The morning after the memorial service.
“A welcome party? You mean, someone’s coming from the Royal Capital to meet us?”
This was the news Neil brought us in the inn’s lounge this morning.
It was likely the result of his report to the Intelligence Department.
Lumia was going to head to the Royal Capital later, so we said our temporary goodbyes last night.
So now, it was just the four of us: Lyall, Neil, Fina, and I.
“That’s right. They said they want to meet in person, and until then, no prying into their identity.”
What’s that all about?
Hiding their identity means they’re either someone important or someone we already know, right?
“This person, they’re coming here, right?”
“Yes, Fina-nee. They said they’d come to us.”
“What, they’re being all secretive. People like that are always trouble, that’s how it goes.”
Sounds exactly like the type of person Lyall would hate.
He’d probably prefer someone who’d just state their name and come openly.
“Sorry to be trouble.”
A voice other than ours broke into the conversation.
A young man with blond hair, a human, appeared.
For a moment, he could be mistaken for an elf, he was so beautiful, but his ears were normal.
To put it plainly, he was a “prince-type” handsome guy.
His expression was a bit cynical and not very bright, but there are probably women who like this type.
…Tch.
“Well, well, Lyall-dono. It’s been a while.”
“What the, if it isn’t Dagza’s little brat.”
So he’s an acquaintance of Lyall’s?
Dagza?
Who’s that?
“Middy, long time no see! I never thought it would be you coming.”
“Ah, Neil.”
And he knows Neil too.
They look about the same age, but…
The way he drops his formality…?
“Oh, I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Midir, and I belong to the Intelligence Department. Neil and I were friends in knight school— Nice to meet you, Katia-dono, Fina-dono.”
So he was Neil’s friend after all.
Midir, shortened to Middy, huh.
He offered his hand for a handshake, but I’ve had a strange feeling ever since a while ago.
What is this sense of incongruity?
“It’s a pleasure, Nanashi-san… Huh? Wait?”
What did I just say?
I thought I called him Midir-san.
“Katia-chan, what are you saying? They’re completely different people, though?”
“To think you’d see through it so quickly, even if it was just intuition… No, well done, well done.”
He clapped his hands.
It was a pretentious, theatrical gesture.
…This sarcastic way of speaking, there’s no doubt.
“Are you really Nanashi-san? Your physique matches, but… What’s with that face?”
A disguise?
Which one is the disguise?
His current appearance, or his original one?
“Between you and the Sword Saint-dono, I’m losing my confidence. Here’s the trick.”
“Ugh, Nanashi’s shed skin! Gross!”
Fina screamed.
Saying that, Nanashi-san… no, Midir-san took out an elaborately made mask.
A special mask, like the ones they use in Hollywood movies.
So, that plain face was the disguise…
“It’s well-made, isn’t it? Apparently, it was created based on the ideal average face of an adult human male.”
So that bland impression was a product of that.
It’s amazing technology, but I wonder if this is also Earth-based technology?
“Are you seriously Nanashi? …You know, I remember you saying some pretty rude things to me.”
“Is that so? I have no memory of it.”
“…Neil, can I punch this guy?”
“You can’t, Fina-nee! He certainly has a sharp tongue, but he’s not a bad person at heart!”
“I appreciate the defense, Neil. But you, why didn’t you realize I was disguised as Nanashi? If you had, I was planning to tell you right away. Don’t you think that’s a bit cruel, as a friend?”
“Ugh! I-I’m terribly sorry…”
“Also, why did you approach us while hiding your identity?”
It’s not like there would have been any problem if he’d just come as a member of the Intelligence Department normally.
“That is, Katia-dono. It was all to test you.”
Test…?
“Hey, hey, stop leaving me out of the loop. Explain it so I can understand too.”
Ah, Lyall hadn’t met Nanashi-san, now that I think about it.
He certainly needs an explanation.
“Hmm… I disguised myself as a member of the Intelligence Department, Nanashi, and have been supporting Katia-dono’s journey up until now. Are we clear so far?”
“Hmm, is that so? And, what was the disguise for?”
“Yes. It seems Spike-sama wanted to assess Katia-dono’s suitability as a royal guard.”
