The 26th Day of the Fire month. Just before the date changes, Fate-san, who stayed at the Albert Duchy for the night, left the words āI wonāt give up! I will continue to visit and get closer to Kai-chan, until you finally decide to support me!ā, before leaving.
Seriously, that person isnāt even shaken at allā¦ā¦ I feel like if she were to redirect half of that enthusiasm to not work of hers towards her work, she would be able to finish her work with ease and have enough time to laze around.
And now, as morning came the next day, just as she had told me, Lilia-san summoned me to her office. When I knocked on the door of her office and went inside, I saw Lilia-san with a solemn look on her face.
[Good morning, Kaito-san. Iām sorry for calling you early in the morning.]
[Good morning. No, itās alright. So, is there something going on?]
[Yes, about thatā¦ā¦ Who else is there?]
[ā¦ā¦Unnn?]
Lilia-san asked me with her hands shaking slightly, but not immediately understanding what she meant, I tilted my head.
[ā¦ā¦Who else do you know? World King-sama? God of Life-sama? If you still have any other acquaintances, please tell me already!!!]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..]
How should I say thisā¦ā¦ It seems that I had really driven Lilia-san to a corner. She looked like sheās already on the verge of tearsā¦ā¦ No, Iām really sorry. Kuro, Shiro-san, Chronois-san, Isis-san, Fate-san, I feel guilty that Iāve been meeting so many extraordinary people in a row, and that Iām really giving Lilia-san a hard time. However, as for the other people I knewā¦ā¦ and those that Lilia-san didnāt know about, that would be the general store shop owner Alice, I guess? To be honest, since the first day we met, I feel like she had this atmosphere around her that was different from the othersā¦ā¦ but I donāt feel the intimidation I felt from the Six Kings and the Supreme Gods. I think she was probably a human, but I suppose I should still talk to Lilia-san about her. With that in mind, I explained to Lilia-san about Alice for a while.
After listening to my story, Lilia-san patted her chest, looking somewhat relieved.
[ā¦ā¦Thank goodness. Itās someone I donāt know.]
[S- Somehow, Iām sorry.]
[N- No, Iām the one who should apologize for being oversensitive.]
Unnn. From now on, Iāll try to report even the smallest details. While I was thinking about this, I turned my gaze at Lilia-sanās desk and found many documents on it. It doesnāt seem like they were letters, as although I can only see it from a distance, it looks like theyāre accounting-related documents, as there were numbers lined up in rows.
[Kaito-san? Whatās the matter?]
[Ah, no, itās just that this is the first time Iāve seen Lilia-san workingā¦ā¦]
[Ahh, I seeā¦ā¦ I may be inexperienced, but Iām still in charge of many peopleās lives. Also, I donāt really feel comfortable leaving everything to others, so I try to do the work I can do myself.]
To be honest, until I met Lilia-san, my image of nobles was that they were always self-important and arrogant, but Iāve realized since coming to this world that it was just my prejudice. Especially Lilia-san, who doesnāt look like a noble in a good way, but even though sheās only one year older than me, sheās a splendid person that I wholeheartedly respect.
It seems that there are no important confidential documents among them, so since itās safe for me to look at them, I look at the documents that Lilia-san is dealing with from a little distance away from her. The fact that there are lots of numbers lined up must mean that theyāre accounting-related, perhaps, sheās calculating the expenses and incomes.
Is it because the currency they use is different? Itās not the same shape as the one I know, but it serves the same purposeā¦ā¦ but I think the one Lilia-san is holding is this worldās abacus.
As I watched the scene in front of me for a while, a question popped into my head. I wondered if there are any calculators in this world or something like thatā¦ā¦
No, itās not like Iām saying that calculators are better than abacus in every way. After all, if one is skilled in using abacus, they will be able to perform calculations at a terrifying speed. However, thatās only for a small percentage of peopleā¦ā¦ In fact, Lilia-san has been looking at the documents over and over again, calculating each time while slowly moving the abacus.
I think that with her pace, she will take lots of time to finish calculating everything.
Iāve put Lilia-san through lots of trouble already. Iād like to help if I could, but unfortunately, I only learned about using abacus a few times in elementary school, and Iām not particularly good at math. If I try to help with my incapability, I would just end up being a hindrance. But if I had a calculator here, I might be able to help Lilia-san with her work, and even if she didnāt allow me to help, it would certainly be able to improve her work speed. Unfortunately though, I donāt have a calculator at hand at the moment. To be precise, I had a pocket-sized calculator in my backpack when I came to this world butā¦ā¦ The calculator is a mechanical technology of our world, and right now, itās in the custody of the Goddess of Law.
Normally, I would have stopped there, but a thought came to my mind. There were convenient items here called magic tools, supporting the livelihood of the residents of this world, and some of them even have capabilities far beyond the mechanical technology of my previous world. There are magic tools that act similar to a lighter, and thereās also a magic tool that functions like an air conditioner. Thatās when I wondered if there was a magic tool that could perform calculations like a calculator, and even if there wasnāt one, I will just have it made. However, Iām still a novice when it comes to this world, so I donāt know if there is such a magic tool or if itās really possible to make it based on what Iām thinking. Hmmm. I guess the best way to find out is to ask the creator of magic tools, Kuro, who is the most reliable source of information when it comes to magic.
With that in mind, I leave the room so as not to disturb Lilia-san any further, and as I walk down the corridor to my room, I put together in my mind what Iām going to ask Kuro the next time she comes to visit.
That night, Kuro also came to my room as usual and I practiced magic for self-defense. Kuro is a great teacher, and thanks to her lessons, I was able to learn magic for self-defense at a considerable pace, and now, I could already invoke it.
However, it seems likeā¦ā¦ not everything went as smoothly as it seems.
[Unnn. I think itās starting to take form butā¦ā¦ Kaito-kun, using this magic too much is no good, okay? It has a heavy burden on your body, after all. Well, I guess youāre already feeling it nowā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦my whole body hurts.]
[See that? Iām gonna cast Recovery Magic on you, so stay put.]
Iāve learned a new magic, and as a result of thatā¦ā¦ Iāve been lying on the floor with painful muscle ache all over my body, and seeing me like that, Kuro wryly smiles before casting Recovery Magic on me. After a warm light envelops my body, the numbing pain in my body eases.
The magic that Kuro taught me is a combat-oriented magic thatās making use of my Sympathy Magic, though itās also the type that has a backlash, and since the me who doesnāt have that much magic power canāt use it for a long time, itās really a magic that I could only in emergencies. However, itās a magic that fulfills the demands I have in mind, and it has made a moderately amusing effectā¦ā¦ Well, I just hope I wonāt have to use it butā¦ā¦
[Speaking of which, I had something to ask, Kuro.]
