Assassins Pride - Volume 4 - Chapter 3

Volume 4 Chapter 3
LESSON III: ~From the train window under the stars~
(Unedited)

「AAH! aah. It’s a rarely trip, but we have to split up with Ojou-samas here? 」

Four girls alighted and walked onto the platform, facing the crimson long-distance sleeper train. They were maids working at Melida’s mansion, each carrying a large duffel bag.

They looked out over the badly damaged and conspicuous body of the car, and heard the clamour of the station attendants and the cavalry riders, who were hurrying about in a panic. With somber eyes, Amy lead the group and said:

「… the ladies are in a bad way. But,there’s so little we can do for them, despite our worries… that we’ve always regretted it. 」

Grace slapped the older maid Amy on the back with deliberate loud.

「Anyway, it`s said that we could meet halfway, so let’s just take our time and go sightseeing while we aim for Holy King District! And on the other hand, this could be an opportunity. Next time see Ojou-sama, the distance between her and Kufa-kun will be shortened! Yes, it’s getting shorter! 」

「Mr. Kufa is with her, Ojou-sama will be all right. 」

Niche said tersely, and the others grinned broadly. Amy Smiled back faintly, though a nagging feeling made her frown go up.

「But I’m more worried about Mr Kufa this time… why is he wearing Kings clothes? 」

She didn’t mutter so low to anyone in particular, drawing her eyes back.

Although there was no time for conversation, Kufa, who hurriedly took melida and Alice away from the coach, gave the impression that he was uncharacteristically cornered. Working at the mansion, he was the only male, and Amy and the rest could not help depending on him. But Kufa has always been adept at responding to the capricious demands of women, so Amy has never once seen him groan.

In fact, Kufa is just a few years younger than herself, but Amy always supported by him. As Housemaid, I have a lot to learn… Amy, hold her forehead.

「when Mr. Kufa and the lady return, I must make them a nice, warm cup of cocoa. 」

As she spoke of her tiny determination, the deep red long-distance sleeper train whistled loudly.

It goes without saying that ordinary passengers, including Amy and others, for some reason even the king’s guard suddenly got off the train at this station. Only in the final carriage are the king and a handful of men.

The train began to move again.

　　　　†　†　†

In a regularly vibrating guest room, Melida lifts up her jumpsuit. As she tucked the dress into her suitcase, praying for it to be as wrinkle-free as possible, someone accosted her bare, white backside.

「Sorry about that, Daby Mother, feeling bad. 」

Inside the cramped room were Melida and Elise, and Troupe Daby Lucille and Lyra, who helped them change. The Brown twins pulled dresses and waistcoats from the wardrobe box, even the maids` headdresses and bubble sleeves, and began to help the Angel sisters with deft movements.

Melida put on her frilly blouse and tilted her head in disbelief.

「<Mother>?」

「Is the master of our family. The members of the troupe call himMother. We were all orphans taken from our families by the Lyacanthrope, taken in and raised by Mother. 」

The twins were quick to help with the change of clothes, and said it in a tone of unconcern. Thirteen year old Melida and Elise looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

Don`t know whether to continue the dialogue, or for the sake of the reputation of the head nun, Lyra smiled broadly.

「He’s a very caring man. But is that what this is about? Actually, our Troupe Daby is in a pretty bad situation right now. 」

「what`s going on? 」

「There was a child named Alia who was an idol of our troupe, but she was injured. She was injured on her way to a Gig on the lower level. She couldn’t get on stage for a while, and the popularity of the Troupe Daby plummeted… and Alia’s treatment cost was a lot of money, and Motherfelt a headache for that. 」

So it was as if Lucille, another twin, continued in the same voice and motion:

「This tour is an opportunity. If we can pull this off, we can bring back the guests who left. It would restore the reputation of the Troupe Daby, it would heal Alia’s body, and it would allow us to perform as one — that miracle would never happen again. Mother was also full of energy to say that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! But coming to the scene with such gusto… RotatingKing’s journey was a sham, wasn’t it? 」

The twins looked at each other with a slight wry smile.

「Even when heard the reason, it seemed there was a protion that couldn’t be separated. The master values us, so it’s harder to accept. So he’s not really talking bad about your master! Please, can you forgive him? 」

Lyra-san and the others are so love and respect master.

「Of course. If it’s for Mother and the troupe, I’ll do anything. 」

The twins`non acting smiles made Melida speechless.

To be honest, it is Melida who can not be so easily separated when her sweetheart and friend Salacha are insulted face to face. But Lyra and the others didn’t seem to expect a rhetorical response, and they rose to their feet with bright expressions after finishing tidying up their skirts.

「great. It’s the right size! Oh, it is right to bring a lot of things here! 」

Melida and Elise looked at each other like a mirror and tried to turn around.

Style

They hid their identities, pretended to be Kufa’s servants, and, in keeping with that belief Style, dressed up as maids. Be that as it may, what they borrow are stage costumes made by the troupe. The skirt was shorter, and the color of her skin was visible on her chest. It was more ornate than the housemaids Amy and others usually wore.

Elise lifts up her skirt, which is heavily ruffled, to state her blunt feelings.

「It`s so heavy. 」

「That’s not good. It’s cute enough to be a crime. 」

「That’s even worse when you’re standing in pairs. It needs a display window.

「We`ll need extra horses. 」

「Horses. That`s no good. 」

「No good. 」

Melida squinted at the oddly calculating twin and edged her lips ever so slightly toward her cousin’s ear.

「Huh, Eli, there`s no need to hide your identity, is there? 」

「How do you explain that? We’re naturally treated as sisters, right? 」

「Hm. 」

Beautiful looks very similar to the two people, coupled with the sense of close proximity, is often mistaken for a true sister. Even after that, the two wore dresses in the same style, always holding hands. If one of them is the daughter of the Duke and the other is the maid, it’s hardly credible.

Elise, as if to say, so there`s no way puffed out his thin chest.

「If Lita is a maid, I’d be a maid. There`s no way but to serve as Kufa’s maid. 「I’ll do whatever I’m told, because there is no way. 」

「… why do you seem a little happy? 」

「It`s not that. It`s just that there`s no way. 」

Elise said, always with a nonchalant expression, nodding several times.

「Would you both please reconsider… 」

Kufa leaned his elbow on the table in the lounge and was deeply distressed. All the while he waited, it was the same tone, and the magnificence of the prince’s dress set off a sense of emptiness.

Mule leaned on the arm of the sofa and stroked Kufa’s shoulder with the tips of her fingers.

