76. Sailor Fuku and the Citizens' Assembly
The Citizens' Assembly was held in the city hall.
It was a massive stone building. The brick walls were inlaid with stones of contrasting colors, forming beautiful geometric patterns. At the center stood a gigantic wooden door, flanked by towers that pierced the sky.
The windows were neatly aligned in elegant arches.
Here and there, stones were chipped or cracked, with no signs of repair. There were few soldiers around, perhaps because there wasn't enough tax revenue to maintain the place.
The attendees were me, Fam, Mizuki, Myra, and Momoka.
I'd put on my suit from the old world. Mizuki had given back my necktie. She was wearing the sailor fuku I'd had. Might as well make an entrance as a group, we figured.
"What?"
"Nah, it suits you."
"Really?"
Mizuki blushed, looking embarrassed, and turned away.
"How about me?"
"...You look like that molester I saw on the train a while back."
"..." She still mad about that?
"Kidding. You look good."
Flattery or not, it felt good to hear it from her. Mizuki turned back to me and straightened my tie.
Fam was eyeing my outfit curiously.
"Back in my world, everyone dresses like this for work. Might catch on here too."
The parades trailing us from yesterday were gone, but people still cheered and made a fuss whenever they spotted us. Not hated, at least, but walking the streets normally had gotten tricky.
"You ready, Fam?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
Today, I'd had her ditch the arm covers. To show she wasn't a slave anymore.
I wasn't sure if drawing attention was good or bad for her. But if her demeanor could ease tensions between humans and dog-ears, that'd be something.
Should've brought Cecily and Ira too while we're at it.
We stood before the grand front doors.
Just as I figured we'd go in that way, a smaller side door swung open. A soldier beckoned us. Kinda anticlimactic.
"Alright, let's head in."
Shaking it off, we stepped inside the city hall.
The chamber we were led to could seat over a hundred.
High ceiling. Arches everywhere—windows, vaults, the works. Morning light poured in through the large panes, brightening the room. The pillars were slimmer than in a church.
Seats lined up on either side for the councilors, who were already sitting there. We headed to the open space in the center.
Mostly empty. Maybe ten participants total? All dressed like wealthy folk. No everyday citizens here—the literal majority was absent.
"It's usually packed. But this is an emergency session, and there's cleanup from yesterday."
Momoka sounded a bit off. Could've waited till things settled, then. Of course, we'd be long gone to Migurutto by then. They could meet without us all they wanted.
At the far end hung a banner with what looked like the city's crest in artwork. Before it, on a raised dais, sat a man in ornate robes on a carved wooden throne.
The magistrate, no doubt. A democratic facade, but really his dictatorship running the show. He looked young—early twenties? Leaning on one elbow, he greeted us with a refined smile.
Did he sneak Mii and his crew in, sparking this mess? Benefited them, sure, but not him. Unlikely to get answers here. Interrogation would reveal it, but in secret. Not for us to know.
A middle-aged man stood by him—probably an aide.
Momoka dropped to one knee in salute.
I started to follow suit, but Myra grabbed my hem from behind.
"You are sent by the gods. Even if he acts like a king, he's just this city's magistrate."
She whispered. Then she stepped forward.
"Magistrate, I am Myra of Rishel's church. This is Mash, hero sent by Goddess Rakushel."
The magistrate nodded at her words, smile unwavering.
"Indeed. Our thanks for aiding the city's defense."
Myra nodded back on my behalf. Just stand here? Solid? The councilors' stares screamed kneel. Annoyed, I scanned the room and spotted a familiar face—the commander from atop the walls yesterday. Soldiers as councilors? Weird vibe.
While I observed, the magistrate and Myra kept talking.
"As for rewards or thanks... the city's finances are strained."
Myra glanced at me.
"About those who attacked the church."
I spoke up, and he nodded to his aide.
"They'll face public execution in a few days."
Decided already, the day after? Quick, but maybe normal here.
"Among the captives were slaves. If they want, I'd like to buy their freedom."
The priestess's daughter, Doris, and the werewolf warrior, Fang.
"Hm, the slaves..."
The magistrate murmured, scanning the room.
No one else spoke.
"Slaves merely followed orders. But the citizens demand the same fate for their masters."
"No plans to keep 'em here. We'll take the slaves and leave in days. Never bring 'em back."
"...Modest wishes for one who saved the church, secured the wanderers' aid, and repelled the crisis with a goddess's power."
The pair? Fang like a female warrior: 100 gold. Doris, priestess: maybe 200. But if public sentiment ruled, worthless.
Councilors stayed silent.
Strange atmosphere. No one dared contradict him?
Why were we even called here?
"We'll grant the hero's wish. Their consent irrelevant—take them. We'll rewrite the slave crests. But they stay jailed till you leave."
I nodded.
After the assembly, we headed to the prison to check Fang and Doris's intentions.
They were in the palace basement.
A guard knight took our request and led us down.
"Be careful. No magic works here. Slave crests inactive too."
Mii's bunch confirmed it—Crystal Core control. Special skills sealed too.
"After Mii's talk, it's clear this place is Crystal Core-managed. But can anyone whip up spaces like this easily?"
If so, no summoning Rakushel mid-fight? Fatal for me.
"Sorry, I don't know... One theory: those with divine gifts programmed these functions into the cores."
Myra replied. Programming, huh?
"Mii controlled a Crystal Core. But special skills are unique per person. Churches have prisons... every town one? Spread by generations wandering, passing it on?"
Some slackers, some like Mii going rogue, others oblivious till death. Hard to sustain.
"Maybe unknown control methods persist. Or cores come pre-loaded."
As Myra answered, we reached a waiting room.
Beyond the door: cells. The knight went deeper.
Damp, musty space lit by lantern. rickety table, wobbly stools—no sitting those.
"So... why'd they call us to the assembly?"
"Everyone there was magistrate loyalists, ya know."
Momoka said.
"Meaning?"
"Testin' if ya got a tight lip, probably."
"Me? No clue."
Seemed like just thanks.
"Didn't Mash say the ringleaders'd be at the palace if it got hit, church if church?"
"So those guys caused it?"
Hence the low turnout—only involved parties.
"Dunno. But they'd be fine whatever ya spilled."
The commander too? Then why fight to collapse on the ramparts?
"If so, Mii's crew aimed underground church. What's the magistrate's angle?"
"Mash, the walls and public buildings haven't been repaired in ages."
Myra said.
"Yeah, mentioned no reward funds. Money? But how? Taxes tough with citizen damage."
"Likely aiming for capital aid."
"...Ah."
But that cedes power? No fast transport or comms like my world. Local rule needed. They figured the structure holds even with intervention.
If magistrate tied to Mii as predicted, freeing Fang and Doris ain't ideal for them.
Would they hand 'em over normally?
Thank you for reading.
To everyone who hit like, bookmarked, or rated: thank you.
It motivates me. I'll keep at it.
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