Category: Isekai Nonbiri Sanpo Tabi

I checked the route to the Western Margravate at the Adventurer’s Guild. Until now, we’ve been able to travel by carriage, but it would be nice if we could also travel to the Western Margravate by the sea.

Thinking this, I asked the receptionist while completing the luggage transport completion procedures.

“There are several routes from the Northern Margravate to the Western Margravate. Most people choose the coastal route. Of course, horse-drawan carriage services are also available.”

I asked the Adventurer’s Guild receptionist and apparently, there really is a coastal route. I thought this was lucky, but Fran and Horn looked puzzled.

“Hey, hey, what’s the sea?”

“What’s it like?”

Oh, that’s right.

Fran and Horn don’t know what the sea is. They still don’t know a lot of things, so I’ll have to teach them little by little.

“The sea is like a lake with tons of water, but it’s really salty.”

“And you know what? There are tons of fish in the sea too, and they’re super delicious!”

““We want to go to the sea!””

Yep. For Fran and Horn, tasty food clearly took priority over mysterious things.

The moment Shiro mentioned that the sea also had fish, the two of them—together with Ao—got incredibly excited. Seeing reactions like that really reminded me that Fran and Horn were still just kids.

“It looks like traveling by horse-drawn carriage will take about twenty days again.”

“Yeah, about the same as usual. Let’s stock up on various supplies in case something happens along the way.”

We still had some time before departure, so we decided to slowly gather everything we might need.

Thinking about that, we headed back to the Margrave’s mansion.

“Welcome back, Sue-oneesama!”

“Ah—Fina, I’m home.”

As soon as we stepped into the entrance hall, Fina-san rushed over and hugged Sue as if she’d been waiting the whole time.

Sue sighed with a what-can-you-do expression and gently patted Fina on the head. Fina, meanwhile, looked completely satisfied.

“Sue-oneesama, let’s all take a bath together!”

“Yes, yes, I get it already—just don’t pull my arm like that.”

It seemed like Fina-san was trying to spend as much time with Sue as possible.

Thinking that, I watched the girls head off toward the baths.

Well then, I guess I’ll go freshen up in the bath attached to my room.With that thought, and realizing we wouldn’t be staying at the Margrave’s mansion much longer, I headed back to my room.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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That said, there was still plenty of time before we set out for the Western Margravate, so we continued living our lives as adventurers.

Today’s job request is to help carry merchandise for a local shop.

“Silvia-san, you’re staying in the Northern Margrave Territory for the time being, right?”

“Yes. I’m still not strong enough, so I’ll continue training here in the north.”

We headed toward the job site together with Silvia, who had already returned to the inn after the investigation there was finished. It seemed the Margrave himself was relieved as well now that it had been decided she would remain in the northern territory for a while.

“Fina-oneechan isn’t coming today?”

“She has official duties as part of the Margrave’s family. She’s inspecting the garrison.”

“Oh, I see!”

Unfortunately, Fina couldn’t join us today because of her duties. That sort of thing came with being part of the margrave’s family, so it couldn’t really be helped.

Before long, we arrived at the shop that was our destination.

“Oh, it’s the stall kid! I’m looking forward to working with you today.”

“Ah—y-yes! I’ll do my best…”

Yep. Even this energetic shop owner called me the stall guy.

At this point, “the stall guy” had apparently become the common way people referred to me throughout the Northern Margravate.

Feeling a little deflated, we started getting to work.

Rattle, rattle, rattle.

“Oh, perfect timing. The wagon just arrived. Go ahead and carry the cargo into the back of the shop.”

“Hehe, if it’s carrying things, you can leave it to Shiro!”

“Well, that’s reassuring! Hahaha!”

Bursting with enthusiasm after finally getting another chance to haul cargo, Shiro took the lead and we began unloading the wagon one item after another and carrying everything to the back of the store.

Inside, Sue and Horn were checking the goods together with the shop owner.

For some reason, it reminded me of when we cleaned the warehouse back in the Southern Margravate. It felt a little nostalgic.

“Alright, let’s start putting the items that look fine on display.”

“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”

Once the cargo inspection was finished, we moved on to arranging the items—this time with Sue taking the lead.