「Give it up, Kufa-sensei. I also think this is the ideal role. 」

「I can’t believe I let Ojou-samas… even though it’s an act, the fact that I let them be my maids」

「If you act like that, you’re gonna blow your cover? Senei. 」

She pressed her lips to the young man’s ear, and breathed softly. The Duke’s daughter may have behaved badly, but she seemed interested in Kufa’s reaction. Ever since the beginning of the tour, she had been looking for moments when no one was looking, like this, to shorten the distance between her and Kufa.

There are only three people in the luxury lounge of the VIP coach. Kufa, the Shadow Warrior, Mule, the watchman, and Salacha, who still looks apologetically hunched over her shoulders. Melida and Elise went to change clothes with the troupe’s twins, and Daby Mother left, what a perfect companion for you! after this sarcastic remark, he hid himself in the outlook room.

No matter how close she got, Kufa couldn’t get a funny reaction, so Mule drew back her upper body with a bored look on her face. From what she has read, it’s been said that boys like to be approached by the opposite sex. What is it about Kufa that doesn’t respond to anything she does? It’s the first time she has done this. Maybe got it wrong? Or would it not be, as if she were unattractive?

It was impossible, as if Mule were instantly buoyed up by the Duke’s pride.

「When all is said and done, it was you who brought Melida and the others here. 」

「There’s… there’s really no way. 」

Kufa, too, looked up slowly, as if trying to regain his strength.

「During the attack, the enemy also witnessed me sheltering the ladies. The enemy must have predicted that I had a special relationship with the ladies. But I couldn’t get out of the parade… 」

「Which means the only way to keep them safe is to let them tag along. 」

Mule said, putting her hand to her cheek.

──special relationship

As she murmured so quietly, another pretty girl on the sofa hung her head.

「Hauu… It seems to be getting worse…

「Salasha-sama, please cheer up. This isn’t just about the Shicksal family anymore. 」

Kufa said, tense and serious. Young girls are more likely to feel insecure if he become weak. He regained consciousness and realized that he was the pillar of the group.

Kufa smiled elegantly and looked steadily at the tearful cherry blossom girl.

「I will complete the tour perfectly in place of Duke Shicksal, and Ojou-samas will assist. Besides, on both their terms, it would be lucky to be able to join up with Salacha-sama and others. 」

「What what does that mean? 」

「Ladies it seemed as if they were so happy to be traveling with Salacha-sama and others. 」

At that moment the door of the lounge cracked open. Kufa, looking over his shoulder with Salacha and Mule, saw that his firm resolve had been shaken.

「Sorry to keep you waiting~!」

It was the very lovely thirteen-year-old maid sisters who came to the room in an excited voice. Kufa, of the opposite sex, is needless to say, even the same sex melting inside herself at the sight of a skirt that wiggles and a ribbon bow as long as a tail. Mule jumped off the couch with a glint in her eye.

「A-ra, a-ra! Melida and Elise both look great in this outfit! 」

「Eehehe! Thank you! 」

「Very lovable… with lots of decorations, very gorgeous… ! 」

「It’s heavy. Every time I move, it shake. Salacha can try it on. 」

「Eh? No… no, I wear it like… ! 」

「Ladies, it’s said that the clothes of the servants are very suitable. You can’t be happy. 」

Kufa reluctantly retained his counsel, with a poker face like a statue, approached the girl in the maid’s dress who was chirping.

「where are Miss Lucille and Miss Lyra? 」

「Ah, the two of them said they were going to placate the master and go to the looking-room. 」

「I see」

Kufa looked to make sure the doors and windows were closed, reassured that there was no one else but themselves, and immediately went down on one knee at the maid’s feet.

「Would you please reconsider」

「Eh! 」

「Kufa sensei, you`re right back where you started. 」

「Oh, I can’t believe I’ve lost it. 」

Kufa shook his head and stood up. Melida looked up from the governess’s chest to peepat his troubled expression.

「Sensei, is it possible that I`m not suited for this? 」

Shocked to the point of breathing in difficulty, Kufa sighed as if giving up. He slowly reached his hand down to Melida’s cheek and picked up the supreme marshmallow, rubbing it, pulling it, enjoying the touch and playing with it.

「It is so suit that I`m bothered, lovely lady? 」

「Whoo-hoo-fo. What do you do! 」

「Alright, alright. So, now that Kufa sensei has allowed it, feel free to special training right away. 」

Mule clapped her hands and caught everyone’s eye. Not Just Kufa, but her best friend, Salacha, looked puzzled.

「Mule-chan, what do you mean by special training? 」

「The maid’s training, of course. Now Melida and Elise just put on their housemaids and have no idea what it’s like to be servants. If you want to join the procession as a member of the royal family, you should first learn the minimum psychological preparation? 」

「it makes sense」

Kufa slapped his palms against his cheeks. The golden-haired student was wide-eyed with surprise at the rare gesture.

Kufa, dressed in his royal robes, returned to his normal state and raised his index finger in the manner of a class in the backyard of mansion.

「Ladies, have you come to your senses? From now on, I want you to learn the basic skills and knowledge you need to be a noble servant. The dukes may feel humiliated at times. If you want to call it off, I’d call it now? 」

「Just what I want! 」

Exactly as the home tutor had predicted, the blonde angel clenched her fists vigorously.

「Who do you think I am? I’m the number one student who crosses the sensei`sclass every day? And… serving… serving sensei is no humiliation!

「I might just be mortified. 」

Elise remained aloof, so to speak.

「But I am the First Marquis (Career Marquis)’s number one student. Giving up here would damage Roze sensei reputation. 」

「Good. 」

Kufa pressed his fingertips to the bridge of his erect nose. Salacha and Mule, unaccustomed to the chill pressure emanating from his smile, twitched their shoulders.

Seeing this for the first time, they will feel the reason why Kufa was called <Devil sensei> in the mansion:

Kufa smiled like a demon and said:

「Then, here we go. 」

　　　　†　†　†

「I didn’t… I didn’t know the servants worked so hard… !

It would not be long before the ladies in the maid’s dress began to complain and put their hands on the armrest of the sofa. Kufa clapped his hands mercilessly.

「Who said you could rest? You have to get a decent look before we get to our destination. All right, one more time! 」

「Yes, sir」

「devil. 」

Elise whispered something mean about Kufa and picked up the twenty or so pages of the thin picture book. She put the book on her head and picked up the tray from the table. There are three glasses on the tray.

In this state, keep her back straight and get ready to move. The lounge floor was strewn with toys and puppets, as if to say, trip your feet, while waiting for the naive, silver-haired maid.