[Unnn?]
[Is there a magic tool in this world that acts like the machine in my world called calculator?]
[Kalkulator? What kind of teknolojikal mashin is that?]
It seems that calculators havenāt been passed down by previous people who held the role of Hero, so I go on to explain what a calculator is to Kuro. I wondered for a moment why theyāve passed down mayonnaise and stuff like that but not the calculator, but thinking about it, it has never occurred to me until I saw Lilia-san struggling with her calculations. The reason is that as soon as I came to this world, I entrusted my technological items to them, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I had a preconceived notion that technological items are no good in this world, and I didnāt think that it would be possible to recreate that with magic tools because I didnāt know that magic tools can be made individually.
The previous people who play the role of Hero probably also had the same preconceptions. And most importantly, I heard that unlike me, that guy whoās playing the role of Hero is rather busy. They are traveling around the world in a year to give speeches, so they would be more conscious about the food and clothing around them, and compared to the books and other forms of entertainment they may encounter on their travels, I think itās almost impossible to get involved in anything related to accounting.
Thinking about this, I told Kuro about the calculator and asked her if there was something similar here. If one doesnāt exist, I also asked her if itās possible to recreate it.
[ā¦ā¦Is that something Kaito-kun thought of?]
[Eh? No, it was just a common tool back in my world.]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦]
After she finished listening to my explanation, Kuro looked quite surprised at first, then she put her hand on her chin and began thinking for aĀ while.
[ā¦ā¦I think that can be recreated. However, thatās something I never thought about. Itās true that if you record the formula, you would be able to calculate in an instant butā¦ā¦]
[But?]
[I didnāt think about that at all. Magic and math are two different things, and the idea of using magic to support calculation never entered my thought. Now that you mentioned it, I was just thinking why I hadnāt thought of that before.]
Now that she mentioned it, I think I can somewhat understand. The technological machines we use back in our worldā¦ā¦ were products made by science, which are in a sense, connected with mathematics right from the start. However, the magic in this world is a separate entity from science, and it seems like they had no idea of connecting it with mathematics. In that sense, the person who made the first calculator and the computers must have been a real geniusā¦ā¦
Kuro became silent again for a while, and after taking out a piece of paper and pen, she began writing something on it. After sheās done, her black coat spreads out like a curtain and she calls out to it.
[Sechs, you there?]
[Is something the matter? Oya? If it isnāt Miyama-dono? Itās been a while.]
[Itās been a long time, Sechs-san.]
From behind her coat, Sechs -san appeared, wearing a mask that looked like some tribe might be using it in a ritual, and even though weāve met before, I was still surprised when a bony hand appeared. As I recall, from what I heard when I met him before, he usually wears a ceremonial mask to make it easier to distinguish him from other liches. Itās certainly easy to distinguish him, but this makes it look like heās at a carnival. Well, if thatās his personal hobby, thatās not something I will interfere with.
After exchanging a brief greeting with Sechs-san when he appeared, Kuro handed Sechs-san the piece of paper she had just written on.
[This is a magic tool that Kaito-kun had thought up, and I had written here the technique needed to make itā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦ This isā¦ā¦ quite a brilliant idea!]
No, that isnāt really my idea, I just gave her the details of a tool I had been using back in my previous worldā¦ā¦
[What do you think?]
[ā¦ā¦This would start a revolution.]
[Can we start mass production?]
[Yes, as expected of Kuromu-sama. With this technique, we could make it fairly cheap.]
Errr, what the heckās happening? I feel like the situation is getting bigger and bigger.
For my part, I was just hoping that I could get Kuro to make a calculator-like magic too and give it to Lilia-san, but Kuro and Sechs-sanās reaction to it somehow looks unusual.
[Kaito-kun. Can I make and sell this kalkulator at my company?]
[Eh? Ah, yeah. I donāt really mindā¦ā¦ or rather, itās not like Iām the one who invented it.]
Kuro asked me with a somewhat serious expression on her face, and I replied that itās obviously fine with me.
Thereupon, Kuro nods once before turning to Sechs-san.
[Thank you. Then, Sechs.]
[Yes, then, regarding Miyama-donoās rightā¦ā¦ How about āhalf of the net profitā from this magic tool?]
[ā¦ā¦Huh?]
Arehh? The flow of the conversation somehow turned strange. Half of the net profit? Does that mean Iām getting paid?
[Basically, youāll be paid on a monthly basis.]
[Eh, no, could you please wait a sec!? Iām telling you this isnāt something I invented, this is something that came from my previous worldā¦ā¦]
[That might be so. But in this world, Kaito-kun is the one who invented it.]
[Huh?]
W- What should I do? In short, this means that Iām the one who holds the patent rights for the calculator, rightā¦ā¦? Arenāt patents something that would bring in really large amounts of money? No, itās not that I donāt like getting paid eitherā¦ā¦ Iām only going to be in this world for a year, and even now, Iām feeling doubtful if I can even spend all the money that Lilia-san gave meā¦ā¦ Lilia-san? Ah, I can do that.
[For example, would it be fine if I were to hand over the rights to Lilia-sanā¦ā¦ to Duchess Albert?]
[Yes, of course, thatās fine. What to do with your right is up to you, Miyama-dono. But if you want to do this, I think it would be better to have Duchess Albert in this conversation as well.]
[Youāre right. Ah, thatās right. Sechs, youāre going to visit Lilia-chan next time, right? Why donāt you bring Kaito-kun in on the discussion then?]
[Fumu, that could workā¦ā¦ for the meantime then, letās make this magic tool and letās see it in action.]
[Ah, that would be thankful.]
It seems that itās a done deal that they would make a calculator (temp) for me, which should make Lilia-sanās job a lot easier. To be honest, I just need enough money to enjoy this world, and if Lilia-san doesnāt mind it, Iām fine with handing over all of that rights to her.
After discussing this matter for a few moments, Sechs-san said that he would start working on the production before leaving.
[So, Kaito-kun. You mentioned earlier how you wanted to ask something, what is it?]
[Errrā¦ā¦ This really isnāt something that needed immediate attentionā¦ā¦]
When Kuro asked me what I wanted to discuss with her next, I asked her about that matter regarding Aliceās general store. After giving her a brief explanation about the magic tools that Alice made, I asked her if she would be willing to help her sell them. Thereupon, Kuro silently thought about it for a moment before she spoke.
[ā¦ā¦Unnn. From what I heard, she makes good magic tools, and I can talk to one of my companies about selling themā¦ā¦ but I canāt give you a definite answer until I see her creations myself.]
