On the day of the dinner party, I wore my formal clothes for the first time in a long time and wandered around in the carriage. I thought I'd never go to an upper-class dinner party since I came to this world, but...
　I've been living a carefree life lately, and my facial muscles have been strained in various ways. I wonder if I'll be able to make a proper smile for the occasion. I massage my face. Seeing me like this, a passenger spoke to me in an anxious voice.

He said, "Excuse me, sir. I still don't think I can sit in a seat like this .......
What are you talking about? You work in a castle, so you probably know more about etiquette than I do. You look good in a dress. You're beautiful.

　The person I invited was Luko. I invited him to dinner because he had helped me with the potted plants. I'm sure it's not because he's a convenient guy.

But I don't know if I can converse well with the nobles. ......
It's okay. The person to whom I gave the potted plant that Luko prepared for me is also here. He was very pleased with the gift, and more importantly, he likes gardening too. If you're in a tight spot, you can pass the time by talking to him about the plant. If that doesn't work, just enjoy the food and drink.
"Well, I see you have a friend of your brother's. I've heard that he looks like His Majesty, but what else can you tell me about him?

　What else can I tell you? He's just like you.

Well... He's usually a strong man, but he's very friendly and acts like a child to me.
"Haha, you're a very pleasant person. I think I can relax my shoulders then.

　You probably can't, but that's okay. I'm going to ask him to teach me the etiquette of this kind of event, and then I'm going to the residence of a nobleman.
　As a side note, only families with no daughters, or married or engaged daughters, are chosen for such dinner parties. This is because they don't want their own daughters to have the opportunity to produce preferential treatment.
　On the contrary, many of these nobles are patriots who are desperately supporting Marito's search for a wife. In other words, the participants are well gathered, but I think that Marito's personality is more suited to a one-on-one matchmaking, yes.

　In the meantime, we arrived at our destination and the carriage stopped outside the gate and we got off. The carriage stopped outside the gate and I got off. I got off alone to check the venue first. Marito was already waiting for me.
　When Marito noticed me, he ran up to me happily. I wondered how it was possible to make the king wait outside the gate. The steward at the entrance looks very nervous.

"Well, my friend, it's lonely in here all by myself. I've been waiting for you.
I've been waiting a long time to see you.
Well, I suppose I can't help it. It's the first dinner party I've ever been to where I feel comfortable. It's good to be fresh. It's so good to be fresh. Even when I'm at a dinner party where I'm feeling overwhelmed, I can't wait to get there.

　I know how you feel. I can go with my friends to social gatherings that require a lot of effort. By the way, I wonder how my friend, one of the few people I know in Japan, is doing. As we were chatting lightly, I heard a voice from the carriage.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you sure it's okay for us to get off too?
"Oh, sorry, sorry. We're fine. We got carried away.

　Luko comes down the stairs, watching her step. She's struggling with her long dress skirt. When she changed at Mr. Van's place, she fell down several times. Even though she is learning etiquette, it is the first time for her to be dressed like this.

You must be an acquaintance of my brother's. My name is Luko...

　He must have been relieved to hear that I was speaking casually and that the other person was speaking in a very casual manner. I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before.

"...... Oh, oh, oh, brother?

　I'm sure he knew the king's face. But this kind of face is my favorite, yes.

"Hey, friend. Is that by any chance?
Sorry Marito, I didn't want to tell you because I thought you'd run away if I mentioned your name.
Your brother?　Hee-hee, isn't that His Majesty?
Yeah, I told you, he's like you.
You're just like him!

　It's quite fashionable to refer to His Majesty as "His Majesty". You'll be able to move back quickly and bow deeply to Marito. 　

I'm sorry, Your Majesty, for being so rude, even though I didn't know--
"Oh, good. I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'll let it slide.
You're right, Luko. You can't afford to be so formal. You'll have to spend today's dinner with Marito.
......

　He's frozen in place. But this is normal, right? Marito's attitude toward me is too frank and crazy, but he is a king, and if he is rude, he will not be able to live in the country.


　When Marito saw that Luko was stuck, he squared his shoulders in disgust and spoke to him in a whisper.

It's true that a child like him can spend the day quietly. But there's a limit, right? I don't think it's a good idea to stay with a stone statue.
That's up to you. I thought you'd be a good person to talk to.

　Marito glances at Luko. Marito glances at Ruco. Ruco is so confused he can't move a muscle.

No, I don't think this is a conversation.　We don't have much in common, do we?
Is that so?　I'm the woman who made the potted plant I gave you.
Why don't you tell me about it?