「Do not look at the rim of the foot or the glass. And be careful not to drop the books. Look at you, not a step forward. Don’t hold back! You’ll be laughed at by your master for looking like that. 」

「Kuuuuuuah! 」

The train rattled hard, and the picture book slid off her short silver hair. Before the book fell to the floor, Kufa’s palm snapped up the book

The young man tapped her shoulder with the corner of the picture-book and said solemnly:

「You`ve got a lot to learn. 」

「uh,uh,uh,uh, uh」

「But sensei, this is very difficult. 」

Even Mule and Salacha followed suit, trying to keep the picture books on their heads. But every time the wobbly picture book slipped from their shiny hair.

「Hauu! UmI can`t help but look over my head. 」

「It`s all about balance. How is Ojou-sama? 」

Beside the table could be seen the blonde maid staring at the template photo. She arranged the cutlery for five people in exactly the same arrangement at their respective tables. She looked at the photo carefully at the end… her face brightened and she turned this way.

「Sensei, I`m finished! 」

「Let me see.. 」

Kufa leaned in close to the confident Melida to make a quick check on the cutlery arrangements. A few seconds later,. Kufa smiled affably at the young lady with her eager expression of approval.

「That`s not even close. 」

「Eh! 」

「It doesn’t just have to be in order. There must be some actual numbers in the template photo. Even the distance between the plate and the glass, the fork and the spoon… 」

Kufa’s hands swished, slightly adjusting the place setting with a mechanical fluidity. Rushing to the kitchen table, Mule opened the tape measure.

「is this a trick?Perfect in millimeters. 」

「It`s all about balance. 」

Elise clattered unhappily on the floor, da-da-da-da. It was always a look of indifference she rarely showed, as if wayward child-like action.

「This is beyond human reach. No one can do it. 」

Kufa heaved a deliberate sigh and slowly put the picture book on his head. He bent a little, took the tray from Elise’s hand, and turned it nimbly. The terrible thing was that the corner of the picture book did not sway at all.

Not to mention the feet. He didn’t even look at his hands. He just stepped out of his tall, straight frame. The tip of his shoe missed doll’s hand completely, and the glass was watertight.He didn’t care about the shaking of the train. He crossed from corner to corner, pedaling his shoes and turning around.

「Can`t what? 」

「「「Co～～ol!!」」」

Melida, Salacha, and Mule alike glowed in the eyes; only Elise inflated her cheeks.

Kufa couldn’t help but look a little pleased face and take the picture book down from his head.

「Actually, I, in order to be a home tutor to Ojou-sama, have obtained a first-class certificate as a butler.

「Butler certification test!? 」

「There is such a thing… ! 」

「Nothing. It’s just a little bit of experience I learned. 」

The tutor was amazing, the girls were obsessed, and Kufa was uncharacteristically smug. Elise, who had always found it unacceptable, frowned more and more, then thrust her index finger sharply into the young man’s face.

「Crafty. Obviously was always preaching to us, but sensei didn’t learn at all. 」

「Is is there anything I haven’t done well enough… 」

「If we have to look like a maid… 」

Elise approached with a lifelike deadpan expression, as if a death angel to declare:

「Kufa sensei should must act like a master. 」

「Kuu」

A-ra, that’s very reasonable. 」

Mule pressed her hand to her cheek, and Melida, of course, stepped forward.

「No matter how hard we try, if the sensei`s attitude is the same as usual, we will soon be caught out! 」

「…… even if you say so, I don’t know where to improve. 」

「First of all, it should be the way of address, right? 」

Salacha made a veiled comment, and Kufa’s gaze made her shrink even smaller.

「Hauu..well, I don`t think it`s like a king to address <Ojou-sama>」

「Sensei,please try to call our name straight! 」

Come on — Melida blushes and waits in anticipation. Although Kufa already felt as if he were about to faint, it was also for the sake of the mission, and for the sake of protecting Melida`s life and his position. Kufa, a home tutor turned king, is prepared to look down on a blond thirteen year old.

「MeMeMeMelida. 」

Melida`s whole body shook as if a pink current had passed through her.

「Yes, master! 」

「E Elise. 」

「Yes, master? 」

After only five seconds of steely nerves, Kufa crumpled to his knees.

「Please blame me」

「Why? 」

「Kufa sensei, please cheer up! 」

Seeing the perfect tutor who was not his usual, the golden and cherry-colored princess desperately shook his shoulders. Mule, playing with her dark crystal hair, asserted in a relaxed voice:

「What Kufa-sensei lacks is the sadistic temperament of the master. 」

「Sadistic is? 」

「<You are my things. You will obey my orders. Don’t talk back to me. What do you think who am I?>…… I call it, at its most extreme<the servant mentality>. 」Sensei must be used to this position of bossing, Melida, them, into submission.

Kufa felt Giddy, as if Melida were more and more moved and trembling than Kufa, who had almost fainted. What could possibly make her so happy? She was the first to sound out.

「Sensei, I want to be told what to do! I want to be sensei`s thing! 」

「Please reconsider, Ojou-sama. Dont say thing like that! 」

「Ah」

Clang there was the sound of the glass. She turned and saw Elise challenge the tray again, the sound of a glass falling from her hand and being caught in the carpet.

In an instant, Mule, her eyes lit up like a little demons, and she whoosh around behind Kufa.

「This is a great opportunity, Kufa-sensei. A disgraced maid needs not a lecture, but a punishment! For the confusing maid, the master must give ~ severe punishment! 」

「Shall I punish  Elise-sama? 」

「A-ra,a-ra,a-ra, what a naughty maid. I can’t believe you wet the carpet. 」

Mules voice broke into a neutral tone and began to imitate Kufas. It was a third rate performance that would have surprised even the downtrodden troupe, but what was even more surprising was that Elise would follow her lead. Elise walked up to Kufa and hung her head in dismay.

「sorry. 」

「Lest you make the same mistake again, master, Ill punish you. First, lift up your skirt and show me your cute little pants? 」

「…………」

It was a ridiculous request, but Elise didn’t step off the stage. She even executed the hesitation perfectly. Her cheeks flushed, she looked away, and at the same time she lifted her finger under her skirt. Flashing thighs and striped underwear are exposed, the underwear pressed tightly against the crotch.

「……hentai」

Her tearful eyes, somewhat resentful, pierced Kufa’s heart. Just when Kufa couldn’t resist looking away from the emotive gesture, someone handed him a high quality quill pen and stuck it to the young man’s wicker eyebrow.

「Come, sensei. It’s time for punishment. Tickle the sensitive parts of the maid with this quill. Until loyalty is instilled in that young body… 」

「Eexcuse me, I cant 」

「Oh, well! In that case, let me show you how it’s done! 」

Mule leaped impatiently from behind Kufa and knelt before the maid, who had been lifting her skirt. She raised the smooth tip of her quill, licked her lips and traced it up the inside of her thigh. Elise showed a marked reaction.

