CH 491

C491: Returning to Fugaku

I’ll try to release 15 chapters this week to make up for the ones I missed.

While the Iron Knights were gathering in Meltaria, we conducted a recruitment drive for personnel, and there seemed to be a response that we had not anticipated.

Alana, who was waiting for our arrival in Meltaria, informed me that many people had already been recruited.

“Why didn’t you use the information network of the Alice Abbey to advertise the position in the first place? There are already close to 500 people here, and we won’t be able to respond in time.”

“That many people?”

The number of people is more than I expected and I am surprised too.

“What is Jean doing? What’s taking him so long just to get back to Meltaria from Dhahran? If he won’t get over here and help me with the paperwork, we’re going to have a flat tire.”

I understand that it takes time because we are taking the recruited gladiators with us to Meltaria, but surely Jean and the others could have already arrived in Meltaria. Maybe something went wrong…….

The cause of Jean’s delay, however, was simpler. When we confirmed our concern, this was the answer we received.

“I was just making preparations for the upcoming need to raise sufficient funds.”

“Oh, so you think you’ll be able to manage the funds?”

“We’ll be fine for the time being,” he said. “I think we can pull money from several Southwestern countries.”

I can’t even imagine what it would take to get funding from those nations, but the great thing about Jean is that he does it so easily.

By the time we arrived in Meltaria, the Iron Knights had become a large group. It was already impossible to accommodate them in Fugaku and countless temporary tents had been erected around it.

“This is a big deal…….”

“Nanami hopes that her room is safe and that no one took it.”

“I’m sure it’s fine…….”

Nanami looks at the many people coming in and out of Fugaku and says with concern and Farma was worried too but she didn’t show it,

With this concern in mind, we entered Fugaku and were reunited with our friends, who were busy moving around. I expected them to welcome us back after a long absence, but only one of them welcomed us.

“Emina! Good, I need a little help with the paperwork! Yuta, Nanami, and Farma, I’m sorry, but could you please deal with Lorgo and the others as you see fit?”

It’s true that there’s no place for me or Nanami in this situation so we went to the rider’s waiting room where Lorgo and the others were waiting so as not to get in the way.

“It’s my brother! Welcome back, big brother!”

Mayu hugs me happily when she finds me. Although she is a young girl at heart, she is a fully grown woman so the thick embrace was too stimulating for me, a male underage.

“Hey Mayu, don’t get too sticky with Yuta!”

Before I can stop Mayu, Nanami warns her with a grim look on her face.

“What? Why?”

“Why do you mean……why!”

There didn’t seem to be any particular reason, and Nanami was at a loss for a reply, but Mayu, perhaps also bothered by Nanami’s warning, slowly backed away from me.