[I seeā¦ā¦]
[If itās possible, Iād like to go to that store and talk to the shop owner. However, Iām sorry. I donāt think Iāll be able to make time this monthā¦ā¦ If sheās free next month, Iāll check my availability and contact her.]
[Unnn, thatās okay. Rather, that really helps.]
It seems that Kuro herself is going to be the one directly doing business with her. As one of the leaders of the Demon Realm, Iām sure Kuro has a very busy position, so I really appreciate that she readily accepted my request.
[Itās Kaito-kunās request after all. Iāll help you as much as I can. Well, if her products arenāt good enough, Iāll clearly tell her no, okay?]
[Unnn. Thanks.]
[Fufufu, your welcomeā¦ā¦ Is there anything else?]
[No, thatās all. Thatās really helpful.]
Iāve finished talking to Kuro about all the things I wanted to consult with her.
As I watched Kuro start to eat baby castellas with a bright smile on her face, I thought for a moment. This isnāt something I needed to think twice about, but I really am quite indebted to Kuro. Kuro is kind and patient for someone you wouldnāt expect from someone who looked so young. Thatās why I couldnāt help but depend on her. Though I say that, I feel like Iāve always been depending on Kuro since I came to this world, so Iād like to express my gratitude to her if itās possible. However, even if I were to tell her about it, she would most probably just tell me to not worry about it.
[ā¦ā¦Kaito-kun? You had something in mind?]
[ā¦ā¦Unnn? Iām just slightly thinking about Kuroā¦ā¦]
[Eh? A- About me? Ah, I understand! What Chronois-chan said has been bothering your mind, right? Fufufu, you donāt have to be embarrassed about it. If you ask now, as a great service, Iāll give you a hintā¦ā¦]
[No, I donāt really care about something like that.]
[āSomething like thatā!?]
However, even if I want to express my gratitude, as to how to do thatā¦ā¦ After making a big show of saying āIāll ask her out next timeā at our previous date, I think itād be deplorable to invite her on a date as a way to say my thanks. In that case, I guess itās better to give her something as a present. That being said though, what should I give to Kuro, the richest person in the world and one of the pinnacles of the Demon Realm?
[Kaito-kun? Oiiii~~]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.]
As for accessories, I had that in mind. The necklace that Kuro wanted during our previous dateā¦ā¦ which I actually bought back then. However, it would apparently get torn apart when she goes into her Demon Beast Mode, whatever that means. That necklace would need some tinkering, so it would be difficult to give it to her as a present immediately.
[Kaito-kunās ignoring meā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..]
Isnāt there something good I could give her? A gift that even I could quickly prepare and that will make Kuro happyā¦ā¦ Hmmm.
[Mnhh, fine! If youāll keep on ignoring me, Iāll eat all of these baby castellas!]
[Thatās it!]
[Hyaaahhh!? W- Whatās with you all of a sudden?]
[Isnāt that exactly what I needā¦ā¦]
[Eh? W- What?]
Thatās right. When one thinks of Kuro, it would be baby castellas! If I ask someone to teach me how to make baby castellas, even I should be able to make them.
Itās not that I would be troubled if she knew about it, but since weāre at it, I thought I should keep this a secret. Chuckling at Kuro, who cutely puffed out her cheeks in protest, I began thinking about my plans for tomorrow.
The 27th Day of the Fire month. I decided to make my own baby castellas as a thank you to Kuro. The protagonists in the stories who live alone are often good at cooking, but unfortunately, my life alone hasnāt awakened such a talent in me. The retorting technology has been incredibly amazing lately. Frozen foods and retort pouches were already enough for poor college students like me to eat.
(T/N: Retorting is a means to process food, an alternative for the traditional canning method, packaging it in a laminate of flexible plastic and metal foils.)
Even though I was living by myself, I could only cook stir-fried meat and vegetables. Of course, even if I tried making sweets by myself, I knew that I wouldnāt get a good result. No, I mean, I did try making an apple pie before and it ended up being a failure.
[ā¦ā¦And thatās why, Sieg-san, please teach me how to make sweets.]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.]
Probably surprised by what I had said, Sieg-san pointed at herself and tilted her head. The first person who came to my mind when I thought of someone to teach me how to bake was Sieg-san. The cookies I had received from her before were really delicious and tasted gentle, so I wanted to make a baby castella like that one.
[I understand that Sieg-san is very busy, so if itās too difficult, you can turn me down.]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.]
Sieg-san is the leader of the security team at the mansionā¦ā¦ She naturally has a lot of work to do. Thus, I think it wouldnāt be strange if she didnāt have the time and refused. As I waited for Sieg-sanās answer, she took out a piece of paper and a pen.
āIām not that skillful to teach others, but if youāre still fine with meā¦ā¦ā
[Yes! Iām in your care.]
āI understand. I still have some work though, so how about this evening?ā
[That would be really great.]
I repeatedly bowed my head to Sieg-san and thanked her for her agreement. Thereupon, Sieg-san looked as if she was thinking about something for a moment, before she wrote some new words on her paper.
āYou could easily acquire the ingredients, so that wonāt be any problemā¦ā¦ but what about the baking mould?ā
[ā¦ā¦Ahh.]
I- Indeed, I canāt make baby castellas without a baking mould. C- Canāt I make it like how cookies were made? Guess not huh? H- However, where do I get a baby castellaās mould? I mean, is that even something sold somewhere in the first place?
[I- Iāll search for one.]
[ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..]
Realizing that that would be a problem before I could even be taught how to make sweets, after bowing to the nodding Sieg-san, I headed back to town. A few minutes after leaving the house, I visited the general store that I had been frequenting recently.
[ā¦ā¦Hey, are you selling a baby castella baking mould here?]
[ā¦ā¦What would you even use that forā¦ā¦ If you want to eat baby castellas, couldnāt you just go buy at a nearby stall? While youāre at it, buy some for me too.]
I tried to ask Alice, but her reply didnāt meet my expectations.
[No, I was actually thinking of making homemade baby castellas to give to someone I knowā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦Canāt you just make cookies instead?]
ā¦ā¦Understandable. I donāt know how to refute that. N- No, but if Iām going to give Kuro a gift, Iād rather give her food that she likesā¦ā¦
[Iād like to give her baby castellas if possibleā¦ā¦ I guess it would be difficult huh?]
[Well, I donāt have it in my store. However, if you really need one, āI can make itā, you know?]
[Eh? Can make it, the baby castella baking mould?]
[Yes, as I mentioned before, I make everything in my store.]
I- I seeā¦ā¦ Indeed, looking at her products, Alice is also capable of smithing. That means, I can ask her to make a baking mould for me.
[ā¦ā¦Can I ask you to make one?]