「Hia……!?」

Elise’s knees gave way and she fell back on the carpet. Mule took the opportunity to cover her, spread her feet, and pokes the NIB of quill into her. Mule tickled Elise’s body tenderly, from the inside of her thighs to her groin and the perilous gap between her underwear. Elise twitched and panted, her face flushed.

「Hoo-ah! Please… please forgive me, master… er… that… that… No! 」

「A-ra, a-ra, a-ra, What a naughty maid. And you never learned how to speak to your master? 」

Mule let her right hand dance like a court painter, and with her left he took out another quill and let it slip into the breast of the housemaid’s dress. The skin is stimulated directly by the sensitivity, causing Elise to emit a ekuu! From her recoiling throat! “. The blouse had been deformed from the inside several times, bringing to Kufa’s mind the scene of her upright cherry being played with by the waves of soft feathers.

(Illu)

「EKyaah!……hmhmm! 」

As if electrified, Elise’s toes sprang to her feet. The shoes, which had been wedged at the front end, had fallen to the floor, and the maid’s whole body had collapsed. Elise dropped her hands wearily, and the Golden Sisters rushed to her side in grief.

「E… Eli, snap out of it! The way of the maid is so hard! 」

「A-ra, this is just the beginning! Would that devil sensei just forgive you? 」

Mule put away her Double-Katana Quill and breathed into the point.

Elise gasped as she lifted her upper body to press down on the untidy dress.

「If it had been Kufa-sendevil sensei, it would not have been easy. Even if we were too ashamed to pass out, he would surely continue his devil lessons with that devil smile. 」

「Oh, no! If you are treated like this every day, you will become a senseis thing one day! 」

「It’s so moving to devote your body and soul so slowly…… it’s the only way a first-class maid can go. 」

「…… ladies, are you having a good time? 」

「「「Giku!」」」

Slowly, but surely, Kufa noticed, and the girls jerked their shoulders visibly. Cough! Cough! Kufa, who was almost led by their steps, coughed loudly, trying to save the home tutors face.

Kufa raised his index finger and deliberately let out a commanding voice.

「The ladies don’t seem to be taking it seriously enough, so let’s explain to the ladies here the most important part of being an entourage. Please, ladies, form a line over there… so is Salasha-sama. 」

「Eh? I I dont think I did anything bad」

「Dont talk back. 」

「Y, yes! 」

Kufa brought out the strongest sadism of the day, and a tearful Salacha twitched her shoulder in shock. Other members of the group who had gone too far with the prank also acted on the instructions of the governess in a dejected manner. Elise patted her ragged chest and skirt. She straightened her clothes.

Kufa nodded approvingly, touching his forefingers to the ends of his lips.

「In today’s lesson, the thing ladies have forgotten is this — smile. 」

「Smile? 」

「As an servant, you should always take your time. If the person who serves him is frowning all the time, perhaps with the action of heart fickleness blundering back and forth, mater also can feel uneasy. Am I not welcome? Did something unexpected happen? If you make your master think of such things, you are not fit to be a servant. 」

「That`s why we should smiling」

The girls murmured and looked at each other. As if the other side as a mirror, pinch her cheeks, raise the corners of her mouth, squeeze out an unnatural smile to the extreme.

「Ni, niko～……」「Ehe」「Ufufu」「Kyapi！」

「I have seen that coming, but its wrong. 」

Kufa said simply, telling the angels to stop staring at each other.

「Not like this, but more like a relaxing atmosphere. 」

Kufa said, smiling softly and in a perfectly natural gesture. The eyes of the four girls were instantly intoxicated. Only Mule shook her head vigorously and nervously.

Perfect Composure poised as if to embody the phrase, a young man holds his hand to his chest.

「<I am at ease. Enjoying my current job. So please rest assured> that it is called <Service Spirit>」

「Service Spirit」

「There is another mindset that must not be forgotten, and that is that servants must never belittle themselves. 」

Kufa took a step forward and put his hand on Melida’s collar. He adjusted the askew ribbon and combed her hair carefully. Although the clothes were quite the opposite, the figure was the omnipotent governess who usually attended to the young daughter of the Duke.

「For example, suppose that there is a lady in a luxurious dress, and the Butler waiting at her side is wearing a cheap, loose-fitting suit. It is the master who will lose face. A servant must not neglect to improve himself in order to foil his master. And the better the entourage, the more the master will look at himself, and want to be a <Being qualified to be served > … a good mirror of each other like this, so to speak, an ideal master-slave relationship. 」

「To be worthy to be served… 」

There seemed to be some lesson to worry her, and Melida murmured in a low, low voice. The thirteen year old narrowed her eyes and looked up at Kufa:

「I know it clear」

「Is that so? 」

That being said, Kufa himself was hardly an impeccable servant for the Duke. In the year since began to serve Melida, there has some occasionally voices questioning Kufa’s origins. Just as Melida wanted to prove that she has Duke blood, so Kufa had a lot to learn.

knock, knock, someone knocked on the back door

「A letter for you,Your Majesty. 」

Carrying a sheet of paper, it was Daby Mother, the owner of the troupe, who had a negative attitude toward Kufa. He put a stack of envelopes on the table and turned away as if he had finished.

On the way, he accidentally kicked off the rolling toys on the floor and looked around the room with a sigh on his face.

「I’m not going to write about your flirting with a maid. 」

With a bored look on his face, he left the lounge at a brisk pace.

Kufa decided to finish the lesson here, picking up cutlery and toys. Melida clasped her hands around a pile of puppets and looked puzzled.

「Sensei, what’s that pile of mail? 」

Kufa took a letter from the stack of letters and answered:

「It’s an invitation. 」

　　　　†　†　†

「By the way, ladies, do you know what a Sacred Crystal is? 」

The party set the tea table and tasted Kufa’s tea. On One side of the sofasat Kufa and Salacha. The other three were huddled on the sofa on the other side. It happened to be a face-to-face meeting with <Shicksal>, the main character of the parade.

Melida touched Mule’s shoulder beside her and picked up the cup.

「It’s the four stones that Your Majesty must collect through the parade, isn’t it? 」

「Exactly. But since it’s called a Sacred Crystal, it’s certainly not an ordinary stone. Ladies should have heard the word <Material>several times so far. 」

The girls looked at each other. Kufa continued in a fluent voice:

「The Leaves of Pebrott, the Scale of the Red Devil Butterfly, the very rare Feather of the Bird of Heaven’s Prison that can be made into medicine or poison. Elise-samas parading gown at the Circlet Night Festival last year was also made of Moltres and flint of Essence of Flame. 」

「I wish I could see it for myself! 」

Mule said cheerfully. Elise, on the other hand, looked back at Mrs.Othellos out of control behavior and grimaced with dismay. Kufa smiled and sighed at the thought of talking about it as a memory.