　Marito turns around and walks over to Luko. And then he grabs Riko's hand and smiles gently.

You're the one who made that potted plant. I've always wanted to talk to you!
I've always wanted to talk to you!　Brother!

　Apparently, he just realized that the potted plant he prepared was a gift for you. Thumbs up to show that it was.

"It was a wonderful gift. I thanked my friend for it, but I want to thank you too.
"No, I mean, .......
I read the description of the plant you gave me, and I was wondering if I could talk to you about--

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. Luko also seems to be confused, if not in awe, of Marito's rapid-fire speech.

"Marito, don't finish your story at the door.
Oh, that's right. Marito, don't finish your conversation at the door. Now let's continue our conversation inside.

　Marito took me by the hand and dragged me along. I thought he was asking for a little help, but maybe I was imagining things. I think we can leave him alone.

...... By the way, get your ass down here, Ilias.

　At the sound of his voice, Ilias came down the stairs, making an unfamiliar clacking sound. Since it was a dinner party, Ilias had changed his clothes properly.
　He didn't speak once in the carriage, perhaps because he was embarrassed, and he didn't dare to appear in front of Marito, but he seemed to have made up his mind.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.

I thought it would be a good combination of thanking Riko and making Marito feel better.
I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable living in your shoes if I were in your shoes. ......
Well, the Iliad is taking it easy, isn't it?
You say that, but I've never dressed like this before. ......

　I've never seen you dressed like this before. In fact, it's even better.

It looks good on you. It's refreshing to see you dressed as a country knight.
"Well, thank you. Now I know exactly how you feel about me.

　Ilias responded with a smile that seemed to send a chill down his spine. But what about it? Ilias's usual sword was firmly fixed to his waist in a holder. The dress seems to be tilting, or maybe it is. Isn't the fabric screaming?

Why do you have a sword in your dress?
I can't help you with the outfit, but I'm still your bodyguard. What would you do without a sword? Your Majesty might see it.

　I can't say that strongly. But it would be a bad look.

Give it to me. I'll take it.
No, but I will.
I'll be around to get out of here if you need me, all right?
That's true, but ......
Who do you think is going to pay for that dress if it gets torn?

　There was no way Ilias could have had a dress like this. He could have found his mother's dress, but Ilias and his mother's clothes were different sizes. So, this dress was also rented from Ban.

I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

I'm not sure what to do. It's not just the density of iron that's overwhelming. Is it made of pure gold?
"Ordinary steel can't keep up with my full strength. It's made of a very rare ore. It's the most expensive thing in the house.

　I'd say it weighs close to 10 kilos. Even a two-pound dumbbell is a struggle to wield. He's waving this thing around, isn't he, this gorilla? And in some cases, he's swinging it with one hand, you know?
　That aside, if you wear this around your waist, your pants will fall down. You did a great job with the Iliad dress, really. Put the holder on your shoulder, not your waist, and carry the sword on your back.
　At any rate, I explained the situation to the butler and we went in. It's embarrassing to enter a dinner party holding a sword like an adventurer!


　Even though there was a lot of confusion at the entrance, the dinner went off without a hitch. At first, the nobles were a bit confused by the presence of a man with a sword on his back, but they were used to social graces. They repeatedly greeted each other, made light conversation, and parted ways.
　Although the young ladies were not very interested in me, I was able to get acquainted with their parents, the nobles, to a certain extent.
　As for Marito, he seemed to be very popular and young women were approaching him one after another to greet him. However, he didn't talk for very long and ended the conversation, probably because he always had Luko around. As this exchange continued for a while, the people around them must have sensed Marito's intentions. The number of people forcibly approaching him has decreased.
　Now they seem to be talking freely about gardening. Luko, too, was nervous and confused, but when the topic of hobbies came up, he seemed to enjoy talking with Marito. There would be some complaints about this later, but not that many.
　However, it's hard to talk to a woman when there's a well-dressed Iliad guarding her. I regret that I should have taken this into consideration. Today, I'll enjoy relaxing with the Iliad rather than meeting people.

"Hmm, is that a musical instrument?

　When I turned my attention to the sound that echoed in my ears, I saw that a small band had appeared and was preparing to play. The butlers cleared the table in the center of the room and transformed it into a dance floor in a matter of minutes. Then, with the appearance of the conductor, the dinner party turns into a ball.
　The people around the table began to dance with their respective partners. An elegant scene that you only see on TV is unfolding in front of your eyes. To be honest, I felt like I wanted to be a part of it. But reality is a cruel place.