""
[Kaito-san is my only regular after all~~ Even if Iām like this, Iād like to help you if possible butā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦But?]
[Well, Alice-chan is just too hungry and canāt move. Ahh, even though Iād like to do my best for Kaito-sanā¦ā¦ This is heart-breaking.]
[ā¦ā¦Iāll go buy something at a stall.]
[You can count on me! In Alice-chanās hands, it wonāt take long to make a baking mould or two!]
ā¦ā¦This b*stard. As soon as she sees an opportunity to take advantage of me, she lunges upon it like a hyena. She really has a great personalityā¦ā¦ Even though I somehow feel like I lost, my shoulders slumping, I decide to just dismiss it as a necessary expense.
[So, how much will it be?]
[Are you talking about the cost? The time?]
[Both, I guess?]
[Letās see, Iāve already got enough materials on hand, so the priceā¦ā¦ How about 100R?]
10,000 yen huh. Since Iām having it made to order, itās cheaper than I expected, so I guess itās not a problem. After nodding my head and telling her that Iām fine with that price, Alice took out her pocket watch and continued.
[As for timeā¦ā¦ Unnn. I think I can make it in āabout an hourā.]
[Eh? That fast!?]
[Fufufu, nothing is impossible for Alice-chan.]
[ā¦ā¦How about you stop spending your living expenses on gambling.]
[Ah, thatās impossāāā- Fugyaaahh!?]
Dropping a smack on Aliceās head as usual, I also checked my pocket watch. Instead of waiting here for an hour, I might as well buy some of the ingredients from the list Sieg-san taught me. Iāll also get the food I promised Alice.
[Well then, Alice. Iāll go shopping for a bit. Iāll also go buy the food I promised you earlier, so Iāll count on you to make the baking mould.]
[Yes, yes. Please leave it to me.]
Leaving a few words to Alice, I left to go shopping. Then, when I came back an hour later, I found that the baking mould had been made just as I had requested. Itās quite large, but according to Alice, it can be heated by ordinary Household Cooking Magic Tools.
Thanking Alice for her help, I handed over the money along with the food I bought from a stall, and was about to leave when I suddenly thought of something, so I decided to ask about it too. Returning back to the mansion, Sieg-san told me she had time that evening, and she taught me how to create baby castellas. Itās actually not that hard to make a good baby castella. It took some time to get used to moderate baking them, but making them in itself was quite simple. Yes, if itās just making themā¦ā¦
[ā¦ā¦Hmmm.]
Itās great that I learned from Sieg-san and tried making them a few times, but whenĀ Itried tasting them, I just couldnāt get the taste right. No, it does taste delicious, but they arenāt as good as the baby castellas Kuro usually brings. Well, the baby castella that the baby castella-loving Kuro eats must be a good one, so it might be wrong for an amateur like me to try to compete with it. However, Iād like to have a little ingenuity in my baby castellas. Since she still had a job to do, it was difficult to ask Sieg-san to stay with me any longer, so I just took her advice and decided to think about the rest on my own.
Sieg-san said that it might be good to try kneading something into the dough, so Iāve been thinking about what I could fill in it. I wonder what I could knead into the doughā¦ā¦ Matcha? In the first place though, I donāt think Iāve found any matcha tea here. No, wait. Iām forgetting something important here. If I donāt know Kuroās preferences, I wouldnāt be able to make something sheād be delighted about.
In that caseā¦ā¦ Alright, I need to make preparations. Deciding to find out what Kuro likes later, I rushed out to do some shopping. That night, I put some sweets in front of Kuro, who visited me as usual.
[ā¦ā¦Kaito-kun? What are these?]
[Which one of these flavors do you like, Kuro?]
[Eh? Unnn.]
Keeping the main topic under wraps, I asked Kuro to compare these sweets.
[ā¦ā¦If itās among these, this would be what I like.]
[Fumu fumu.]
Strawberry jam cookies huh, I seeā¦ā¦ Before Kuro, who answered even while she tilted her head in wonder, I took out more sweets from the magic box.
[Then, what about among these?]
[H- Hey, Kaito-kun? What kind of experiment are you doing here?]
[ā¦ā¦Secret.]
[This too!?]
[A- Anyway, this is something really important. Eat and compare them, then Iād like you to tell me which one you liked.]
[U- Unnn.]
At any rate, Iām not very good at lying, so I decided to just forcefully push my way through the situation.
[ā¦ā¦Hey, Kaito-kun? How many times are we going to repeat this?]
[Forty-eight times more.]
[That many!?]
Ignoring Kuroās confusion, I forcefully investigated Kuroās tastes and preferences. As a result, it seems that Kuro likes fruity flavors and especially likes sweet things. On the other hand, she doesnāt really like bitter things, so Iām going to use this as a guide in planning my ingredients for tomorrow.
28th Day of the Fire month. Iāve been staring at the various ingredients in the kitchen since early in the morning. I know that Kuro likes fruity flavors, but trying to add it to baby castellas would be quite difficult. If I put jam inside, it would be just like rehashing the baby castellas I brought me, and I donāt know if kneading jam into the dough would work either. I wish I could have talked to Sieg-san, but she seemed to have gone out early this morning, and I wasnāt able to find her. While I was thinking about this matter for a while, the door to the kitchen opened and a woman wearing a chef hat came in.
[ā¦ā¦Oya? Miyama-kun, you came to sneak out breakfast?]
[Good morning, Head Chefā¦ā¦ No, I was actually slightly troubled with something.]
Iām on good terms with the Head Chef who works at Lilia-sanās mansion, to the extent that I talk to her once in a while. She had apologized for using poor quality ingredients in my meal when I first came to this mansion, and we began to talk from time to time. Thatās right, I could ask the Head Chef about this! I know that the Head Chefās skills are top-notch from the daily meals she serves, and compared to the other servants, itās easier for me to consult with her.
[ā¦ā¦Thereās something Iād like to consult with you, so would it be alright, Head Chef?]
[Unnn, is that something that could be done while Iām making breakfast?]
[Ah, yes. Itās alright.]
As the Head Chef cooked breakfast, I briefly explained the situation to her. Thereupon, the Head Chef looked like she was thinking about this for a moment, before she took out a bottle from the cupboard.
[ā¦ā¦If thatās the case, what about adding some āFlower Nectarā? Itās the specialty of the Symphonia Kingdom after all.]
[Is that so?]
[Yeah, the Symphonia Kingdom is richer in nature than the Archlesia Empire and Hydra Kingdom after all. Here, have a little taste.]
[ā¦ā¦Ahh, this tastes great. It also wasnāt as strong as I thoughtā¦ā¦]
The nectar that the Head Chef gave me tasted had an elegant flavor with a definite sweetness, and I feel that this would be something Kuro would like. I think I can add it to the baby castellas as a syrup, so I can make use of this.