There are special effects hidden in each of these objects, and of course they have to be processed. So why do these magical objects exist around Flandre… anyone? 」

It was the studious Melida who raised her hand as if she were in a academy class.

「For example, just like Lycanthrope, darkness at night has a negative effect on all things in nature, such as animals, plants, and minerals, so does light in the Blood of The Sun, very occasionally, a positive effect. A godlike object born like this is the <Material>. The Materials, each with its own effect, are indispensable to life in Flandre. 」

「Very good. 」

Kufa smiled and resumed his lecture.

「More strictly, objects that are susceptible to miasma or Factor of the Sun, and useful to human life, are classified as <Material>but let’s put that aside. Then, speaking of which, the ladies should know what a Sacred Crystal is.

Elise, who didn’t want to lose out to her cousins, leaned out and showed her good side. 」

「That is, the stone influenced by the Blood of the Sun gemstone? 」

「Power Stone 」

「That’s a good answer. Power Stone is a gem that holds the great power of powerful spells, even one that can change the bearer’s fate. But more to the point, its beauty… ! For the purpose of this mission, Duke Shicksal have entrusted me with the <Everlasting Emerald>, one of the Sacred Crystal. 」

Kufa winked, and Salacha placed a bundle on the table as if they had discussed it beforehand.

When she opened the package, the bright green light, brighter than the lamplight, was released and lit up the whole room. It’s a gem that glows from the inside. And it’s very big. Need a palm the size of Kufa’s to hold it.

If they were greedy ravens, this would have blinded them. Fortunately, these ladies are of a more down-to-earth age. They each covered their faces with an exaggerated wail.

「It’s so bright, it’s like a rain of light on me! 」

「Even if I wanted a take the opportunity to pilfer the goat, it wouldn’t fit in my pocket. 」

「Put it away, Sala! My powers, as the dark ones, will be out of control! 」

「Uwah, thats terrible! 」

「You, ladies, have fun? 」

With a Helpless Sigh, Kufa respectfully receives the Everlasting Emerald, once again wrapped in cloth, in a locked chest.

「Only three remain <the Abyss Onyx>, <the Eternal Ruby>, and <the Noble Sapphire>. The coronation is a week away… and our task is to gather all the Sacred Crystal and return to Holy King District by next week. As for the Excalibur for the ceremony, it is said that Duke Shicksal himself prepared it. 」

「…… Kufa-sensei visits all of Flandre in search of Sacred Crystal, and Salachas brother only needs to prepare a sword? 」

Elise interjected gloomily, while Salacha arched her shoulders in a apologetic way. Kufa gave a wry smile it’s no big deal as if to smooth things over.

After all, it takes a lot of work to build a Excalibur.And although it is a search for the Sacred Crystal, it is not without hints . So many invitations have come in from all over the world.

It was the letters that Daby Mother had brought to the table. Plus what Kufa took out of hisbag, it was piling up in one corner of the table.

Staring at their carefully designed stacks of envelopes, Melida asks:

「Sensei, what do these letters say? Who’s the sender? 」

「It’s from the representative of the mining town in the lower settlement. It’s the same in any letter. Your Majesty, please take the town Sacred Crystal and escort you to your coronation… 」

「Give us? the Sacred Crystal? For Free? 」

Elise asked again and again, and Kufa grinned, answering pointedly.

「Because it would benefit the town. 」

「Why give us the Sacred Crystal for free, and they can make a profit… ? 」

The Angel Sisters pop up a bunch of question marks, and Mule and Salacha, who already know the mechanics, look at each other and smile. Kufa smiled elegantly.

「To put it simply, there will be a large crowd of people passing by, which will have a very exaggerated economic effect. 」

「What does that mean… ? 」

「Like this teacup. 」

Kufa held his hand up to the level of his gaze, revealing the noble blue pattern of the teacup.

「After the coronation, the Cup will be advertised with a bit of Gusto: It’s the Cup the King likes to use during the procession! The Cup may never be placed on the table again, but donated to museums and other places to attract large numbers of visitors. People will pay for a ticket just to see the cup. Rich people may try to collect the same brand of cups with the same pattern. As a result, the price of the cup is likely to soar even though it were a premium brand.」

Without hesitation, Kufa put her lips to the cup and took a sip of black tea. Melida gasped as if shocked.

「It feel like the so-called King can’t even sneeze at will! 」

「It’s exactly right. Then, you can see what these senders are up to. The Sacred Crystal used in the Excalibur is from this town! simply put, that’s what they want to advertise. Tourists also pour in from the upper levels of Flandre to see what the town is like. There should be a lot of shops on the street selling luxury items related to King. 」

Kufa concluded, as if unconcerned, and took another sip of black tea.

Just then, the train came to a block away. The train didn’t slow down at all, crossing strange streets, just going on and on. From a corner of Canbell, heading once more for the elevated track, Salacha looks out the window and asks:

「Kufa-sensei. We haven’t changed trains once since the last stop. Where is this train going? 」

「Rest assured, Salacha-sama. The train was already chartered by us when the ordinary passengers were asked to get off. And the conductor has been told where were going. 」

「Are we going to get the Sacred Crystal? 」

「Yeah, there are so many to choose from. 」

The Angel Sisters looked at the pile of letters in front of them with a smug expression on their faces. Kufa smiled faintly, then looked out of the dark window and added:

「…… Yes, if it were the original tour, it wouldn’t take much. But ladies please be aware. It may not be that simple. 」

Melida and Elise looked at each other, puzzled. Kufa took an open envelope from his arms.

「The train’s destination is the outer reaches of the lower settlement. It’s the border of the Flandre territory… known as the mining city of Diodecollete. 」

A Crimson serpent fluttered in the air, followed by a high-pitched whistle.

　　　　†　†　†

It’s been three days since the train rocked from Flandre. Leaving the lantern-shaped megacity, the town that straddles the lower settlement, the crimson serpent that follows the black earth day and night, to the lonely station that seems left at the end of the world.

Walking out of the platform, they were greeted by residents of Diodecollete actually not so much.Just a large wagon without a hood.

The party had a brief encounter with the man whom Diodecollete had sent to be coachman, and got into the carriage drawn by four tired horses and were ready to set out. There’s plenty of space on the shelves, but the chairs are stiff. And the road was not well paved, so every time the wooden wheels rolled over the big stones, they would shake with a loud clang.