"......, I don't think I need to ask you this, but you don't know how to dance ......, do you?
"Yes, I remember learning it when I was little, but I've forgotten all about it. What about you?
All I remember is looking at it with a drink in my hand and trying to look cool.
That's about right, I suppose.

　While most of the young people around them were dancing, the two who could not dance were standing around. Even Marito was dancing with Luko. It had been a long time since I had experienced such a feeling of being away from home. I rarely go to dance parties.

I never thought that not dancing would make me stand out.
That's true.
You want to learn ...... next time?
Yeah, .......

　The two countrymen made a vain resolution. And so the dinner party ended. Despite the vain ending, the meal was reasonably good and the drinks were enjoyable. Most of the noblemen's daughters went to Marith, but I think it was a feast for the eyes. Ilias' dress was not bad either. On the carriage ride home, I soaked in the afterglow and quietly--

"Big brother!　You're being cruel!

　I didn't go, I was still angry. Incidentally, Marito left satisfied. If he didn't have to spend a lot of time with a girl at a tedious dinner party, and had a good time talking about his hobbies, he wouldn't have anything to say.
　Luko seemed to be having a good time from the beginning, but he was still taking out his anger at being conspired against on the main culprit. Ilias is laughing at the situation. No help is forthcoming.
　Incidentally, Marito knew exactly who Luko was. He seemed to remember that he had seen his face somewhere before. Though Marito probably didn't expect to be dancing with a maid who worked at the castle.
　Luko had had a rough time of it, but it wasn't all bad for her heart. She was able to keep up with Marito's conversations, a horticultural enthusiast, and he took a liking to her, allowing her to be trained by the craftsman in charge of the garden.
　It would be a long time before she could join the garden's management, but she was able to make her aspirations more realistic. Considering this, I wonder if I should be blamed so much. I think you can forgive me for being the one who made all the arrangements.

"That's one thing, this is another!

　It didn't work. After all, it was fatal that he had been amused by seeing her confused. He scolded me, thanked me, and then scolded me.

　The next day, Marito greeted me with a radiant smile.

"I hate that smile.
"That's the first time I've ever been greeted with a smile and told that. What's wrong with you?
"Luko yelled at me a lot. He even scolded me in my dream.
I'd say I deserved it. But thanks to that I met a good girl.
That's right. Now you're one step closer to your dream of becoming a horticulturist.
Hmm?　Didn't you introduce her as a potential bride?
What?　...... Oh, yeah, that's how it was supposed to be.

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not. You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.

I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with this.
I don't care. I don't remember anyone telling me who not to nominate.
Of course not. It's an unspoken agreement. It's more like. Do you like Luco as a woman?



　That's what's bothering me. If it's just because they have the same hobbies, there are probably girls of noble families who enjoy gardening and gardens.

You have ambition, but you don't want to take advantage of others. You are ambitious, but you don't want to take advantage of others. You hold on to your dreams and work hard to achieve them, but you are also realistic. You have more than the minimum level of education and manners. Even if you talk about your hobbies a lot, you will not be taken back, but rather you have knowledge that is as good as anyone else's. Her appearance is attractive enough when she is dressed up, and her smile is dazzling when she talks animatedly. Her puzzled face is especially attractive. What can I fault her for?

　Except for his birth, Marito has had a lot of positives, hasn't he? --I hope the last place isn't the deciding factor, I'd hate to be in a country with a king like that.

But if she's a candidate for queen, I think Luko will be more likely to run away under pressure.
That's probably true. It's just a matter of me successfully seducing her, right?

　Marito is full of confidence. How confident are you, are you a king or were you a king?

You're a king. Don't push him too hard.
I'm not going to give you the luxury of anger.

　Oh no, this handsome guy was really a prince or a king. I'm wondering what kind of shoujo manga story Luko is going to tell after this, but it's probably dangerous to poke her. 　

"Take care of him for now, I don't know about the rest.
"I know, I know. But you beat me to it.

　I was the one who beat you to it, wasn't I? Oh, no, you're talking about the arrangement.

I proposed the deal because I didn't want to be forced to stay in this country, not because it was a race to see who could get the right guy first.
I thought it was a competition. I'm sorry.
You know, ......, if you're going to lose, why don't you do me a favor?
Of course. Of course I'll do you a favor if you want, regardless of whether you win or lose.

　My best friend's love is heavy. Well, I don't mind that, because it'll probably go to Luko later.

"Can you please forgive the Iliad?
"......

　Yeah, his expression became more kingly. It was clear that he had decided that there was nothing he could do about it except in this situation.

