Kyoka-san left, and now I’m waiting in what seems to be a reception room.
Two maids came by along the way and served tea.
I sit in the comfortable chair and wait to be called.
“What are all of you planning to do from now on?”
Since we’ve arrived at our destination, the royal capital, I want to ask what each of them plans to do next.
We’ve come to know each other, after all.
“I’ll be in the capital until the Martial Arts Tournament is over. It’s a bit boring, though.”
“Oh, you’re not participating, Lyall-san?”
Fina-san’s question is understandable.
Does Lyall-san’s reaction mean he won’t be participating in the Martial Arts Tournament?
“Those with titles can’t enter. Neil, explain.”
“Me…? Um, well, the Martial Arts Tournament is, uh, if you win, you get a large sum of prize money and the right to challenge a title holder. If you win that too, you unconditionally become an S-rank soldier, and if there’s no overlap in weapons, you’re also given a title.”
“Oh, I see. So because of that ‘right to challenge’ thing, Lyall-san can’t participate. By the way, has anyone ever won using the right to challenge?”
“No one has. But the prize money itself is substantial, so there are many participants. As you said, title holders are the ones being challenged, so they can’t participate.”
“That’s right. But most winners are so beat up that they often give up the right to challenge. So, most title holders just end up coming for nothing. Still, the tournament rules require at least one of us to come, so here I am. Seriously, they should think about how much of a waste of time it is for us.”
The reason the challenge has to be right after the tournament is probably because title holders aren’t always in the royal capital.
From what I’ve heard, it seems like the challenge is practically just a bonus to the prize money.
Lyall-san grumbled and then turned to me.
“I’ve already lost to you, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to be the one being challenged, right? So this time, it’s practically a right to challenge Lumia. Are you going to do it?”
“But what if someone else wins without a scratch and challenges Lyall-san?”
“Hah.”
He snorted at me!
“Oh, so that’s how it is. The Martial Arts Tournament.”
“I thought it was common knowledge, though. This is why you art-idiots…”
“What did you say, you battle-idiot? If you’re not interested, that’s how it is.”
I didn’t actually know either, but I’ll keep quiet.
I only knew the name of the Martial Arts Tournament as the country’s biggest tournament held every few years.
It’s irregular because it gets postponed if a war starts.
“Speaking of which, how many title holders are there in total? From the way Lyall-san was talking, I understand that only the two of you are here this time.”
“Other than me and Lumia, there’s only the axe and the hammer. Both are dwarves. I think they’re in charge of border security, so they shouldn’t be here this time.”
So there are only four at present.
That’s not many.
And another question comes to mind.
“Are there none for swords or spears, which have many users?”
“Both are vacant. A title isn’t just given to the best user, you have to have a certain level of strength. Especially with spears, it’s been vacant ever since the guy who was Tim’s colleague died.”
Grandpa’s colleague…?
I’ve never heard of them.
Well, it’s not something I need to know right now.
“I see, I understand about the Martial Arts Tournament, Lyall-san’s plans, and the title holders. What about you, Neil-san?”
“Me? I was originally in charge of outer perimeter security for the royal capital, but…”
Let’s see, judging from the name…
“Reducing the number of monsters around the capital and ensuring the safety of the roads?”
“That’s right. But when I received the mission to pick up Katia-san, I was relieved of that duty. I don’t know if I’ll be going back to my original duties or if I’ll be reassigned.”
“Is that so?”
Even so, he’s a knight of the royal capital, so he probably won’t be going far except in cases like this one.
I should be able to see him if I want to.
I’m relieved if he’s not going far.
“For now, I’ll be returning to the barracks and waiting.”
“I understand. What about you, Fina-san?”
“Me? I can draw anywhere, and I still want to be by Katia-chan’s side… Would I be a bother?”
Oh…
Honestly, those are very happy words.
So much so that I might cry a little.
“No, you’re a great support. But is that okay with you?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. If it’s dangerous, it’s too late now, and I’ll decide what to draw and where to be myself. If Katia-chan continues to attract people, it’ll be easier for the intelligence department too, so they won’t be unreasonable, right?”
“You’re surprisingly thoughtful, Fina.”
Lyall-san nodded in admiration.
Fina-san is usually thoughtful, but she tends to get a little emotional.
Her relationship with Lyall-san is still short, so it’s understandable that he might misunderstand.
“What do you mean by ‘surprisingly’? Well, that’s how it is, so I’ll be in your care from now on.”
“Yes, please take care of me.”
So, Lyall-san will be staying until the Martial Arts Tournament is over.
Neil-san is waiting for his assignment, and Fina-san will be with me.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
The position of the sound is low… Lumia-san?
“Is that Lumia-san?”
“Ooh, how did you know?”
Lumia-san entered as she spoke.
I wonder if she’ll get mad if I say it’s because she’s small…
“Katia, Spike is calling for you. Come alone.”
! Is this about that?
“Huh? Lumia, what about us?”
Lyall-san asked.
Lumia-san seemed to have an answer prepared, and replied immediately.
“I’m sorry, but he wants you to wait a little longer. He said he’d like to have dinner with you after he’s finished talking with Katia.”
“D-Dinner with Spike-sama…?”
“Neil, if you get nervous now, you won’t be able to taste anything. Katia-chan, don’t worry and go ahead.”
“Yes. Then, I’ll go talk for a bit.”
I left the reception room.
I follow Lumia-san’s small back.
Unable to contain my excitement, I called out to Lumia-san.
“Lumia-san, the fact that it’s just me means…”
“Yes. I’ve told them about that matter.”
“Thank you very much!”
I’m glad.
After that, it’s up to the Great Spirit.
“I told Spike and Lily about that thing of yours, too, with Midir and Kyoka out of the room… Are you really okay with that?”
“I said it was okay to tell those who need to know. But why Princess Lily?”
“Hmm… You’ll understand when you meet her, I’ll just say that.”
Is it something that shouldn’t be discussed in the hallway?
What kind of circumstances led to the princess being told?
In front of a rather large door, I can see a black-haired woman standing.
“Lumia-sama.”
“Kyoka. Open the door.”
“…Yes.”
Kyoka-san said so and opened the door.
She looks slightly dissatisfied, whether it’s because she can’t enter or because I, a stranger she just met, is approaching the princess.
I don’t have the luxury to worry about that now, though.
The room is exceptionally luxurious, suggesting it’s a royal family’s private room.
It’s probably soundproofed, too.
Kyoka-san, who is guarding the door, won’t be able to hear what’s being said inside.
“You’ve come, Katia.”
“…”
Inside were Spike-san and a transparent girl.
A girl with the appearance of the Queen in that portrait, only a little younger.
Just as Midir-san said, they’re incredibly similar.
Shining silver hair and a well-proportioned, doll-like face.
And, without betraying that form, an expressionless face.
“…Nice to, meet you… I’m Lily, Garcia…”
A voice like the tinkling of bells echoed.
This is certainly amazing.
If I were to compare her to a familiar beauty, like Fina-san, who has an active, “dynamic” beauty, this girl has an overwhelming “static” beauty.
To use a trite analogy, it’s like the difference in nature between the sun and the moon.
This girl is the moon.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Katia Myers.”
“Muu, it’s rare for Lily to greet someone herself. What’s wrong?”
“…Grandfather… this person… is the same, as me.”
“The same? So Lumia’s story was true—”
“Yes… I can, definitely sense… the presence, of spirits…”
Saying that, the princess lightly raised her hand forward.
Then—.
“Wh…at!?”
A ball of flame was created in mid-air.
It swirled around and around.
…Eventually, a humanoid figure made of flames appeared.