After bumping his hips against the chair several times, Daby was the first to crack.

「Its so rural here! 」

His wail rang as if it could summon the spirits of the mountain.

No wonder. A magnificent forest was spreading out of the carriage. The surrounding area, including Diodecollete, is a mountainous region that has hardly been touched up. Because the road was so bad, the troupe’s twins couldn’t resist getting up from their chairs and grabbing onto the handrails, while Elise and the others sat on Kufa’s lap with their faces taken for granted. The carriage rattled up and down, but the young man in the prince’s cap answered with a nonchalant expression.

「As you say, this is the furthest point of Flandre, so no one visits. No matter how bad the roads are, wagons carry far more stones and Blood of The Sun than humans. 」

「I’m sure we’ll have a good time! Your Majesty, of all the invitations, why did you choose this godforsaken place? 」

「There are several reasons I believe you would understand that, too. 」

Kufa replied nonchalantly, and the troupe-head fell silent. Melida and the others looked at each other.

Its twins, Lucille and Lyra, put their fingers to their lips, as if in a mirror, with a puzzled expression.

「What kind」「Of place is it?

「Simply speaking」

Kufa began by saying this, looking at the steep mountains rising in the distance.

「This mountainous region used to be a treasure trove of Blood of The Sun and material, a high-profile place. It is a long way from Flandre, but the quest for resources to expand its borders is nothing new. Just a bit miscalculation, is not as much as expected… it is said to have exhausted the funds before the overland rehabilitation, it is no spare capacity to lay tracks to all the development areas. 」

「That’s why there’s a station in the middle of nowhere… 」

「And go from town to town in a carriage like this? 」

Seeing that the daughter of the Convent of saint-tropez understood the reason, Kufa nodded affirmatively.

Sitting next to Kufa, Melida looked up at him and raised questions that had not been fully resolved.

「But, sen, Your Majesty. There isn’t much time left before the coronation. 「Why choose such a remote place? 」

With the exception of the Angel Sisters, the rest of the group, who already knew what was going on, had a dark look on their faces. Kufa glanced at the coachman and leaned his face into the middle of the maid.

「… in fact, since the beginning of our tour, there have been a series of mysterious deaths of Sacred Crystal owners at our destination. 」

「「Eh? 」」

「The collector, the church people, the jeweler… whoever deals with us, who may give Sacred Crystal to us. Their Sacred Crystal had also been vandalized or taken… and there had been instances in which our Sacred Crystal had been stolen while we were sleeping in a certain mansion.

Kufa looks around at the members on the shelves. Th」e maiden swallowed nervously, and Daby Mother looked out of the carriage with an uninteresting expression on his face, with a Hum! from his nose.

Melida, who had been speechless, trembled to find the words.

「Could it be… that the assailants… the Black Bats… ? 」

「That must be it, right. That’s another one of my miscalculations. I didn’t think those guys would go this far… while I’m sitting on my hands like this, with the coronation only a week away. The journey must not be delayed any longer. Next time, it’ll be the last chance to round up the Sacred Crystal. 」

「That’s why it’s so far away. Because the enemy might not be able to make a move. 」

Kufa then looked away from the students, some of whom emphasized the endings.

「Let’s hope so. 」

The little brown roofs and the stone views of the street caught his eyes as he looked out at the road.

Everyone on the shelves turned their heads. With its distinctive, fire-red Hills in the background, it’s getting closer to the streets of Diodecollete. Something solid black is moving near the front door. As the carriage advanced, it was easy to see what it was like — a mass of people in dark brown robes.

All pulled their hoods down to cover their entire bodies, so that their age and gender could not be determined. Seeing them as the keepers of the underworld around the door, Melida and Elise couldn’t help hugging Kufa on both sides.

Kufa stroked their shoulders, even as he pressed lips under his hat.

「Ladies, rest assured,. There’s nothing special about them. The residents of the lower settlement wore that protective robe when they went out. 」

「Protective Robe? So it was, as it were, proof against the miasma of the night! 」

「No. 」

Kufa knew it was a contradiction, but he denied it with a straight face, which made the girl’s Brow furrow.

「That cloth has no power. Just consoling ourselves. 」

When Melida opened her mouth in surprise, the wagon finally reached the clearing carved out in front of the front door. As the horses bore through the Archway, hundreds of abaya figures waiting in the square erupted.

「「「Serge Shicksal-sama! Hooray! 」」」

It was loud enough to make one wonder if they had any trouble with the visitor’s eardrums, or the throng of petals thrown at them as if they had seen their enemies. Colorful colors fill the stone road in the blink of an eye. The four horses pulling the carriage stopped in bewilderment.

Fed up with stiff chairs, King and his party bid farewell to the shelves and spread a polite smile in all directions. After waiting for a while, two men stepped forward from among the throngs of robes.

「Your Majesty Serge Shicksal! !!」

The first person to shout in such a loud voice was a man in his late twenty. He wasn’t dressed as a robe, but as a sort of anachronistic suit. Though he looked as if he was about to embrace, he braked before he jumped. He looked down busily at his feet and bowed. He’s measuring the distance to the Rotating King Kufa. Looks like he practiced this scene a few times.

Even so, the attitude is exaggerated. Melida and others stared in amazement.

「We look forward to your visit from the bottom of our hearts! I’m Saimas Dioruke, son of the mayor of Diodecollete! I and all the people of the town are from the bottom of heart to look forward to the arrival of Your Majesty! Please take your time… for a few days! Please feel free to stay the night! 」

「Oh, well thank you. 」

Kufa was clearly inarticulate. Was He confused about his position as a King? Or were intimidated by the enthusiasm of Saimas’s? Daby Mother, in a voice no one could hear, muttered, <Typical Country Aristocrat>.

Just then, the second man who followed patted Saimas on the shoulder.

「Stop It, Saimas. The long journey has fatigued Duke Shicksal」

A dignified, middle-aged gentleman with a handlebar mustache came forward. He seemed accustomed to receiving the nobles, and naturally asked the King for a handshake.

「It’s been a long time, Your Majesty. The last time I saw you was when you were 15. Do you remember the name Weltti Dioruke? I’m running Diodecollete now, and I’m teaching my young son what a mayor is. 」

「Y yse. Its been a long time. 」

「eh? 」

Kufa hesitated, and Weltti peered under his hat with a puzzled look on his face.

But before that, it looked as if the excited, implacable son stepped in.

「Come on, how can His Majesty remember dad! . Your Majesty, this way please. We’re ready for the reception! Take this carriage, please! 」

This way please as Saimas calls it, six horses clattered out. Although Daby Mother and the others looked ugly and wondered why it was horses again, this time the carriage was drawn by two horses, each with a fine harness. All the eyes of the party could not help but concentrate on one of the three carriages.