"How can you forgive Lord Ratzel? "How can you forgive Lord Ratzel for putting the lives of others before your own, for putting you in danger?
"We made him fight to protect the people around him in the first place. It's our fault that you got caught because you forgot the possibility that there was a third party and isolated yourself. I took full responsibility for that.
"And so Sir Ratzel ended up without much success. Are you aware of that?

　Well, the Iliad also defeated Gillista, but... If you ask me who was the strongest of those three, it was probably Ecdysius or Parshero. Ecdysium was defeated by Lakra due to a clear difference in compatibility, while Parshuro gave Ilias a hard time with his true strength.
　Even though the final decision was made by Wolfe, Parshero would not have been able to defeat him without Ilias.

If Ilias had to be the one to take the credit, he would have done so. Well, there's no guarantee we'd be talking like this then.
You're right. If that had been the case, Sir Ratzel wouldn't even be a knight anymore.

　You're the one who's always telling me the scary stuff. You're the one who's telling me a scary story, and you're the one who's making me guard a paper character who's about to die, and if I can't protect him, my life will be ruined.

But I wouldn't want someone who would abandon human life without hesitation to be my bodyguard. I'd rather go to Garnets by myself than have someone like that.
You're so naive to think you've caused a rift. Why don't you have a little more core?
I do have a core, a twisted core that wants to live in peace.

　This is the same even if the world has changed. I'm not going to change it whether it's in normal times, whether I'm burning with righteousness, or whether I'm steeped in the thoughts of a madman. In fact, it is something that should not be changed now.

...... Huh, okay. Lord Ratzel's escort will continue for the time being. But I'll have another escort for the trip to Garnets, no complaints?
That's a good place to start. By the way, who are you planning to send?
I'll think about that before the day. Competence aside, I'm going to prepare someone whose first priority is to protect you.

　He may have forgiven her, but he still seems to be rooting for her. Let's see what the Iliad has in store for us.

"Sir Ratzel, come in!

　Marito called out, and a moment later, Ilias came into the office. He doesn't look dejected, but it's obvious that he's nervous.

"I'm sure you heard me. The guard you were ordered to provide continues. But there will be no next time. So risk the chivalry you hold at your core!
"Ha!
It's hard for me to take the pressure off you when you're betting your life on the Iliad.
If that's what you think, you'd better be very careful. Do you have any idea how worried I was when I heard you were kidnapped?


I'm sorry.

　Pressed by Marito's serious look, I apologize honestly. The pressure I feel at times like this is something on a different level than the dignity and threat of a knight or a madman.
　I realize that Marito is also one of the monsters that exist in this world. It must be tough for knights to be under such pressure on a regular basis.

"Well, I've just received a report on Garne. The results are 'clear'.
I'm sure you're not the only one.

　If Garne was found to have an abnormality, Marit had said that he could go to Garne with Marit's approval, so the result of no abnormality was unexpected.

The result of no abnormality was unexpected. "Even if we say there is no abnormality, there are many things that are different about Garne. The fact that there are no abnormalities only means that there have been no changes in the reign of the new king of Garne.

　The Ghanaian king changed a few years ago, so it's not like there are no problems. If I think about it too much, I might have a gestalt collapse, so I'll stop.

"So you were planning to give permission from the beginning after all.
"Well, you'd have gone to Garne either way, wouldn't you? I'd have chosen to be chained up.

　He's not afraid to say it. Well, it's too late for that, so I don't care.

So, have you started negotiations with them yet?
We've already negotiated with King Garne. We've already negotiated with the King of Gahne to allow a promising man to learn how to rule Gahne, and we've granted him a long-term stay and access to most of the facilities. He's even allowed to look at the military files as he pleases.
Well, that's very kind of you.

　If you are of the same rank, it is natural that you keep military information secret. The fact that they're inviting us to see them means that they have no problem with us exposing them, and they don't have to worry about us copying them. That's how confident they are about their country.
　But you're quick, Marito, you've been negotiating with the king from the start.

That's why I'll ask you to visit Garnets while I'm pursuing the Raheit case. That way, it won't be an act, and you'll have a reason to hide your true intentions.
"You say that like it's a coincidence. ...... I'm not that familiar with the reign.
Don't worry, we've got another smart guy for an escort.

　That would be great. If the average person is asked to research the awesomeness of a neighboring country, the only thing they'll say is, "It was amazing! or some other comment with no vocabulary. The Iliad may know a lot about military affairs, but I think he'd only be able to make brainy comments like ...... "I think I can beat them.

