After getting ready for our journey, Leah and I headed for the schoolyard of the Thousand Blade Academy.
　There, we found a large royal plane already waiting for us.

(It's bigger than President ......'s private jet.

　(It's bigger than the private jet of the president of .) As expected of a royal plane, the scale is different from that of a private one.

　In front of the plane, there was a group of five people dressed in black ceremonial attire, who bowed their heads as soon as they saw Leah.

　One of the women at the head of the group opens her mouth.

"-We've been expecting you, Miss Leah, Mr. Doodlebug. We're ready for takeoff. Please come in.

　Mr. Doveworm, or .......

(......, though with a slight honorific)

　It was a very nice greeting, and I could tell instantly that I was not welcome at all.

　And then.

"Hey, if you keep talking like that, ...... I'm not going, okay?

　Leah said with a sharp look in her eyes, clearly unhappy.

"I'm ...... sorry. Dear Leah, .................. Dear Allen, please come this way.

　After a very long pause, she properly called my name.

"Hmm ....... Come on, Allen.

"Oh, oh.

　And so I boarded the plane with Leah at my side.

.

　On the way from Senbei Academy to the Kingdom of Vesteria.
　Leah showed me many of the sights of Vesteria.

　The Hill of Hope, where any wish is said to come true.
　The National Vestellia Museum, which displays various artifacts, antiques, and relics of historical value.
　The Great Arena, where fierce battles are fought day in and day out.

　I guess they are proud of their country.
　Leah seemed very happy as she talked about Vesteria.

When I'm done talking to your father, we'll definitely go sightseeing together!

"Yeah, let's do that.

　As the two of them exchanged promises, the plane gradually lost altitude and slowly touched down on the ground.

"Vesteria has arrived in the capital city of Arond. Please come this way, both of you.

　As I got off the plane and left the airport, I was shocked.

　The air, the smells, the people - everything was different.
　It may be natural to say that I was in a foreign country.
　But for me, leaving my country for the first time and crossing the ocean, the shock was huge.

　As I walked out of the airport, a woman in black formal wear opened her mouth.

"Master Leah. Your meeting with His Majesty the King is scheduled for 8:00 PM. We still have about an hour and a half, so dinner--

I'll eat with Allen. Leave us alone, please.

...... Yes, ma'am.

　She nodded her head in disapproval.
　She didn't seem to like the idea of me and Leah working together.

"......, then we'll leave you here. The meeting with His Majesty is scheduled for 8:00 p.m., just in case. Please don't forget that.

I know. I wouldn't come all this way and just drop out.

No, it's not that. ...... Miss Leah has always been a bit of a softie, so I was hoping you could watch the clock. ......

I'm not ditzy at all!　Come on!　Come on, get out of here!

All right, sir. Take care of yourself.

　So we parted ways with the group of people in formal attire, and made our way down the main street, trying to blend in with the crowd.

I'm sure you've heard of ....... I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm a bit of a clod, a bit of a dilettante, and a bit of a ...... jerk.

Oh, haha, yeah, .......

　I'm not going to lie, Leah can be a bit clumsy, and she's definitely ditzy.
　I know this well from living in the same room with her for the past few months.

　However, I couldn't say such a thing to his face, so I decided to smile and cover it up.

　Then I looked at the main street where I was walking.

(...... Unlike the Orestes in the capital, there aren't many big stores.

　Instead, there are a lot of small stalls.
　The total number of stores is probably much larger here.

(And even though it's already six o'clock, ...... there's a huge crowd.

　A swordsman with a sword in his waist.
　A woman with a shopping bag.
　A man with a bottle of sake in his hand, humming to himself.

　All kinds of people were coming and going in the street with bright faces.

　A city of merchants - as lively as Dresden.

　And as I scanned the street.

"Hey, Allen. We don't have much time, so why don't we have some dinner?

　Leah tapped me on the shoulder and said.

"Yeah, sure.

　It was 6:30 in the evening.


　It's about time you got hungry.

Do you want something to eat, Allen?

Hmm, I don't know. If I had to guess, I'd say ...... meat.

Really?　Well, I have a recommendation for you!　I've been going there since I was a little girl and it's my favorite place!

Okay, I think I'll go there then.

Yeah!　Come on, follow me!

　So I followed Leah and we arrived in front of a restaurant that I remembered very well.

"This is .......

