Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Chapter 7

straight faces, but after seeing this, they couldn't contain their  laughter anymore, nor could the other people who had gathered around and seen him.
    "M...Mt. Hou Kou, you look very pleasant today." Pumpkin Daibu was so nervous that the tone of his  voice sounded strange. "I am the Shiba of Sui Province in Tai Kingdom. I am called Rohaku. I...I'm  originally from Nan'you County in Ba Province--"
    Since he was crouched on the ground and speaking quickly, and also stuttering because he was  nervous, Taiki couldn't hear very clearly the flattery that was directed toward him.
    "It is an extreme privilege to be able to pay my respects to your honorable self today! I wish the Kou  a very long life!"

    Taiki didn't know what to do, so he glanced up at Youka. She then raised her eyebrows a little  towards him. He understood the meaning in her eyes, and said to the man who was bowing, "I wish you  well...until the equinox."
    The man immediately looked up, and then his shoulders suddenly drooped.
    "...Re-really? I... I see..." said the man, thinking outloud as a dejected expression came to his face.
    Youka stifled her laughter and lightly pressed Taiki's back.
    "Let's go. Just do as you did as we walk around."
    - - - - -
    Taiki was surrounded by a group of nyosen who were looking back at the men again and again as  they walked. After a stretch of road, one of the nyosen quietly said to Taiki, "It's a good thing you stopped  him from saying more. Who knows how long we would have had to listen to him otherwise!"
    "...I couldn't find an opportunity to interrupt."
    "Thank goodness he won't become your master, or else he wouldn't have been worthy to serve  under."
    Seeing the relief on the nyosen's face, Taiki tilted his head and asked, "Was that guy not good?"
    "If you discover the revelation, it doesn't matter if the person is good or bad. It's just that it would be  too embarrassing for Tai Kingdom if even a pumpkin like that could become the king. Although it isn't too  important whether the ruler looks good or not, all people are even a little bit vain. At the very least, the  person who becomes the ruler should have a bit of dignity."
    "Is...that so?"
    Youka smiled and said, "Don't listen to their nonsense. The most important thing is whether or not  you receive the revelation."
    The other nyosen heard Youka explaining things to Taiki so earnestly yet again and lightly flared up  at her. "Come now, Youka. You say that, but from ancient times until now, has an ugly person ever become  the ruler?"
    "Right, right. That's because a person's dignity can be seen from their appearance. Moreover, those  who want to become ruler, whether it's their looks or their personality, must fit with the manner of a ruler."
    "When we're out in public, speak a little more quietly," warned Youka softly, and the nyosen  immediately stopped talking.
    Youka saw this and couldn't help but smile. She bent down and said to Taiki, "Don't mind their idle  talk. Your duty is to wait for the appearance of the revelation."
    "Okay..."
    Many people surrounded Taiki and continuously flattered him, but Taiki didn't feel anything unusual  happen.
    The number of mountain-climbers, together with all their servants, added up to more than three- hundred people. Besides the masters who had come to see if they could become the ruler, the servants that
    followed them also had the opportunity to be chosen the ruler.
    There many who saw Taiki and rushed to be near him, but there were also people who saw him and  chose not to speak with him since they hadn't planned on going forward and talking with him. The nyosen  had also once mentioned to him that even if he didn't talk with the ruler, he would still recognize the ruler's  presence. Unfortunately, no sort of revelation showed itself to him.

    Regardless of whether it was the people who were talking to him or the people who were not, their  eyes were all filled with anticipation. When he thought about the fact there was no way to fulfill the  expectations of most of them in the end, Taiki couldn't help but feel sorrowful.
    After getting a break from the crowds, Taiki heaved a sigh. Youka heard it and was concerned, so she  tried to gauge his mood.
    "Are you tired?"
    "No. It's just that meeting so many people in so short a time..."
    "It's already past noon. Would you like to return to Hoto Palace? You probably want to rest a little  bit. Or, we could just go straight back to Houro