﻿\setgamedatatitle("Magahime_09")

\text("Caym")
Heh... No matter the country, the nightlife in the city
always has the same kind of bustle.
\endtext

\text
As he walked through the streets of Shinrenga with Magahime,
Caym let out that thought.
\endtext

\text
Just as he said, the city was lively―not in spite of the
night, but because it was night.
\endtext

\text
There were already drunken patrons staggering around.
\endtext

\text
Voices of touts calling out to customers echoed everywhere.
\endtext

\text
Amidst all that noise, the aroma of exotic cuisine mingled
in the air.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh my, feeling sentimental for once?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I'm just impressed, Magahime.
\endtext

\text
Magahime's slightly teasing tone was met with a serious look
from Caym.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Impressed?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
The people are resilient. To them, wars with other countries
and palace intrigues seem like trivial matters.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
That's true... For everyone in the city, how well business
did today or the price of tomorrow's stock is far more
important.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Besides, in San, dynasties changing was an everyday thing...

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Maybe the only ones who thought this incident was a big deal
were us and the soldiers.

\endtext

\text
With that, Magahime gazed at the people passing by with an
indescribable look in her eyes.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I'm hungry.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Huh?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
For a while now―I'm pretty sure it's the smell of grilled
chicken, but it's been drifting over here and my stomach
won't shut up.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Now that you mention it, it's about dinner time. All right.
There's a place I like nearby, let's go there.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Sounds good to me.
\endtext

\text
Nodding at Magahime's words, Caym followed her as she led
him down a narrow alley.
\endtext

\text
………………
\endtext

\text
…………
\endtext

\text
……
\endtext

\text
The place Magahime brought Caym to was a tavern in the Shuka
style.
\endtext

\text
The shop was decently sized, and most of the customers
seemed to be lower middle class citizens.
\endtext

\text
There, they grilled skewered chicken, vegetables, and fish
over charcoal and served them fresh off the fire.
\endtext

\text
You could also enjoy a clear liquor made from Shuka-style
grains if you ordered it.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Whew, I ate a ton.
\endtext

\text
After devouring a mountain of skewers and downing two or
three drinks, Caym was in high spirits.
\endtext

\text
Magahime also kept Caym company, emptying about two glasses
herself.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
So? Did you like it?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, I never thought chicken seasoned with just salt could
be this flavorful.
\endtext

\text
The natural taste of the chicken and just the right amount
of fat.
\endtext

\text
The way the salt was sprinkled to bring out the flavor, and
the perfect grilling over charcoal.
\endtext

\text
At first glance, the tavern owner looked like a rather
unimpressive craftsman.
\endtext

\text
But his skills could easily rival those of the top chefs
Caym knew.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
So... what are you going to do now?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm? What do you mean? Are you craving something sweet? If
so―
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
No, not about the food... I mean, what comes next. You've
annexed Shuka. So?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ah, you mean that. Hmm... Well, first, I'll unify the Nilt
region.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh my, that's quite ambitious.
\endtext

\text
But Magahime had already expected that kind of answer from
Caym when she asked.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh, after all, all the beautiful women in Nilt are waiting
for me.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I'm going to have them all. Beautiful women―that means
they're mine.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Ahaha. How should I put it... that's so you. Yeah.

\endtext

\text
Caym boasted with a smug look on his face.
\endtext

\text
Magahime had figured he'd say something like that anyway.

\endtext

\text
But it seemed Caym was actually quite serious about it.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
W-Well, that's fine and all... but what about after that?
Even if you pacify Nilt, there's still more beyond that, you
know?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... beyond that, huh. Even with my brilliant mind, I
can't predict that far ahead.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Honestly, I haven't thought about it at all.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh dear.
\endtext

\text
Magahime couldn't help but give a wry smile at Caym's
answer.
\endtext

\text
That said, if she imagined herself in Caym's position... it
did seem hard to think that far ahead.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, I'm sure Risbell is thinking about that stuff.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...You really do trust that girl, don't you?

\endtext

\text
At Caym's words, Magahime let out a faint sigh tinged with
jealousy.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Like I said before, I don't have those kinds of feelings for
her.
\endtext

\text
Noticing what Magahime's sigh meant, Caym replied a little
awkwardly.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
She doesn't have any boobs, and her ass isn't even worth
grabbing. On top of that, she's not even friendly.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
You're a much better woman.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Oh my, thank you. I'll take that as a compliment.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
But... that's not really what I mean.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm?
\endtext

\text
Magahime's words carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
\endtext

\text
Hearing her tone, Caym furrowed his brow.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Every woman except that girl is just your property.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I know you're kind, but still, there's a clear line between
the one who rules and the ones who are ruled.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
............
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
But that girl... Risbell is different. She's your
comrade-in-arms.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
No one but her can give you a grand goal, a dream...

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Personally, I guess that's a little frustrating for me.
\endtext

\text
With that, Magahime gave a lonely smile.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I get what you're saying, and I accept it. It's true that
without her, neither I nor this country would be where we
are now.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
But you don't need to say anything extra to her. She's weak
to flattery. If she gets carried away, it'll be a problem.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
You're right. If I say something careless and mess up her
strategic sense, that would be troublesome. I'll watch my
words.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, I'm counting on you.
\endtext

\text
After that, Caym and the others enjoyed some idle
conversation until Risbell herself, having run out of
patience, came to the shop to fetch them.
\endtext