Two days had passed since arriving on this island, Fireworks.
The interview at the Fireworks Artisan's Workshop had been a long shot, but somehow I got the OK.
Turns out, among the island's higher-ups, someone knew about me. Not as a Bounty Hunter, but my other identity: a writer. They even owned my Books and told me, "I'm a fan!" A little embarrassing, but it made me happy.
That person said, "If there's a chance this island might become the setting for a novel, that would be an honor, and it might even help revitalize the Town." So they granted me permission.
On top of that, word had gotten around about how I'd driven off the Pirates at the port two days ago, so it was partly meant as thanks for that.
Man, I guess this is what they mean when they say a good deed is its own reward.
There were conditions, of course.
Since I'd be visiting a place that handles Gunpowder, open flames were obviously strictly prohibited. Beyond that: no acting on my own, follow all instructions from my guide (apparently they'd assign someone from the Workshop who had free time), don't interfere with the artisans' work, and don't go anywhere I was told not to go.
There were various other minor rules too, but overall they were all things where you'd say, "Well, that's only natural." If anything, they were also looking out for my safety, so far from being a problem, I was grateful.
I told the coordinator that those terms were perfectly fine, and they arranged the tour for me. And so it was set: the next afternoon, I'd get to observe the Workshop.
***
The next day.
Or rather, the tour just ended a little while ago. I'll skip the details.
The Workshop I visited was nestled in the mountains at the center of the island. The person in charge, Boss Oodama, apparently ran the place together with his family along with his apprentices and other staff.
The Boss had a perpetual scowl and seemed like a difficult person, but even in the brief time I spent there during the interview and tour, you could tell he was serious about his work and genuinely looked after his people.
Also, for some reason, not just the Boss but all his employees had their faces painted in something resembling Kabuki kumadori makeup. No idea why.
But man, it was so much fun getting to see the Fireworks Artisan's Workshop, hearing about the hardships of the trade, getting a behind-the-scenes look at Fireworks Festivals and all that! Yep yep, good Experience gained. It's not like ideas for a new story are immediately flooding in or anything, but I feel like my inspiration got a nice, healthy boost! I'll have to go thank the Tourist Association (provisional) people later too.
And this person as well.
"Thank you for the escort, Smoker-san."
"Yeah... well, it might not've been necess... necessary, for someone like you."
That's right, it was Smoker-san, who I'd met the other day. He'd been with me all day today as my guard.
As for why I had an escort in the first place, the Tourist Association people had been thoughtful enough to arrange it. They were worried something might happen to me during the tour, and having a Marine present would also serve as security for the Fireworks Workshop, so they'd put in a request to the Marines.
I told them I could handle myself well enough in a fight and it wasn't necessary, but apparently just having a Marine around has a crime-deterrent effect.
And who should be dispatched but, by sheer coincidence, Smoker-san.
"Um, you really don't have to use polite speech, you know? Nobody else is around anymore, and I honestly don't mind."
"...That so? Then I'll take you up on that."
Just like that, Smoker-san dropped the formal register. He's a Marine (a public servant), yet polite speech clearly didn't come naturally to him. He'd been looking uncomfortable with it for a while now.
Incidentally, I'd asked during our small talk and apparently his current rank is Petty Officer. Above enlisted, but the lowest rung of the ranked positions, if I'm remembering right? Like he'd just enlisted, or maybe just graduated from a training academy?
But even so, he already seemed too strong for that level. As expected of a future Marine officer.
"So what're you planning to do after this? I was told by my superiors... or rather, by the island folks, to keep guarding you."
"I'm done with everything for today, so I'm planning to head back to the Inn and rest. At most I might do some shopping... you don't really need to escort me for that, do you? We'll be in the middle of Town."
"Fair enough. Then I'll excuse myself once we reach Town. ...Not that I've got any work waiting for me when I get back."
"Oh, really?"
"We've got plenty of people. Actually, there's already more personnel than a small island like this would normally need. Don't know the details, but apparently some bigwig from a Government Member State is here incognito to watch the Fireworks, so security's been beefed up compared to the usual."
Huh, so that's what was going on.
Now that I thought about it, I'd been hearing "there sure are a lot of Marines this year" from townspeople all over the place. So that was the reason.
I wondered who from which country was visiting. A Noble, maybe? Or perhaps someone from the Royal Family?
...Probably not a Celestial Dragon, though. Those people wouldn't bother coming to see Fireworks. They'd do the opposite: kidnap... I mean, summon the Fireworks Artisans and have them set off Fireworks in Mary Geoise.
Well, it's not like I was curious or wanted to get involved. Didn't matter to me.
"Actually, was it okay to tell an outsider like me about all that?"
"Dunno."
'Dunno,' he says. Hey, you're a public servant.
Right in the middle of our conversation, suddenly there came the sound of a Den Den Mushi ringing. Smoker-san reached into his jacket, pulled out a Small Den Den Mushi, and answered it.
"Yeah, this is Smoker."
"It's me, Smoker-kun. Where are you right now?"
"Where? Come on... I'm with the Protectee for that escort job. The tour itself's done, though, so all that's left is walking her back to Town."
"I see. Then you'll be free to move soon."
"? What do you mean, Hina?"
Well, well, his caller was Hina-san. Another Original Work character.