Apparently, only the one in the middle is particularly luxurious, with a difference in heart power compared to the others. The soft, bulging chairs are golden yellow and sit up with a feeling reminiscent of feathers. The roof was fitted with a long eave instead of a ceiling, and at each end a fan of leaves fluttered in the wind  <God’s sedan chair >, the word flashed through my mind.

From the look of anticipation in Saimas’s eyes, Kufa had to get on the wagon and creep along under everyone’s gaze. Kufa, whose determination soon nearly shrivelled, sought salvation from his fellow passengers. Fortunately, there was room in the carriage for about two or three people.

The Troupe Daby, however, looked away from each other and refused to meet Kufa’s gaze. Well, let’s go see Mule. As Kufa searches for Mule, the dark crystal goblin has shrewdly hitched a ride with the others. You can see the strong self-esteem of the La Mors family to avoid vulgar things.

In that case, could he ask Salacha? For the implicative Salacha, it can be cruel, but the picture of the Shicksal siblings may also look natural to the eye. But just as Kufa thought of it, and was about to stretch out his hand, a flash of golden light flashed into Kufa’s field of vision and beckoned him.

「……」

It was Melida, clutching her dress with an anxious expression. Her position as a maid prevented her from taking the initiative, but her governess would have known exactly what she was thinking. Kufa offered the girl, her head bowed, a hand she had been about to put down

「Come… come here, Melida. Take it together. 」

Melida flashed a smile as if she could hear the sound effects, darting over like a dog, clutching Kufa’s right hand.

「Im coming, master! 」

Just as Kufa’s head was reeling from her dazzling appearance, he noticed the figure of another maid. Elise hung her head as if she had been left alone, surrounded by large horses.

「E Elise too. 」

At the same time that Kufa was calling, the silver beauty lifted her head. Elise sprinted over with a small step, her cheek rubbing against Kufa’s right arm.

「There is no way, so I come. 」

Elise snorted contentedly and led Kufa to the carriage. Forced to witness this, Daby Mother sighed and took out her pen.

「Cut that plot out, too. 」

King, seated side by side in a plush chair with maids, made the other man react in a curious way. The man responsible for the wagon, the mayor’s son, Saimas Dioruke.

「Do you want to put ser… servants in the carriage… ? 」

His cheeks twitched and his eyelids twitched. It was like a Zombie pulling an all-nighter.

「Are you saying there’s no need for rules in this godforsaken land……? 」

「In many ways, His majesty lacks consideration in many aspects. If you care too much, you can’t bear it. 」

「…………！」

Even Daby Mother’s voice was not sure if it had reached his ears. The Troupe Daby, Mule and Salacha each got into the carriage, but Saimas was slow to pull himself together. Unable to bear it, Weltti stepped into the King’s carriage.

(Illu)

「Alright, let’s go! The people can’t wait! 」

There’s a welcome party  all the townspeople  can’t wait

The group was soon forced to realize that the words were not exaggerated.

「Come, this way, please! Then this way! All the residents have come out to greet the King! 」

Saimas Dioruke, the mayor’s son, forced himself to change his mood.

Kufa and his party had expected to take themselves to the hotel even if there was nothing there. After three days of rocking in a metal box, the group was already nearing the point of exhaustion. If it is the local people living in this land surrounded by nature, they should be more concerned about the fact that even if it is just a journey from the station to the town, the tourists are consuming endurance.

But. The mayor’s son, who had probably stayed up all night contemplating his welcome plans, seemed to have no regard for the visitor’s state. Surrounded by residents who had turned into black walls, the procession of people pushed into wagon racks had nowhere to go but in and out of Saimas’s tour guide as he rode ahead. The Dragon Statue guarding the entrance of the mine, the <Treasure Hill> with an unobstructed view of the mountains, the historic Church built during the pioneering era… Unfortunately, Kufa and his party are not interested. Daby’s terrible expression pronounced:nNever mind that, give me a bed and a meal!

From the second half of the tour, it was impossible to hear the guide as fast as a machine gun

「Elise-sama, this is very rude. Please get up. 」

「Hm」

Kufa had to squeeze the sleeping beauty’s cheek against his chest several times.

The streets of Diodecollete are uneven and there are many ramps. The mayor, Weltti Dioruke, who had been observing the faces of his son and the King, finally spoke from the driver’s seat as they were dragged around, unable to hide their frazzled expressions.

「Saima, its enough. His Majesty and others are tired. So that when they think of this town later, they’ll remember that the carriage was uncomfortable? 」

「Ah, that thats right」

His son, who had been excited, seemed at last to regain his composure. Its time to the hotel? As Kufa and the rest breathed a sigh of relief, Saimas looked away with a guilty look on hisface.

Then, with childlike cheerfulness, say:

「So, let’s move on to the <Gem Tall> you’ve all been waiting for! 」

「Does he have any common sense! 」

Daby, relieved at last from the carriage, cursed as he rubbed his aching hip. Even Kufa, with whom he didn’t get along, couldn’t help but agree. The troika, accustomed to stagecoaches for their performances, needless to say, even Mule and Salacha seemed tired.

Elise yawned furiously and Melida

「Bridal Car, Dating sensei with carriage… is like a Bridal Car on its way to a honeymoon……Ehehe. 」

With an exceptional look of happiness on her face, Kufa decided not to bother her just yet.

The so-called <Gem Tall> seems to be, as its name suggests, the place where the gems extracted from the mines of Diodecollete are kept. It looks like a low tower, and the entrance has what looks like a solid door.

Inside, there were no windows at all, and the cramped interior was unlit. Because it doesnt need to have.

The shelves are crammed with colorful gems that glow from the inside. It’s a magical glow of divinity. All of them forgot their tiredness for a moment, and the mayor and his son seemed somewhat proud with themselves.

「So, everyone! Over here, please」

In the deepest part of the room, there was a pedestal supported by thin pillars. When King and the rest gathered around the platform, the cloth that had been draped over it was ready to go, and it was lifted violently.

What spills out of it is what should be described as the <Dark Light> , a fantastic radiance. Placed on the pedestal is an inky black stone, which depicts a very graceful oval shape. It absorbs all the colors, reflecting them off the inside of the stone, only the edges change color depending on the angle.

And on top of that, it’s huge. Not as bad as the <Everlasting Emerald> Shicksal left with Kufa. Saimas proudly puffed out his chest and introduced the pride of the town.