I won't stop you from following the trail of Raheit. But don't go too far. We're even prepared to send out the Knights if you need help. You can count on us, my friend.
"Yes, I'll have Ilias slay Rahite if he walks in front of me, but other than that, I'll rely on you as much as I can, my friend.

　And so, with Marith's help, the preparations for the investigation into Garne were made. It all started with a single book. With that book, many of the facts that had been buried in the dark were exposed.
　The facts that lie ahead will probably surpass them all. It's a story I don't want to get involved in, but it's also a story that won't threaten my peace any more if I remain only half-aware of it.
　I'm very reluctant to get involved, but I'll do my best for the sake of world peace, and eventually for a happy life that satisfies my peace of mind.

　------------------------------------

　There is no one here who knows exactly where this place is. The Kuro Demon King, who once possessed the power of omnipotence, created a unique space. There is a huge round table. There are no chairs, and crystals of eight different colors are arranged at equal intervals.
　The colors that shine in them are gold, blue, blue, blue, purple, colorless, and scarlet. Only the black and white crystals have lost their luster and are dull.

"The book will be sealed up again in Medicine. That's all I have to report.

　A grave voice echoed from the scarlet crystal. It was the voice of the Scarlet Witch King, who had been communicating with Lahite.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea. ......

　A voice as clear as ice and about to disappear echoed from the azure crystal.

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.

　It's the gold crystal that's making the funniest noises.

You can't say that to me, Gold.　You can't just say that. The demon tribe should be your successors.　You can't be too careful, you can't be too impatient, you can't be too coy until you can't take it anymore.

　The mysterious voice of the violet crystal. The colorless and azure crystals shine, but remain silent.

I don't care about Rahite's blunder. No achievement means no reward. If you continue to hope, you will bring me your achievements. But I have heard a somewhat interesting report.
"Hmm, what is it?
"I've been informed that someone has come along who can decipher the book. I have also been informed that he is a citizen of the same planet as Ygras.

　There was a moment of silence, a faceless round table with many emotions swirling around it. If there had been a third person there, the chaotic atmosphere would have driven me crazy.

That means that ...... everything about me ...... ah, I want to die .......
Surely it's rude to read a maiden's secrets?
"I don't know how much Ygras wrote about his mistresses, but it's important to know that they will come back to life even if they are destroyed.
"Yugra was a very detailed person, wasn't she?　Maybe it's written in the book?
Even if that's the case, the only people who know about it now are Taze and Mejis. If they move, we'll just move. Who among us is too weak to make excuses for being too slow to move?


"I'm not much of a manual laborer, ......, but I don't want to be in the line of fire, even if I don't mind the scarlet of the struggle.
Gold is especially weak, isn't it? Would it have been a blow to Juglar?
"Yes, I'm confident I can match the almighty Kuro in ease.
"Stop your petty self-deprecation, Yellow of Rule.
"Gold! I told you not to use Yellow! I told you not to use the word "yellow"! You don't know what I like!
"Is that all you have to say, Scarlet?

　A dignified voice echoed from the blue crystal. I'm not sure what to say.

What, you're awake, Heki?
"If your noise makes me uncomfortable while I'm napping, I'll open my mouth. If you have nothing further to report, then get it over with, or do you want me to?
That's it for the ...... story.

　The glow of the scarlet crystal disappeared. The scarlet crystal glow disappeared, followed by the blue and purple.

It's terrifying. The only ones who can blackmail the Demon Lords are the Kuro and the Blue.
"......
Why, Blue, you don't have to stay until the end. You don't have to stay until the end. Why don't you leave the last turn to the mistress who follows Kuro and continue your good sleep?

　How did she receive these words, and the glow of the blue crystal disappeared.

I'm scared. No matter what you say, Blue will feel uncomfortable. There's nothing I can do to fix this.

　Silence falls. The only crystal that has already said a word is the gold.

The gold is still glowing.

　The gold speaks to the colorless crystal, which is still shining. But before he could say anything, the colorless crystal quietly extinguished its glow.

The gold is still shining, but the colorless crystal quietly disappears without saying anything.　Every demon lord is difficult. But the people of the planet Yggra, that's very interesting. I heard you're in Taze. ...... Would you visit me here?　Mmm-hmm.

　The golden crystal lost its shine, leaving behind a merry laugh. There was no more light to illuminate the space. The round table was enveloped in blackness, and only silence remained.
　While the otherworlders from Earth were exposing the existence of the Demon Lords, his existence was also being exposed by the Demon Lords.