[This is the only one I have here, but you can find other kinds at specialty stores. If youāre going to add them to baby castellas, Iād say go with the Maple Flowerās nectar.]
[ā¦ā¦Is that a famous flower?]
[Itās a nectar that goes well with pancakes and the like, but itās quite precious of an ingredient. The flowers that produce it do grow in clusters in the western part of the royal capital, but the harvesting method is rather special, making it difficult to harvest.]
[ā¦ā¦I see.]
[If you know someone whoās good at magic, I think you would want to harvest them yourself. That way, youāll get a higher quality produce than whatās being sold on the market.]
The Head Chefās recommendation, Maple Flowerās nectar really does sound very goodā¦ā¦ but if I want to get a good quality product, it would be better if I could directly harvest them myself.
[If youāre going to harvest themā¦ā¦ Just know that there are some monsters in the western mountains, so have Milady arrange an escort for you.]
[I understand. Iāll keep that in mind.]
[Yeah, do your best. Iāll teach you how to add them to the batter later.]
[Yes!]
After thanking the Head Chef for her cooperation and bowing to her again, I left the kitchen. However, I see, there are monsters there huhā¦ā¦ I guess that means I canāt go there by myself huh. On the other hand though, Iāve been causing a lot of trouble for Lilia-san, so I donāt feel comfortable troubling her to arrange an escort for me. I wonder if thereās anyone else I could ask? Someone strong, knows a lot about magic, and would be willing to help me on a short noticeā¦ā¦
After finishing lunch, it was midday and I was waiting for someone in front of the castle gate in the western part of the royal capital. When I told Lilia-san that I wanted to get the nectar from the Maple Flower, she immediately tried to arrange an escort for me, but when she heard the name of the person I asked to accompany me, she immediately canceled it. Well, I donāt think Iāll need any other escort since the person whoās going to accompany me is amazing. When I talked to her about this matter through a hummingbird, she agreed to escort me despite my urgent request, and now weāre meeting up like this. As I waited for a while, the people who were around the gate started to leave, and the area around the gate was engulfed in silence.
Thereupon, the person I was waiting for appeared.
[ā¦ā¦Kaitoā¦ā¦ Good afternoon.]
[Good afternoon, Isis-san. Iām sorry for making such an unreasonable request.]
[ā¦ā¦Noā¦ā¦ Being of help to Kaitoā¦ā¦ makes me happy.]
Yes, I asked Isis-san, whom Iāve recently met and been communicating with via hummingbird, to be my escort and guide. Isis-san is one of the most powerful people in the world, and she has read a lot of books, so she was quite knowledgeable. Sheās also kind enough to willingly respond to my urgent request. Well, when I mentioned this to Lilia-san, she only said āDeath King-sama as your guard? No more, Kaito-san is scaryā¦ā¦ā and held her head in her handsā¦ā¦
[ā¦ā¦Maple Flower Nectarā¦ā¦ right?]
[Yes. The harvesting method was apparently special thoughā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦Itās alrightā¦ā¦ Iām ableā¦ā¦ to do it.]
[Thatās really helpful.]
[ā¦ā¦Being relied on by Kaitoā¦ā¦ makes me happy.]
As Isis-san said this with a bashful smile, she looked so lovely that I wondered if she was an angel.
[ā¦ā¦Well thenā¦ā¦ Letās go.]
[Yes. Errr, was that place far from here?]
[ā¦ā¦Itās a bit farā¦ā¦ so letās fly.]
[Eh? Fly?]
As soon as I tilted my head at the words she said so matter-of-factly, a scaffold made of ice appeared beside Isis-san. Itās a disc with a diameter of about 1m and a thickness of 5 cm or so, and itās slightly floating over the ground. Am I going to ride this?
[ā¦ā¦Errr, Isis-san? Is it safe to ride this?]
[ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ This is imbued with magicā¦ā¦ so it wonāt break even if you ride it.]
[I- I understand. If youāll excuse me.]
Upon Isis-sanās urging, I timidly got on the ice that was floating in the air. It certainly was as Isis-san said, the ice didnāt break and was surprisingly not slippery at all. It also doesnāt feel cold at all, probably because it was made with magic. And at the same time as Isis-sanās body floated within a pale blue light, the ice slab Iām riding on also begins to move. I donāt know if itās the effect of magic too, but I donāt feel any wind and donāt feel like I would lose my balance.
[ā¦ā¦Iāll slightlyā¦ā¦ go faster.]
[Uwoohhh!? A- Amazing!]
The ice slab slides along the street at the speed of a carā¦ā¦ No, at the speed of a train. Unnn, magic really is amazing. Well, maybe because itās Isis-san that sheās able to do all these amazing magicsā¦ā¦
Thanks to the ice slab, we reached our destination in about 10 minutes. It seems that the Maple Flower we were looking for grows in the middle of the mountains, and when we arrived there, we climbed up the mountain at a relatively gentle pace. However, since Iām only riding on an ice slab, I feel as if Iām moving around in a ropeway.
[ā¦ā¦Itās a beautiful mountain.]
[ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ This placeā¦ā¦ is full of flowers.]
I see, it seems that the ice slab has been slowed down so that I can take it in an unhurried manner. Thank you very much. However, while I was moving around, knowing that my safety is guaranteed, I noticed something.
ā¦ā¦Nothingās around us. No monsters, no beast, no bird, and not even a single insect. The mountain is eerily silent. I donāt have to think about the cause, itās most probably because of Isis-sanās magic power of deathā¦ā¦ All the animals that live in this mountain must have escaped. Itās as if thereās no other living thing in the world but meā¦ā¦ So this is the scenery Isis-san sees huhā¦ā¦ How much loneliness was she really in?
[ā¦ā¦Kaito?]
[Ah, no, the scenery is so beautiful that Iām fascinated. Is the Maple Flower ahead of us?]
[ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ Just a bit more.]
As I replied with a smile to regain my composure, I saw a slightly open area out of the corner of my eye. I donāt know if I should describe it as a plateau or not, but it was a flat land located in the middle of a mountain, where many flowers grow in clusters. It was a very beautiful place.
[Itās also beautiful here.]
[ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ Ahhā¦ā¦ Over thereā¦ā¦ Thatās the Maple Flowers.]
[Oh? Ohhhhā¦ā¦ Theyāre bigger than I imagined.]
When I turned my gaze in the direction that Isis-san pointed, I found red flowers about the size of a sunflower. Those flowers were apparently the Maple Flower. Their size looked like one would be able to take a lot of nectar out of them.
[Speaking of which, I only heard that you need a special way to get the Maple Flowerās nectar, but what exactly do you need to do?]
