Al, you got a minute?

　I was in the living room with my family after breakfast when Dad Nord approached me sternly.

　He's more serious than ever. It's not a good idea for Dad Nord to call me by my name like this.

"Sorry, I'm busy lounging on the couch.

I wouldn't call it busy. Come here, come here.

It's important.

　I don't want to go even more when they say something important or something....

　Despite feeling a bad feeling, I headed to the table where Nord Dad and Erna Mom were waiting for me.

　When Nord-Dad made sure I was seated quietly, he cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

'Al, do you remember Eric, the boy we met in King's Landing?'

　Eric-Silford. He is of the same baronial family as the House of Sowlett.

　They were friends who cut each other's menches from the very beginning at the nobleman's exchange party in the royal capital, and even cut each other to pieces with tongs. How could I forget such a guy?

I remember. I'm sure you'll remember that.

'What are you talking about? You just fought over meat and fought over tongs, didn't you?

　I say coolly, and sister Elinora, who is playing Jenga with brother Silvio, rushes in with a dumbfounded voice.

''It's not nice to hear that they fought. That was just a bit of flirting. Eric and I talked normally afterwards, and the next day we played together in King's Landing.

That's the only person who thinks so.

　I say firmly, but Mother Erna sounds somewhat dumbfounded.

　What?　What in the world is wrong with him? In the first place, why are you rehashing something that happened more than two months ago now?

What do you mean?

'It's only the people involved who think so, and that means the people I've seen around me don't think so.

　When I hear Father Nord's inclusions, I understand.

''Oh, you mean the other nobles think that the House of Throwlett and the House of Silford are at odds with each other?

That's what I'm talking about.

　Dad Nord says with a shrug of his shoulders.

　'I see, why did you think you'd be rehashing such a previous story, and why did you start to hear such a rumor?

'Of course, that's not actually the case - and just in case you're wondering, Eric, you and I aren't on bad terms, are we?　We used to play together in King's Landing, and we're friends, right?

Yeah, we're friends.

　If you ask me if Eric is my friend, it's a delicate thing.

　But there's no way I can say otherwise in this air.

'I hope you won't hesitate to say we're friends there, though.

We're friends!

　I told them once again, but Dad and Erna's mother looked very worried.

　It's okay. Eric and I no longer have a relationship without reservation. It's not an exaggeration to say that we are friends. Yes, Eric and I are friends.

Well, at any rate, we have to show the world that the House of Slaughter and the House of Silford are in good terms. That's why we're going to visit each other's estates.

We go to each other's houses to show people that we're that close?

So that's what it's all about in a nutshell.

　When I say to confirm, Mother Erna nods.

　I see, I don't mind if I keep misleading people around me, but it's the rest of the family that makes it difficult to do so.

'So, when are you going?'

Well, you're being more honest than usual this time. I thought you were going to blame me for not wanting to leave the village when it comes to Al.

To tell you the truth, I just got back from Kagura and I don't want to go out, but it's me and Eric's fault.

　There was no way I could say I didn't want to go as long as I caused the action.

''I've already contacted the Silford family and made arrangements. We're going to enter Silford territory in a week, so considering the travel time, we'll leave in the morning in three days. Also, this time I'll take the whole family with me.

Are me and Silvio going too?

　The Elinora sister turns and asks me if I'm surprised by Dad Nord's last words.

　Maybe it's because she understands that she's having to go out because of me, but her voice is blatantly troublesome.

''That's right. We're going to have a joint training session with the Silford family, and there's an ocean over there, so don't think you'll be bored.

'Well, I guess we'll never be bored with Luna over there.

The ocean. I've never seen the ocean, so I've been wanting to see it.

　They both fall for the bait that Nord's father has set up for them.

　As expected of our father, he seems to know what to feed his children.

　I don't think they will be complaining about it on the way. Thanks to Father Nord.

'Who's Luna, by the way?'

'The eldest daughter of House Silford. We were friends who met at a training exercise in King's Landing the other day. Of course, unlike Al, I didn't slash and tie her with tongs.

　I would like to go into the words of Sister Elinora, but there's something more surprising to me.



''I'm not acting crazy like Al, and I'm participating in the Knights of the King's Landing exercises, so I have a lot of friends.

　You don't like being licked by me, your younger brother, or maybe Elinora sister is proud of you.

　I see, when people who also aspire to be knights get together, they'll become friends as well. If all goes well, we'll be colleagues in the same office in the future. There's no way we can't deepen our friendship. Is it possible for an older sister like her to make friends?

　No, but wait. If you're invited to participate in the knight's training exercises, Luna-san must be a pretty good swordsman.

　I don't think all women who aspire to be knights are monsters like sister Elinora, but there's a case to be made if it happens.

　I don't want to practice with two monsters.

''Is this Luna person as strong as Sister Elinora?''

　I asked fearfully, and Elinora's sister said flatly.

"I'm stronger than you, but if Al and Silvio do it, you will definitely lose.

　Oh, oh, good. If she's a female deity that even Sister Elinora can't win, I was going to run away from training at all costs.

　But there's a certain amount of affinity in a fight. It could be that Luna-san just happened to be incompatible with Elinora sister.

　Let's not take Elinora's words too literally.

'Al went to Kagura, so you've seen the ocean before, right?

　As I was carving notes in my mind's notebook, Brother Silvio asked me.

'Yes, we saw it in Esports, and we crossed the ocean in a boat.

'I love it. I'd love to be on a boat, too.

'There's a lot of fishing in Silford territory, so there must be plenty of fishing boats. Maybe they'll give you a ride if you ask.

Al.

　Brother Silvio, hearing Father Nord's words, looks at me.

　As expected of me, I'm not the one who doesn't know what brother Silvio wants.

'Umm, yeah, I'll ask Eric to help me get on the boat.

Thank you!

　When I say that, Brother Silvio laughs happily.

　Well, the reason I had to go to Silford territory is because of me. As much as I can, I'll do my best to help everyone enjoy the journey.

''The ocean - it's just a wide expanse of salty water, right?

　On the other hand, sister Elinora doesn't seem to be interested in anything other than the sword, or she doesn't seem to care a bit.

''In Silford territory, we're close to the sea, so we can enjoy seafood every day, right?

'That would be great!　The ocean is awesome!

　After being admonished by Mother Erna, Sister Elinora does a great job of flipping her hand.

　I see, the reason why Mother Erna doesn't mind this trip at all is because of the seafood.

　Because there is no way you can eat fresh seafood in the Slowlet territory that doesn't face the sea. They must be looking forward to it.

''I'm looking forward to the Silford family's cooking!

I bet it's all fresh shellfish and fish and stuff.

What do shells taste like?

'What can I say?　It's hard, isn't it?　Does it taste like the sea?

That doesn't make any sense.

　They would no longer have any objection to going to Silford territory.

　Everyone begins to talk happily in anticipation of the upcoming trip.

'Come to think of it, this is the first time we've gone out with the whole family, isn't it?

　When I say this, everyone suddenly interrupts the conversation and lets out an "oh" sound, as if they've just noticed.

　It's as if they just noticed.

'There should be an opportunity, but everyone doesn't want to go away, so...'

　We looked away from it, wondering if we had any idea what Dad Nord had said.