"Hmm, are you surprised?　It's a real ramshackle restaurant!

　Lamsak is a traditional Vesterian dish.
　It's a traditional Vesterian dish. It's a triangular pastry that's just barely the size of a bite, stuffed with beef stew.

(The lamb sack is indeed delicious. And since it's full of beef, it fits my needs. ......)

　But the problem is the quantity. 　
　When Leah and Rose and I went to eat this before, we were so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of food that we gave up.

(What are you going to do, say no to ......?

　While I was thinking about it.

As I was thinking about it, I thought, "This place is run by a family, and it's really good!　The pie crust is so crispy!　The beef stew inside is so rich!　And then!　The meat is so tender it melts in your mouth!

　The meat is so tender that it melts in your mouth!" Leah's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of real lamb sack.

So that's it. ....... I'm looking forward to it.

　I'm sorry, but can we go to another restaurant? There was no way I could say, "Sorry, but can we go to another restaurant?

　I nodded my head with a slightly tightened smile.

(......If it comes down to it, she can just eat my portion.

　Don't push yourself too hard - that's what I learned from the last meal.
　If it gets tough, I'll give her all the rest.

Come on, let's go in.

"Yeah.

　So we walk in.

"Hi, welcome to ......." Oh, my God!　It's you, Leah!　When did you get back here?

　When did you get back here?" A short, old shopkeeper came running up to Leah.

It's been a while, Grandma Lam!　I'm only here for a little while for a number of reasons.

"Oh, yes, yes!　I'm glad to hear you're doing well!　I'm glad to see you're doing well. By the way, ......, you have another cool guy with you. Are you ...... her boyfriend by any chance?

Oh, yeah, ....... And that's ......?

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

　Apparently, she doesn't want to answer this kind of question herself.

(Speaking of which, did Paula ever tell you that ......)

"Listen, Allen?　Girls are sensitive creatures. So if a girl is in trouble, you, the man, have to take care of her and help her!

　Leah was a girl of her age.
　And now I'm not sure how to answer the question.

　And now I'm not sure how to answer her question. I should be the guy and answer for her. 　

"Haha. We're just friends, friends.

　So I answered her question lightly.

"...... I see. ...... still looks like a 'friend'.

　For some reason, Leah's shoulders slumped and she let out a big sigh.

I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure what to make of that. I feel a little younger now too!

　On the other hand, Grandma Lam, who was somehow energized, smiled happily.

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

"Yes, two lamb sacks, please.

Yes, please, two lamb sacks.

　After that, Leah and I tasted the real lamb sack.

And then we had our fill of lamb sack.

　Then, after eating our fill of lamb sacks, we paid the bill and left the restaurant.

"Mmm!　That was delicious, Allen!

"Oh, the real thing is different. It was much better than the one I had in Orestes.

But you didn't eat much. ...... Are you okay?

Oh, yeah, ......!　I've been working out a bit lately!



　Yeah. I didn't do anything rash this time.
　I just ate five of them, and when I was halfway through, I gave all the remaining fifteen to Leah.

(But then again, ......, Leah's gluttony is amazing.

　The sight of her devouring a total of thirty-five ramsacks was almost divine.

(Well, ......, this is where it all begins.)

　The ramsacks were just an accidental outpost.

　Now comes the 'real battle' of talking to Leah's father, the King of Vesteria.

"Lia, do you understand?　If he asks, 'Are you a slave? Do you understand?
Do you understand?

Don't worry, this time I'll say yes!

Okay, now can you show me the way?

Yeah, this way. Follow me.

　Then, with Leah's help, we followed the path to the left and right until we came to a large castle.
　There were the five of us who had flown in together.

"--We've been expecting you, Miss Leah, Miss Dove .................. Allen.

　After a long, long pause, she called out my name with a pained expression.

"His Majesty the King is waiting for you. --Please come this way.

　And so we walked into the castle, past the guards who were glaring at us with sharp eyes.

(...... I'm nervous indeed.)

　A meeting with the king of a country - it's too much for one student to handle, no matter how you look at it.

(Only a few months ago, I was just a dropout at a rural swordsmanship academy. ......)

　What the hell is going on here (・・・・・) and how did this happen (.......)?

(I'm not good at discussing things, but I'll give it a shot. ......)

　And so, with a sigh that has become a habit of mine lately, I made my way through the royal castle.