama. Although he’s slightly inferior in ability to Tanaka-san, he’s still able to overwhelm a dragon with a single attack.

But my chest is starting to hurt.

I can feel my stomach begin to tighten.

My breathing is becoming ragged.

I don’t like being around fighting.

“If you’re asking whether we’re friends or enemies, I’d have to say we’re friends.”

“Really?”

“If I were his enemy, do you think I’d come to a place like this with these ladies?”

“….”

After hearing Fahren-sama’s question, the bald man fell silent.

He turned to look at the dragon and then me. It’s embarrassing. I’m sure he can tell what happened between my legs.

Oh no, whatever’s left in my bladder is starting to leak out.

Did he not notice? He’s turned back to face Fahren-sama.

“…well, that does make sense.”

The man with the scary face relaxed a little and showed a bitter smile.

…he must’ve noticed. His face is even starting to look embarrassed.

My maid skirt has even become soaked. There’s no way he didn’t notice.

“I’ll tell you whatever I can. He was travelling with a Dark Elf; those two really make a strange pairing. They were both a part of the Adventurers Guild, so I’m sure you can find more information about them at the Guild in Tricklis.”

“I see.”

“If so, you should probably return to the city. A battlefield is no place for a nobleman and we don’t want to worry about taking care of you if you get injured.”

“Yeah, we’ll be returning to the city.”

“Bye then, nobleman.”

“Thank you for the information.”

I guess everything has been settled without any fighting.

Thank God.

I’m glad we were able to settle things without spilling any blood.

I feel like I’ve been seeing too much blood recently.

“What’s going on? Is that man not here?”

Soon afterwards, the Dragon questioned Fahren-sama. This won’t end well. When we were on Mount Pépe, she was a rampaging dragon. Even though she’s still in her human form, I’m getting an eerie feeling from her.

“It seems that he already left this area.”

“That woman is useless.”

Is she talking about Ester-chan?

“Don’t say that. People’s movements can be hard to track during times of war.”

“Then we should go to the next place! We’re leaving right away!”

“Y-Yeah….”

Oh, the Dragon flopped onto the ground again.

Are we supposed to sit on her surrounded by dozens of these adventurers? It’s even more embarrassing than before. Because I wet myself, my skirt is now completely soaked. How am I supposed to sit on her like this?

“…what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get on.”

Fahren-sama had already straddled the dragon.

I began to panic and tried to decline.

That’s…umm, I-I-I’m….”

I looked around at the adventurers surrounding us. All of them were intensely staring at me. Some of them were curiously tilting their heads trying to figure out what was going on.

If I stay in this place any longer the smell will begin to travel.

“Why are you trembling? Get on already!”

“Y-Yes!”

Even though I’ve wet myself, can I really sit down on her?

Ah, Fahren-sama will get angry if I don’t.

Have Fahren-sama and the Dragon really not noticed?

I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.

My pee is going to stain the Dragon’s dress and Fahren-sama’s cloak. It will probably soak through his cloak and begin to stain his shirt as well. Slowly but surely my pee will soak everything it’s touching.

I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.

Ah, my stomach is starting to hurt even worse.

***

After travelling on the bumpy carriage ride for several days, we finally arrived at our destination.

Thanks to Klein’s ability to hold a conversation, the journey passed by rather quickly. We talked about what we had for dinner before the carriage ride and what kind of hobbies we have. It was rather enjoyable.

However, the fun times spent with the shota were coming to an end.

The horse-drawn carriage stopped us in the middle of a large meadow.

There was tall grass that spread out as far as the eye could see.

However, the scene is slightly different than the battlefield I was on before.

Instead of shabby little tents made of canvas and held up by sticks, there were several wooden buildings that had been built. There were tents as well, but the number far exceeded the amount present at the first camp I visited.

This scene is the first one to actually make me feel like I’m in a war.

“Where are we….”

“Lama Prairie. I’ve heard stories about the massive battles that took place here fifteen years ago between the Pussy Republic and the Penny Empire. Even today you can still see signs of the fighting that took place her all those years ago.”

“I see.”

Just like me, Klein had climbed off the carriage and lined up next to the carriage.

“What do you mean they’ve fought here before…?”

“This place has been used as a battlefield between the two countries for years now. Most of the major battles have taken place here or in another field not too far from Tricklis, but I’ve heard the Penny Empire already attained victory there.”

“Oh, is that so?”

He might be talking about the area where I first met Gonzalez and Henry.

“Most of the land along the border with the Pussy Republic is covered in thick forests or difficult to traverse valleys. These two places seem like the only viable routes for their invasion.”

That lesbian knight didn’t seem to have too much difficult hunting down enemy soldiers in the forest.

Well, I guess it isn’t fair comparing a ludicrously high spec knight like her to an average soldier. Someone like her is capable of hunting guerilla soldiers stationed in a vast forest with little effort.

“Klein, you’re really knowledgeable. Thanks to you I’ve managed to learn a lot.”

The shota and I had been ordered to wait by the side of the carriage. The Dark Elf was also here with us but the soldier that talked with us didn’t say a word to her. She doesn’t try to hide her disdain for humankind, so that young soldier looked scared out of his mind when he saw her.

Around us, the rest of the adventurers that had been sent to reinforce the front lines were being given their assignments. We were told to wait here until the person in charge can get to us. I wonder how long they plan on making us wait.

This reminds me of waiting at the airport with my classmates when we went on a school trip.

As I thought this, a voice called out to our group.

“Welcome to the middle of nowhere! You each will be joining the ranks of….”

“Oh….”

It’s Saito.

Saito has appeared.

“Allen Senpai!?”

Klein cried out.

“Tanaka-san!? And, is that you Klein!?”

I’m sure he never expected to meet us in a place like this.

I’m just as surprised as he is.

“Hello, Allen. I feel like it’s been a while since we last saw each other despite it only being a week or so.”

“Yeah, it’s nice seeing you again. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

How long has it been since I left the capital? Ten days? I’m sure it hasn’t been twenty days yet. Thanks to the endless fighting and travelling I’ve been doing I’ve lost track of the days. I guess it doesn’t help that it’s been hard to find time to sleep.

“Umm, i-is it possible that you’re going to be in command of us, Allen Senpai!?”

“From what I’ve been told there’s no higher ranking knight available around here and it’s unlikely we’ll receive any more reinforcements from the capital. So, it’s left to me to take command of everyone gathered here, including you.”

“To be able to serve under Allen Senpai’s command is a dream come true! I-I’m so grateful!”

“It’s my first time taking command of a force this large. I think things will be difficult at first so I’d greatly appreciate your cooperation. I want all of us to survive this war and return home safely.”

“Yes!”

Klein’s eyes as he looked at Allen were scary.

They’re sparkling.

I know he said he wanted to be like Allen but I think it may even go a step further than that.

I think if things continue to progress as they have, Prince Shota will soon be spending the nights in Allen’s bed.

“Allen senpai~….”

Allen turned away from the sparkling shota to face me.

“Tanaka-san, if you don’t mind, would you assist me?”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

“When we fought on Mount Pépe, you were brilliant in command.”

“No, I think everyone was just doing their own thing.”

If I compare it to the SDF, it would be like being in command of a company of around 200 people. If I look around at all of the adventurers gathered here, I’d say there’s around that many. That number would be the same number employees a division of a large company has. Or even more than a small business.

I’ve never been in charge of that many people before. In my previous life, I was never in charge of more than two or three other people. And their jobs were meaningless anyway. Even in my wildest dreams, I would never have imagined being in charge of this many people.

What should I do?