[ā¦ā¦You make the Maple Flowerā¦ā¦ feel stressedā¦ā¦ to harvest their nectarā¦ā¦ Normallyā¦ā¦ You pressure them using magic powerā¦ā¦ Todayā¦ā¦ You should be able to easily harvest them.]
[I could?]
[ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ Kaitoā¦ā¦ Hold your containerā¦ā¦ under the Maple Flower.]
[I understand.]
Doing as Isis-san told me, I held the large bottle in my hand under the Maple Flower. After that, Isis-san approached the Maple Flower and lightly touched it with her hand. Thereupon, a huge amount of nectar overflowed from the Maple Flower and began spilling out. The nectar it leaked out was quite an amount, and after repeating the process several times with different Maple Flowers, the jar was filled with nectar.
[ā¦ā¦In other words, the Maple Flowers felt a great deal of stress from being touched by Isis-sanā¦ā¦ It kinda looked like a sorrowful sight, as if the flowers were rejecting Isis-san.]
[ā¦ā¦You filled it up.]
[ā¦ā¦Yes. Thank you very much.]
[ā¦ā¦Should we go home?]
Iām not sure if Isis-san is aware of this or not, but even though sheās smiling, her expression looked somewhat sad.
[ā¦ā¦Ummm, can I have more of your time?]
[ā¦ā¦Eh? ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ Iām alright with itā¦ā¦ Do you still haveā¦ā¦ other flowers youād like to harvest?]
[No, itās just, weāve come to a beautiful place, you know? How about we take a stroll together?]
Somehow, I didnāt want to go home with her mood like this. If itās possible, I would like to see a smile on Isis-sanās lips before we go home, so I invited her to go for a stroll.
[ā¦ā¦Unnn.]
[Well then, letās take a leisurely look around.]
After confirming that Isis-san agreed, we walked together through the flower-filled plateau. There are big flowers, small flowers, and even though there is a flower bed in Lilia-sanās mansion, there are many flowers here that Iāve never seen before. As I walked along, occasionally turning my head to look at Isis-san, who was floating alongside me, a certain plant suddenly caught my attention.
[Ahh, this isā¦ā¦ a white clover? So this also exists in this world huh.]
[ā¦ā¦Does that flowerā¦ā¦ also exist in Kaitoās world?]
[Yes. Theyāre often used to make crowns.]
[ā¦ā¦Crowns?]
Finding a lot of white clovers, it was such a nostalgic scene that reminded me of my childhood.
[Yesā¦ā¦ Please wait a moment.]
[ā¦ā¦Unnn?]
Isis-san tilted her head when she heard me mention making crowns out of white clovers. Seeing this, I picked out the largest white clover I could find in the area and picked it up. Then, when Iāve gathered a certain number of white clovers, I start braiding them, reminiscing about the past. As if sheās seeing something unusual, Isis-san curiously looked at my hands.
[ā¦ā¦My late motherās parents lived in a place rich in natureā¦ā¦ She taught me how to make them and Iāve made these several times.]
[ā¦ā¦Isā¦ā¦. that so.]
ā¦ā¦It feels really nostalgic. Come to think of it, when Mom first taught me how to make it, I was looking into her hands just like Isis-san is looking at mine now. Just like that, as I talked to Isis-san about my childhood, I was able to make a small flower crown.
[And hereās what it looked like.]
[ā¦ā¦Amazingā¦ā¦ It looks beautiful.]
When I showed her the finished flower crown, Isis-san cutely clapped her hands in praise. Thereupon, feeling a little bashful, I placed the flower crown on Isis-sanās head.
[ā¦ā¦Eh?]
[Unnn. Isis-san is really beautiful after all, so it looks great on you.]
The white clover crown looks great on Isis-san, who has the appearance of a princess. As if she was surprised by my actions, Isis-sanās eyes were wide open, looking rather puzzled. Seeing such an Isis-san, I smiled and continued.
[ā¦ā¦Itās my thanks for the flower you gave me back then. ā¦ā¦Well, I guess itās rather cheap huh?]
[!? ā¦ā¦Noā¦ā¦ That isnātā¦ā¦ the case at all.]
Telling Isis-san that it was thanks for the blue flowerā¦ā¦ the Blue Crystal Flower, I wryly smiled. Shaking her head when she heard my words, Isis-san touches the flower crown with her trembling hand. Then, as if sheās handling a fragile object, she picked it up and held it in front of her chest, taking care not to crush it in her embrace.
[ā¦ā¦Iām gladā¦ā¦ Reallyā¦ā¦ gladā¦ā¦ Iāll take good careā¦ā¦ Iāll alwaysā¦ā¦ alwaysā¦ā¦ take good care of it.]
""
Seeing Isis-san, who had tears in her eyes, but smiled with sincere happiness, she looked so cute that I couldnāt help but feel my cheeks blushing.
[N- Now then! Since weāre here anyway, letās take a look around more!]
As if to cover up my embarrassment, I stood up and called out to Isis-san. Isis-san nodded her headā¦ā¦ and thenā¦ā¦
[ā¦ā¦Unnn!]
Saying this, just like a blooming flowerā¦ā¦ No, I donāt think thereās any flower around us that could match the beautiful smile she had right now. Isis-san is a very strong person, but thereās this delicateness about her that makes one want to protect her. I canāt understand the loneliness Isis-san experienced in the past. At best, I can only imagine what she must have felt like.
[Isis-san, thank you very much for today. If itās alright with you, letās hang out together again.]
[ā¦ā¦Unnnā¦ā¦ Kaitoā¦ā¦ I love you!]
Still, even if itās just a little bit, if being with me helps to heal her lonelinessā¦ā¦ Iām very happy and honored to do such a thing.
With the help of Isis-san, I was able to get my hands on some Maple Flower nectar, and after returning to the mansion, I immediately tried my hand at making baby castellas. Having learned a lot from Sieg-san and the Head Chef, I went through a lot of trial and error. Then, when I finally made baby castellas that Iām satisfied with, I put them in the magic box and waited for Kuro to come visit me. When it was about 9 oā clock at night, Kuro, who I have long-awaited for, appeared with her usual bright smile.
[Kaito-kun! Iāve come to visit!]
[Welcome.]
[Arehh? Kaito-kun, you looked like youāre in a good mood today. Did something good happen?]
[Ah, errrā¦ā¦]
She noticed real fast!? Seriously, is she an esper or something?
[Eh, arehh? ā¦ā¦Kaito-kun, I can smell baby castellas from you. Ah, I got you now! Youāve been eating delicious baby castellas without telling me?]