「This is the <Abyss Onyx> we mentioned in our letter. No matter the color, transparency or size, it should be adequate to decorate the King’s Excalibur…

「A-ra, that’s brilliant. 」

「It’s so beautiful! 」

Daby Mother was scribbling in his notepad, and the troupe’s twins had the same twinkle in their eyes. Mule and Salacha looked at each other as if nothing had happened, and nodded in relief. It was as if they could be heard shouting with such understanding. Finally got one! But

「…………」

From the moment the cloth was lifted, Kufa said nothing, pressing his fingertips to his jaw. No one could see his face because the hat almost covered his face.

After spending a lot of time in the aftertaste, Saimas stood up and said:

「Your Majesty, are you satisfied with the stones of our town! I’m sure you think it’s brilliant? 」

「uh yes. 」

「I know it! 」

Like a horse biting a carrot, Saimas looked excited. He took his Notepad out of his arms and wrote with great vigour. With a stroke that seemed to pierce the inner page, he wrote, <the King praises the jewel of this town>.

Elated, Saimas was more eager to close the distance.

「Your… Your Majesty! Please take this ring with the Abyss Onyx! And wear it on your finger at the coronation! I hope you can make it clear that this ring is from Diodecollete! 」

「So so Mr. Saimas? 」

「After that, an interview was arranged with the local newspaper! Would you do the interview, please? Reporters are on standby! Nothing. It won’t take you much time. I hope you would express your impression of this town very simply! 」

「If if it is during the stay, it may be OK」

「Thats it! Then, if it’s convenient, please sign your name on this sign-up sheet! 」

Before Kufa could answer, Saimas came over with cardboard and a pen. His hands were so full that even Kufa couldn’t speak. Saimas’s enthusiasm is inversely proportional and can not be stopped.

「I’ve seen the signature of the Duke Shicksal in magazines before. Please leave your signature exactly like that one! Well, I’ll frame it and put it in front of a monument in Diodecollete! 」

「Sai Mr. Saimas. The uh」

Kufa couldn’t lift the lid of his pen. At this point, he couldn’t find a word to say in response. He looked around the Jewel Hall as if he wanted to escape, and confirmed that there were only a few people in the place. Only Weltti and Saimas, the mayor and son of Diodecollete.

「Mr. Weltti. 」

Then Kufa looks at Weltti with a vision of abandonment. The silent middle-aged gentleman nodded helplessly, leaned his face closer to his son, and whispered something in his ear.

「Eh, what is it, dad what? 」

After listening to the whisper, Saimas made a dazed voice and turned his face back to face the person in front of him

He gazes down at the tall man in his frock coat, resting his gaze on a large hat that obscures his appearance

Mumbling to himself in a lifeless voice:

「He is not the King? 」

　　　　†　†　†

「Who can bear such an insult? 」

A tremendous roar pierced the eardrums of the crowd.

The atmosphere before entering the hall changed, and the King, who had been brought to the mayor’s mansion in a funereal atmosphere, were forced to go directly to the reception room.

The King were gathered on one side of the Sofa, with Melida and Elise standing behind Kufa. While Daby Mother looked unconcerned, the other girls faces were somber.

「No wonder. The mayor’s son, hitherto unbearably friendly, bellowed with an appalling expression. The voice that welcomes a person is high decibel, lambaste a person’s voice is natural also not small. It would have been best to cover his ears, but Kufa honestly took off his hat and bore Saimas’s gaze from the front. 」

However, there’s no way Saimass spitfire is going to abate.

「Impostors? What hell is going on… ! We<mole>are so desperate to dig a hole for Flandre, but the King won’t show his face at such a critical time? 」

Calm, on the other hand, was his father, Weltti, who sat beside him.

「Okey, Saimas, Stop talking. Duke Shicksal is a busy man. 」

busy man? Does that mean our lowly <mole>are idle?

「I didnt mean that you’re trying too hard. 」

「Dad is so crisis-free! 」

At the sight of the mayor and his son beginning an interminable quarrel, the four daughters of the Duke drew face to face in silence. Elise still deadpans the question:

「What’s the mole? 」

「Uh… people who work in mining cities feel inferior about their appearance and call themselves that. 」

「I see. I can see why Kufa-sensei chose this town in the first place. 」

Mule said after Salacha. What’s the reason? caught Melida’s attention.

「In order to receive the Sacred Crystal, it is necessary to negotiate directly. Which means there’s no way to pull this off without blowing our cover. And if this shadow fighter thing could turn into a scandal, it would be easier to get the Intel out of Flandre as far as possible. 」

Oh, my God Melida was again impressed by the home tutors thoughtfulness. Indeed, in a small town in such a remote location, even if residents wanted to spread the word, they might be able to minimize the risk of getting the message out.

And sure enough, the lords of this town didn’t take the shadowfighter thing too well. Saimas, pale and sympathetic, clutched at his neat hair.

「Damn it, Damn it, son of a bitch! I thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  All hope is lost! It’s all falling apart! Damn it! 」

Without changing his face, Kufa took a slip of paper from his arms and laid it on the table.

「I have a message from Duke Shicksal. He said, you can use my name if you want to revitalize the area. 」

「……!!」

For a moment Saimass heart wavered, but then a fire of emotion swept over him.

「Dont be ridiculous! You think we’re just gonna accept that? 」

And the sister of the King, Lady Salacha Shicksal, who also represents the King…

Kufa glanced over and Salacha straightened her back nervously.

Saimas glanced at Salacha, but of course it was impossible to hold back the fire.

「So what! There’s nothing precious about a sister! 」

「Saimas! Thats enough. There’s a limit to rudeness. 」

Salacha looked apologetic and bowed her head. Mule pretended not to know and said nothing. Melida and Elise looked at each other, puzzled.

Was it possible that a young man named Saimas was trying too hard to borrow the name of the King?

Before the question is answered, Kufa interjects with an impassive expression.

「So, Mr. Saimas, I want to make sure that. 」

「Su sure of what?! 」

「So you’re not going to let us have the <Sacred Crystal of Abyss Onyx>, then? 」

The other people on the couch stared in amazement. 「Wait, what are you talking about? 」Daby pressed him, but Kufa did not look at him.

Saimas, who had been jabbed from an unexpected position, nodded as if he couldn’t back down.

「… Ye… yes, as you say! We can’t give the town’s treasures to you impostor! If you want it, dig it yourself! 」

「Then, do as you say. 」

Kufa said as he stood up, making everyone wonder about their ears.

Kufa looks upon his son, who quivers like a fish, and his father, who frowns in a frown

As a matter of course, he stretched out his hand and told him with certainty:

「I will mine the Sacred Crystal myself. May I have your permission, mayor? 」