A royal guard, like Gramps?
…That’s still not enough explanation.
I don’t see the intention.
“Specifically, what kind of suitability?”
“To put it simply, observation and perception. As a royal guard, it’s necessary to be vigilant against assassination attempts and to eliminate suspicious individuals as quickly and reliably as possible.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
“And I was sent as an examiner to assess those qualities.”
“Haaah. That old man who hates anything troublesome… So his doting on his granddaughter is still going strong, huh?”
Lyall calls the former King Spike “old man”?
I wonder if they’re close.
“It’s still going strong. No, it’s gotten worse, actually. Now that Princess Lily, whom he doted on the most, is finally close to the throne, he seems to want to surround her with trustworthy people. If possible, he probably wants Katia-san not just as a mere guard, but as the closest bodyguard to the princess.”
“And, what’s the result of this test?”
“When I first met you in Kaisa Village, I was disappointed. You probably perceived me as nothing more than a man with a weak personality.”
That’s right.
I just thought, “So this is what Intelligence Department people are like.”
But I’m curious about him mentioning Gramps’s name earlier.
“Is that so? By the way, what about Gramps?”
“He saw through my disguise at first sight… I must say, my pride was shattered to pieces by that. I was quite confident in that disguise… Let’s get back to the topic. After that, I continued the test by approaching you with my presence erased, or subtly changing my disguise.”
Ah, so that had a purpose.
I thought it was some kind of harassment.
“I was astonished at how quickly your presence detection improved. Your observation skills were also excellent, especially in Tobal the other day. Since I was acquainted with Lyall-dono, I avoided contact with him just in case…”
Tobal… That was him, blending into the crowd?
“You found me in that huge crowd of spectators. Despite not making any particularly conspicuous movements. In other words, your observation skills are also extraordinary. It’s inevitable that you’re compared to the Sword Saint, given your circumstances… but you’re still young. Considering your potential for growth, you pass, no, you get a perfect score and then some.”
“Hey, hey, Katia. They’re going to make you a royal guard without your permission. Are you okay with that?”
Lyall said, sounding concerned.
He looks like this, but he’s actually quite caring, Lyall is.
But, I don’t have any particular feelings about this.
“Hmm. Well, I guess Gramps intended that all along, so I can’t really say anything. As long as the Princess doesn’t dislike it.”
I don’t really care about titles.
I might go back to my village once the political situation stabilizes.
“You’re too kind. Even though you were subjected to such a test without your consent.”
But, I can understand that it’s the kind of ability that wouldn’t mean anything if it wasn’t a surprise test.
Assassins who announce they’re coming to kill you… well, they might exist in fiction or as a threat, but not in reality.
“I don’t mind this much. From what I hear, it’s not as a former king, but out of love for his granddaughter, right? I don’t dislike that kind of personal selfishness. However…”
“However, what?”
If he respects the line that shouldn’t be crossed, I have no complaints.
But, if that line is crossed…
“I don’t mind being tested. But if it endangers the people around me… that’s a different story.”
“! F-fufufufu… Good, very good. Your eyes, filled with killing intent, are very attractive. Once we arrive in the Royal Capital, how about having dinner together?”
? I don’t understand.
Where in that conversation was there anything to like?
Dinner? With me? What is he saying?
“Middy, what are you saying?!”
Ah, my thoughts overlapped with Neil’s line.
Exactly.
“Don’t interrupt, Neil. You know I like strong women, right?”
“Yeah, I know, but…”
“No way, you have a bad mouth, and you’re kind of creepy! What if Katia-chan picks up your bad language!”
“And, the women I dislike are emotional and noisy. Did you say something just now, Fina-dono?”
“I’m gonna punch you! Beat you up! Bury you! Hang you upside down and sink you in the lake!”
“Fina-san, you can’t cause trouble for others in a place like this! The other customers are giving you really disgusted looks!”
Fina started to rampage.
No, even though it’s a one-seater, you can’t just lift a sofa that easily.
Wait, wait, that pottery is no joke!
Don’t swing it! It belongs to the inn, and it’s definitely expensive, and if it breaks…!
Aaaaah!
“Whatever, but you guys, you’re past the scheduled departure time…”