Ashes and Kingdoms

Because of this and the disturbance in his heart, Finn began to suffer a disastrous defeat.

"The final result. Now, don't worry about one more species left in the north."

Islev cleans up the pawn with a bitter smile. Finn clapped his neck in disdain.

"You have taught me a lot and I appreciate it. But I'm not going to take command of the Corps, so don't worry about it."

"Sure, you're a dragon marquis, but you're not a commander of the Legion, and you have nothing but a handful of your own troops. Above all, I want to believe that this will not be the kind of situation where you stand on the battlefield as commander. But, well, if you hold on a little more than you know anything, it might come in handy someday. It's just a change of mood."

"Mood change, is it?"

"Yes, it would be a pleasant distraction to think of an abominable man as an enemy and how relentlessly to beat and defeat him. How many senators did you crush to pieces of wood dust while I was in my own country? I can't say much to the piss though. But in reality, you don't have to throw stones."

Islev laughed like a prank and picked up the last pawn that was falling on the floor and gave it to Finn. Finn also smiles and receives it, making it into a box.

On leaving, Islev put his hand on Finn's shoulder and said with a strong voice.

"I taught you everything you could in the last three years. Neither you, nor your family or associates, are amateurs in administration anymore. Keep a good eye on Nanais and try to be a northern city after Winnea. I'm going back to my country, but I'm going to ask you if you're willing to go north when you find the right people."

"Thank you"

Finn thanked him wholeheartedly and shook his hand firmly.

And there, the stirring footsteps approached.

"Dear Islev! I'm glad you're not home yet."

It was Mac who said it with a relieved face. From the top of a simple plain garment, he wears an empty cloth, not as long but loose, on his left shoulder. As a sign of the Tenryu Squad, it was prepared by Islev throwing his personal belongings at me. It is modestly embroidered with dragons in golden thread just to get out around the chest.

Noticing that he was using what he had prepared, Islev narrowed his eyes.

"Hey, Mac. You look great. Dragon Marquis doesn't seem to like it, so please wear it."

"It's a waste of time. I can't wear it."

Finn grinned bitterly as he excused himself. This cloth was invented by Islev for Finn in the first place. It's hard to be polite enough to meet someone, intimidate them unnecessarily, so it's not entirely plain clothes, but something that can represent your identity and position properly.

I let everyone make their share, and only one of the pieces on the top of the empty mountain that Islev proudly brought was the embroidered pattern bigger and more gorgeous than the others, and was clearly aware of his aristocratic identity. Even that Nellis is no longer so close to slapping haters, but so much so that he just shook his head with a complicated smile.

"I think it would be more wasteful to be shivering."

Mac says irresponsibly and makes Finn do the tannic side. He tried and then turned to Islev.

"Mr. Oandus told me, is it true that this is the last time you can come to Nanais"

"Oh, probably. If I were to come next, I'd quit the council and live in hiding."

Out of the way, Islev responded, but Mac got a slightly familiar tone.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I had a little farewell party."

"That's why I kept my mouth shut. I don't want to interrupt your work, and in any case, it's time for my successor to arrive in Winnea. If I have a farewell party when I leave, I will have to have a welcoming party whenever a new auditor comes here. I don't mean to make custom."

"Ah..."

Realizing that, Mac dropped his shoulder. Whenever an auditor from his home country leaves, his position as an autonomous city is subtly shaken if he is to entertain him. Now it can be good or later a hotbed of corruption.

"Okay. But unfortunately."

"What? We'll meet again sometime outside of work. Bye, Mac. Take care of yourself and help Phineas."

"Yes, Master Islev, be well."

Mac gratefully extends his spine. When Islev nodded satisfactorily, he saw Finn again and smiled, leaving the city hall.

Mac looked up at the shiatsu fin and said after he couldn't see the floating hindsight.

"Really, I wonder why my brother doesn't use the shoulder cloth he got for it. Do you care what Nellis tells you?"

"No, well... that's not the only reason"

Poop, and Finn scratched his cheek. When I first put the cloth together, my sister said, "It's too refreshing and weird." I don't mean to be reclining or anything like that. This just lasted a little bit, even Finn, who was used to her murmuring.

"I think I looked good on my brother, too. I'm sure Nellis' brother looked good, so I lit him up."

"I don't know about that," Finn grinned bitterly. "That's okay. When I'm wearing that, I accidentally feel like a lord, too. I don't want to lose myself and be like Dilgius or Ancius. When a new auditor from the country arrives, he'll look like a dragon horse."

Finn's position is only a compromise with Representative Nanais, his own country, and not the mayor. Strange thing to say in the first place, there's no mayor in Nanais right now. The chairman of the city council is Oandus, but that is all. It seemed to be the majority of the citizens that there was a Dragon Hou but there was no need for a mayor.