Her voice didn't yet have that composed, authoritative quality of someone in a senior position. It sounded like an ordinary girl's voice: bright and energetic.
They'd been in the same class, if I recalled correctly, so she was probably the same rank as Smoker-san, or close to it.
That aside, this sounded like a work call.
"A spotter reported sighting Pirate Ships approaching this island. Three vessels. Their objective is most likely the same as last time: raiding this island, starting with the Gunpowder."
"What about the patrol ships?"
"Bad timing. They're sailing on the opposite side of the island. An interception at sea doesn't look like it'll make it in time, unfortunately. We're evacuating the people of the Port Town and setting up to intercept them at the port. Get over here right aw... hm? What did you say!?"
Suddenly, the tone of Hina-san's voice on the other end changed. Huh, did something happen? I couldn't hear it from this side, but maybe a new report had just come in?
"Hey, Hina?"
"...No, it's fine, Smoker-kun. It's nothing."
"It's clearly not nothing. If something happened, spit it out. Share the information."
A fair point from Smoker-san.
Hina-san went quiet as if wrestling with something, but after a few seconds:
"...Well, if I hide it from you and you go off acting on your own, that'd be a problem too."
"Hiding it would make me act on my own? That's a hell of a thing to say."
"How many times have you violated orders as a new recruit, and how many times have you made the Instructor and the Chief Petty Officer bow their heads in apology? And you still have that attitude... honestly, it's astounding. Hina is exasperated."
"We don't exactly have time, do we? Just talk."
"...The three Pirate Ships split into two groups. One ship broke off and circled around the island. It's begun approaching a different Port Town as its target. The other two are still heading for the same port as originally expected."
"What? What about evacuations for the other Port Town?"
"They've contacted them by Den Den Mushi and are about to begin."
"Given how fast those ships are moving, the evacuation's not gonna make it in time, is it? Then we should send some Marines over there and buy time at the waterfront..."
At that moment, on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Hina-san seemed to choke on her words. An unnatural pause.
"...No. The decision from above is to concentrate all Marine forces currently on this island at the Port Town where the two ships will be landing. We intercept there and definitively stop their advance."
"! Hey, what the hell does that mean? You're just abandoning the other Port Town!?"
Smoker-san's voice turned harsh.
But as if she'd expected that reaction, Hina-san continued evenly:
"That's not it. It's a matter of priorities and certainty."
"Priorities of what? Between ordinary citizens and the Government VIP the Marines are protecting?"
"The patrol ship that's out on its rounds will be handling the other Port Town. It happens to be heading in the same direction, so it can dock at the port in question and intercept the Pirates..."
"There's no way it'll make it in time! No matter how fast a warship is, the Pirate Ship is already visible to the naked eye! It'd be way faster to send Marines there on foot!"
"That proposal was rejected. Our primary duty is to the original Protectee..."
"And for that, you're just gonna let civilians die!?"
"That's not it! That's not what this is, but...!"
Hina-san might have been struggling with this too. Her words caught in her throat.
"...Those are the orders from above. Smoker-kun, once you've delivered the Protectee, return immediately to this Port Town. Join the preparations for establishing the defensive line. That is all."
"...That so. Well, I've got a lousy sense of direction, so I might just end up wandering into the wrong town."
"Smoker-kun!"
Click!
Smoker-san cut the call there.
His expression was openly displeased, and I could hear the sound of him grinding his teeth from where I stood.
Unable to contain his frustration, he shoved the Den Den Mushi back into his jacket, then pulled out cigarettes and a match. Stuck two in his mouth at once and lit up.
Ooh, they weren't cigars, but that was so very Smoker-like! ...But wait, was it really okay for a minor to be doing that?
"Hoo... sorry about that. In front of the Protectee and all."
"No, no, I don't mind at all."
"That so? Then while you're not minding, got one more thing to ask of you."
A request. What could it be? ...Well, I had a pretty good guess.
"Sorry, but something's come up I need to take care of. Think you can make it back to Town on your own? Someone like you never needed an escort in the first place."
If he headed to that other Port Town now, he could help with intercepting the Pirates and, of course, with evacuating civilians too. Even though he'd definitely get chewed out later for disobeying orders, or maybe face even worse consequences. Sounded like he'd already pulled stunts like this more than once, and yet he didn't hesitate at all. Impressive.
But even so, disregarding internal Marine matters was one thing. Doing this while he had an external Protectee was a whole different level of trouble. The Marines' reputation was at stake, and this might not end with just a stern warning. If the Protectee's country lodged a formal complaint, it'd get even worse...
...But, hmm. "Protectee," huh.
"...Smoker-san, can I say one thing?"
"? What?"
"You're still technically my guard right now, aren't you? The original plan was for you to escort me all the way back to Town."
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then you have a duty to protect me, don't you? As part of your job."
"I do, but..."
"Then no matter where I decide to go from here, you'd have to come along and keep me safe, right? The person on that call just now... Hina-san, was it? She said, 'Once you've delivered the Protectee, then report back.'"
"...! You don't mean..."
Oh, maybe he caught on? To what I was about to say. To what I was about to propose.
"So, I might happen to get lost and end up wandering to a different Port Town from here, but please make sure you follow me and keep me safe, okay? Even if it means fighting Pirates."
There was a Protectee on this side too. Time to make sure the job got done properly.
To be continued...