ā¦ā¦Should I be surprised that Kuro can tell that through smell, or should I be happy that the most important part hasnāt been exposedā¦ā¦
I mean, I took a bath before she arrived though!? How the heck can she smell that? I knew it, Kuro really is the Baby Castella Spirit, right? A- Anyhow, with the flow of the conversation, I think itās better if I just hand those baby castellas to her.
[ā¦ā¦Errr, Kuro.]
[Mnhh, you could have invited meā¦ā¦ Unnn?]
[ā¦ā¦Here.]
[These areā¦ā¦ baby castellas?]
When I took out the plate of baby castellas from my magic box and placed it on the table, Kuro had a surprised look on her face.
[ā¦ā¦U- Unnn. I hope Iāve made them wellā¦ā¦]
[Eh? T- These are made by Kaito-kun?]
[Y- Yeahā¦ā¦ Itās just, ummm, Iāve always been under Kuroās helpā¦ā¦ so I was thinking of how I could express my gratitudeā¦ā¦]
Ahh, this is bad, I feel really embarrassed. My face is extremely flushed, I canāt speak well, and most of all, I canāt look Kuro directly to her face. After a few moments between Kuro and I, she spoke.
[ā¦ā¦Kaito-kunā¦ā¦ made these for me?]
[U- Unnn.]
[ā¦ā¦T- Thankā¦ā¦ you. C- Can I eat them now?]
As Kuro asked me with an expression of disbelief, feeling the heat on my face, I nodded. The Maple Flowerās nectar tastes kinda like orange marmaladeā¦ā¦ I think itās pretty tasty, but I wonder what she thinks about it? Weāre talking about Kuro here, she has an unparalleled passion for baby castellas, so I wonder if it suits her palate? Picking up one of the baby castellas, she brought it to her mouth. Thenā¦ā¦
[ā¦ā¦Ahh.]
After softly muttering, she turned her face away. A- Arehh? Was it no good?
[ā¦ā¦K- Kuro? Was it not tasty?]
[D- Donāt look here.]
[ā¦ā¦Eh?]
When I timidly asked her, Kuroās response wasnāt about the taste, but to tell me not to look at her. While Iām tilting my head at her unexpected response, Kuro softly spoke.
[ā¦ā¦My face has turned bright redā¦ā¦ so donāt look at me.]
[Ehh? E- Errrā¦ā¦]
[ā¦ā¦This is just unfair. Iāll definitelyā¦ā¦ become happy about thisā¦ā¦]
After muttering in a soft, quiet voice, Kuro turned her face towards me. Unusually for her, her cheeks are slightly blushing and she has an embarrassed expression on her face. Seeing the gap between the usual her and the face sheās making right now, making me feel really conscious about it.
[ā¦ā¦Kaito-kun.]
[Eh? Y- Yeah.]
Arehh? Why the heck am I really tense right now? I should have just given Kuro baby castellas as thanks for everythingā¦ā¦
[U- Ummmā¦ā¦ Thank you. It was delicious. The best Iāve ever had.]
[I- I feel like youāre exaggerating a bitā¦ā¦]
[No. It really tastes great. They taste so great that it feels really wasteful to eat them.]
[I- I seeā¦ā¦ If Kuroās happy with them, thatās great.]
W- What the heck is with this mood right now!? I canāt speak well, and Iām strangely nervous. Kuroās beautiful silvery-white hair swayed, and I could see the bashful smile on her face quite clearly. Feeling like my bodyās going number, I could hear my heart beating really loudly. C- Calm down, I donāt think itās a good idea to continue talking like this. Letās just divert the conversation to another topicā¦ā¦
[Speaking of which, are these made with Maple Flower nectar?]
[Eh? Yeah, you guessed right.]
[Fufufu, my hobby is eating while walking after all.]
[Come to think of it, I guess that really is the case huh.]
Thanks to Kuro suggesting a different topic, I felt that the tense atmosphere around us eased up a little bit, and I was somewhat able to have a calm conversation with her. Kuro also seems to have returned to her usual self, as she started talking about her hobby of eating while walking.
[The jams from fruits and other stuff from Symphonia Kingdom are delicious, arenāt they?]
[Speaking of which, wasnāt the Symphonia Kingdom rich in nature?]
[Unnn. The Elven Forest is even here.]
When I heard the word āElvenā from Kuro, I suddenly remembered about the Sacred Tree Festival. Iāve briefly talked to Luna-san about it, asking her about other festivals as well, and it seemed like the best one to go to around this time really would be the Sacred Tree Festival. Thus, Iām planning on inviting Lilia-san to participate in the Sacred Tree Festival soon.
[ā¦ā¦Kaito-kun. Come here.]
[ā¦ā¦Why are you tapping your thighs?]
[Lap pillow.]
[ā¦ā¦Eh?]
While I was thinking about the Sacred Tree Festival, Kuro, who had moved to the bed for some reason, was tapping her thighs with a bright smile on her face.
[W- Why so suddenly?]
[Hmmm~~ I donāt know why, but I kinda wanted to give Kaito-kun a lap pillow?]
[ā¦ā¦E- Errr.]
[Come on, quickly.]
[A- Alright.]
Overwhelmed by the happy smile on her face, I walked towards the bed and placed my head on Kuroās thighs. Her soft, warm touch naturally gives me a sense of security, and just laying down here immediately makes me feel sleepy.
[ā¦ā¦Kaito-kun. Arenāt you a little tired?]
[U- Unnn. I guess I might be so.]
[Then, you can just sleep like that, you know?]
[ā¦ā¦I guess Iāll do that.]
Was it because I trusted Kuro? Hearing her gentle voice makes me feel more and more sleepy. Looking at Kuroās smile, which really warms my heart, my consciousness sank into slumber.
[Seriously, Kaito-kunās getting cooler and coolerā¦ā¦ Heās even making my heart skip a beat now.]
Just before I fell asleep, I felt my head being gently patted along with those words.
ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼ ļ¼
Symphonia Kingdom, the Audience Room.
This was originally a place where people would receive the audience of the King of Symphonia Kingdom, but the current situation was very different from how it normally is.
The King had stepped down his throne and bowed to his guest, while the Prime Minister and the other important people in the country also took a similar posture, a scene that is rarely seen by the public.
This is only because the person who has come to visit has far more authority than the king.
āI apologize for my unexpected visit.ā
[No, it would always be my honor and delight to see your face. āWorld King, Lillywood Yggdrasil-samaā.]
Thatās right, the one who is currently visiting the royal palaceā¦ā¦ is one of the Six Kings, the pinnacles of the Demon Realm, and the one who had deep connections with the Symphonia Kingdom for a thousand year, the World King, Lillywood Yggdrasil. For the Symphonia Kingdom who had an abundance of nature, sheās the being who brought about their bountiful harvest and is truly the most important guest for the Symphonia Kingdom. Someone that they shouldnāt express any disrespect at all.