Still, the city is normally going around, so I don't have to say it's no problem, but if you try to make it into a fin, it feels as if Dragon Hou flew over the mayor, who is "the representative of the citizen" implicitly, and was recognized as the “Lord”.

"As always, you're tough. I don't care what you think, my brother's not going to be crazy, but, well, if he says so, he can't help it."

Mac flaunts his shoulder, still a small voice untrained, and he snaps, even though he's aligned because of it. Finn smiled and pounded his head.

Mac on the boulder. It seemed about time he was dissatisfied with the treatment of children, and looked up at Finn like he was just a little mucky. I guess you even care about that because you're already nineteen and you're still taller. As Finn grabbed his hand in a white panic, Mac glanced at him with a sinister face, then shook his head, for Christ's sake.

Fortunately, the choreographer boy came running bulky faster than an awkward vibe.

"Master Dragon Hou! Master Govarias' ship has arrived!

"Okay. I'll be at the harbor in a minute. You don't have to follow me, just get some rest."

I laughed bitterly when I saw the boy breathing on his shoulder, and Finn sneezed his head and stroked him before walking out, all under Mac's minute. Mac will follow me later.

Govarias came when Nanais was in ruins, that captain. Since then, I have regularly visited Nanais as a merchant ship for the Dragon Marquis. Of course Taz is with me.

Various other ships were coming, but loads such as those directly involving Finn and the Tenryu Squad are partitioned by Govarias.

When I left for the harbor, the ship was just about to come in.

"Is that...?

Finn frowned at the distance, finding a pedestrian hedge stuck to the fringe. If the shipment is just supplies, then no. Especially when entering the port, the deck is in a hurry, so even if there are passengers, they are being driven away. Did you even bring a bunch of new immigrants?

"... No way"

By the time mooring operations began, people could be identified. Next to Finn being out of line, Mac is also poking open his mouth.

And, you noticed the sight of the two, the dozen men who were on the fringe waved. And then he came down, fighting ahead.

"Phineas, Mac!

A bunch of people rushing over, calling their names out loud. Then there's just one guy walking slowly. Finn's eyes were nailed that way.

"... Valt"

Whether you heard a crushed voice. For the first time in three years, the former captain raised one hand with a complicated, slightly distorted bitterness.

"Hey. Long time no see, Phineas"

"Oh."

Finn nodded briefly, even unexpectedly himself, with a grin.

"Have you had enough of Vertier? I'm surprised to see you again."

"That's the dialogue over here. Honestly, I didn't want to. As soon as I see your face, I'm in trouble if I can't beat you up. In the old days, if you suddenly beat the Lord of the nascent Nanais, Lady Dragon Hou Phineas, you'll be knocked into the sea."

"I don't have to worry about that...... for now, sounds like I don't have to defend myself, huh?

"Oh, I'm surprised."

Valt snapped and slapped Finn in the arm.

"Don't look at me, you look like a great guy. Yeah? I guess I'm not even letting a servant wipe my ass now."

To Valt's nasty words, which I hear a long time ago, Finn got a complicated look with the one he wanted to laugh at, the one he wanted to flatter his face with. Mac laughs honestly on the side.

"You're the same, Mr. Valt. Don't worry, my brother hasn't changed at all in that sense. I seem to have forgotten that I've become a nobleman."

"Oh, I heard rumors. Tombstone kid is not your nobleman. Well, anyway, Mac, I'm glad you're looking good.... I thought you were getting bigger."

"I'll beat you up if I say it again. I haven't given up yet."

Only the tone is light, but with a seriously swordswallowing light in his eyes, Mac makes a fist grip. Valt stepped aside, clapped his shoulders, and changed the subject so that he could escape.

"I hear Nanice was terrible at talking about Taz, but you've gotten a lot more splendid in three years. Plast did this to you?

"Oh, in the beginning"

So Finn answered, and informed them of all that had been done. None of the crew who worked at Vertier with Valt had ever seen Nanice before, but they also had experience rebuilding the ruins as a harbour town, so they seemed to hear with empathy.

When the story was separated, Mac remembered "yes".

"This cloth that Mr. Islev made for me, if we're going to be doing it together as the Tenryu Squad in Nanais, I can give it to you because I have extra. Until now, the Tenryu Squad was small, but from now on, it's going to look like a decent unit."

"It's a reconstitution of the miller."

Valt laughed at Mac for his excitement. It won't be long before everyone is in place and the sense of former union is vividly revived. However, the excitement as if traveling to fulfill the mission of Heavenly Giving now quietly fills each and every breast.

- So Hufu and Valt returned to me and gave me a substitute that was going to be their ID, and I looked at it, and I smiled a little embarrassed.

"But what, that refreshing, empty color is going to come out with a guy who looks good and a guy who doesn't look good"