āI will be quick, Symphoniaās King Ryze Lia Symphonia XVIII.ā
[Y- Yes!]
Hearing her quiet voice echo, Symphoniaās Kingā¦ā¦ Ryzeās shoulders twitched.
The voice that announced just now was cold and intimidating, which was unusual for the very mild-mannered Lillywood.
āI heard that you made dissatisfactory treatment against the otherworlder Miyama Kaito by deliberately not inviting him to the evening party.ā
[!? T- That isā¦ā¦]
Receiving Lillywoodās words, Ryzeās face turned pale and he broke out in a cold sweat.
That one is an issue thatās been bothering Ryze very much latelyā¦ā¦ No, it was a mistake of the past. He loves his younger sister, Lilia, very much and he didnāt like the idea of a man staying at her houseā¦ā¦ However, the other party was an otherworlder, and he couldnāt just recklessly threaten him. Thatās why he didnāt send him an invitation as a small way to harass him, but it caused him an unexpected situation.
After that one incident, the Underworld King Kuromueina has clearly become hostile towards the royal palace, and as if someone had told them something, the followers of the Underworld King, who are also numerous in the royal palace, began to dislike Ryze. He tried sending emissaries to the Underworld King a few times, hoping to somehow get a chance to plead his case, but they were all sent back by a maid, half-dead. Because of this, Ryzeās position in the royal palace had become quite bad, but he didnāt expect to be pursued further by Lillywood here.
Ryze tried to somehow explain the situation to her, but Lillywood stopped him from speaking further and spoke to him with a voice colder than before.
āDonāt get me wrongā¦ā¦ I didnāt come here to ask you a question. Iāve already heard everything I need from my followers and know that what theyāre telling is the truth. Or perhaps, do you think my people have been lying to me?ā
[ā¦ā¦N- No, they didnāt make any mistake.]
āā¦ā¦Iām not here to ask whether that act was done by you personally or that was the will of the country itself.ā
No sound could be heard at all. The Kingās retainers also couldnāt speak either. To speak out to her, is in itself, an act of opposition to the World King, and if they do so, they will lose their position. Thatās how important the existence of the World King is to the Symphonia Kingdom, and if they were to touch her anger, there is no other path for Symphonia Kingdom but destruction.
āLet me tell you the real issue here. Thereās only one thing Iām telling you to do. To make a āclear and sincere apology to the otherworlder, Miyama Kaito, in a public venueā, do you understand what I mean?ā
[Y- Yesā¦ā¦ H- However, that isā¦ā¦]
The demand of Lillywood, that is to say, for the King to bow down in public, is a tremendous blow to Ryze from the eyes of the public. While Ryze hesitated in his reply, Lillywood just looked at him coldly before she continued.
āIf this isnāt done as soon as possibleā¦ā¦ I will cut off all ties with the Symphonia Kingdom from now on.ā
[ ! ? ]
At those words, not only Ryze, but all the people who heard her had their eyes wide open.
Itās not an exaggeration to say that Lillywood is the one who controls the fertility of the Symphonia Kingdom, and not to mention the Elves, many of the farmers also have faith in Lillywood as if she was a God. If Lillywood were to give up on the Symphonia Kingdom, many of the Elves, Fairies, Spirits, and farmers would turn their weapons to the royal palace at once. These words, so to speak, were so heavy that they could even be considered a declaration of destruction for the Symphonia Kingdom.
āIs that clear? Symphoniaās King.ā
[Y- Yes. I will do it as soon as possible.]
āGoodā¦ā¦ However, I donāt think this is a good way to end our conversation. So, I think Iād like to share with you some information that may be beneficial to you.ā
[Beneficial information?]
Thereupon, the sharpness Lillywood had before softened, and with a smile on her face, she gave him additional information.
āWhat I want to say is that it is beneficial for you to interact with the otherworlder Miyama Kaito. Thatās because he has a very friendly relationship with the Underworld King and the Death King.ā
[Wha!? Not only Underworld King-sama, but also Death King-sama!?]
āYes, so if youāre against him, youāll be against them as well. However, if he had a favorable impression towards the country, it means that the value of this country will also increase for the Underworld King and the Death King. It wouldnāt hurt to be friendly with him.ā
After explaining the benefits of being friendly with Kaito, Lillywood stayed silent for a few moments. The shocking revelation conveyed by Lillywood caused those in the audience room to be noisy, and after the noise subsided, she spoke again.
āā¦ā¦Iāve finished telling you what you need to know. I will be leaving for Rigforeshia after this, so I will take my leave. Symphoniaās Kingā¦ā¦ I would like to see a prompt response about that matter I just mentioned before.ā
[Yes. I assure you, I will give him my sincere apology.]
āGood. Well then, if youāll excuse me.ā
With those words, Lillywoodās figure disappeared from the Audience Room.
After leaving the royal palace, while Lillywood thought about her plans, she recalled the conversation she had earlier.
(That should do it. Just forcing an apology from him will cause some people to hold a vile grudge against Miyama Kaito-san. Itās best to make them realize that heās someone they should treat with friendship, even if he has to bow down to him.ā
Having such a thought in mind, a tired expression appeared on Lillywoodās face.
(I didnāt want to denounce an individual like him butā¦ā¦ if I donāt do this, Isis would destroy this country.)
Yes, the reason why Lillywood asked Ryze for a public apology was to quell Isisā anger. No, if it was only Isis, she could still have persuaded her, but if Kuromueina joins in, it would really be the end of this country.
(Well, from my followersā investigation, Symphoniaās King did send out a āpersonalā letter of apology, so he technically did apologize to him. However, I wonder why Isis and Kuromueina didnāt know about this letter?)
It was understandable why Lillywood questioned this, but this was actually Ryze getting his just deserts. Ryze doted on Lilia so much that he sent her a lot of letters on a regular basis. It was enough to make even the gentle Lilia want to kill himā¦ā¦
As a result, Albert Duchy has taken a policy of ādisposing of every letter that was sent by him not as the King, but under his personal name, Ryzeā, and as a result, the letter of apology didnāt even reach Lilia. Putting aside if it was in the royal palace, Lillywood doesnāt have any followers that work in Liliaās mansion, so itās not surprising that she doesnāt know about this.
(Well, if I just talk about that, things should be alright. If itās possible, Iād like to meet this rumored Miyama Kaitoā¦ā¦ but it would be rude to suddenly visit him without notice. I should first go as scheduled, visit the Sacred Tree Festival at Rigforeshia, and I could then make plans to visit according to my schedule.)