Thinking carefully about how to make customers pick up the products, Sue gave out instructions here and there while considering the best layout.

“Sue really pays attention to every detail when arranging the merchandise. She’s an amazing magiciian too… as expected of a noble lady.”

“Well, the Sue we first met was pretty hopeless, though. She’s worked really hard to grow into who she is now.”

From my perspective, Sue still had plenty of room to improve. But she is a hard worker and always ready to try new things.

I hoped Silvia-san would try challenging herself with more things too.

And just like that, today’s cargo-hauling job came to an end.

“You guys work fast. With how efficient you were, we finished everything before noon. I’ve got another delivery job next week, so I’ll be requesting you again.”

“But, you received quite a lot of stock huh.”

“The martial arts tournament was a huge hit. We sold way more goods than expected. In a way, it’s thanks to that slime over there—and you girls too.”

So that was why the shop owner had been in such a good mood the entire time. Looks like he’d made quite a profit and was absolutely delighted.

When I checked the guild’s request board earlier, I noticed there were a lot of cargo-hauling jobs and wondered why. Turns out there was a story behind it.

There were still plenty of tourists around, too.At this rate, the shop owner would probably keep raking in the money for a while.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The next morning, I immediately sat down with Sue to discuss our plans moving forward.

“Hmm, you’re right. The martial arts tournament, which is the main objective in the Northern Margravate, is over now. It might be time to think about when we should head to the Western Margravate.”

Since Sue had started thinking seriously about the future as well, we decided to first ask the Margrave what kind of place the Western territory was.

“The Western Margravate has more beastman than humans, and even the Margrave himself is a beastman. Agriculture and mining are thriving there, and well, many of the people there are hot-blooded. Still, they respect strength when they see it.”

“Then Shiro and the others shouldn’t have any trouble.”

“Shun and Sue should be fine too. There are many blacksmiths there, but I’ve heard that most beastman have relatively low magical power, which makes refining special metals difficult. With your abilities, you’ll likely be in high demand.”

I imagined the Western Margravate must be full of bold, lively people. If they were good-natured, being hot-blooded wouldn’t be a problem at all.

At that moment, the Margrave shared a useful piece of information.

“In the Western Margravate, they hold a large-scale harvest festival in autumn. If you plan to go there, it would be best to align your schedule with the festival.”

“Thank you for the valuable info. In that case, we can stay in the Northern Margravate a little longer.”

“Exactly. Honestly, I’d like you to remain here until the dealings with the dark organization are settled. Since you arrived, Fina has been trying out new things, and it’s had a positive effect.”

And so, it was decided that we would stay in the Northern Margravate until the end of summer.

Before departing for the Western Margravate, we’d need to research the route and prepare accordingly.

With those thoughts in mind, I headed toward Shiro and the others. Today, they are studying together with Fina-san.

“So, the next destination has been decided. But it’s good that we’re not saying goodbye all of a sudden.”

“Fina…”

Fina-san understood that we were heading to the Western Margravate, but she looked a little sad at the thought of parting from Sue, whom she adored. But because she’s a kind girl, she probably couldn’t ask Sue to stay here forever.

At that moment, a helpful solution appeared.

“Sue will return to the Capital in winter, right?”

“Yes. My agreement to train as an adventurer across various regions was only for one year.”

The Madam asked Sue about her plans further ahead. Of course, after visiting the different border territories, she was planning to return to the capital—but was there some reason the Madam was asking?

“Fina, for the New Year’s greeting to His Majesty, it’s you who will go, not me. After all, I just had a grandson, so I need to stay and help with raising the child.”

“Mother, thank you. So, I’ll get to see Sue-oneesama very soon.”

If Fina-san attends the New Year’s greeting to His Majesty alongside the Margrave, all the nobles from across the regions will gather—and that means she’ll be able to see Sue in the Capital again. Fina-san clearly brightened at the thought, and with this arrangement, she’ll get to reunite with Shiro and the others as well.The Madam is truly remarkable—thinking so far ahead and planning for the future.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“Phew… that should do it.”

“Then please take him away.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

The soldiers hauled off the magician—now stripped down to nothing but his underwear.

After this, the analysis of the magic devices the magician carried would begin, but that was best left to the Margrave’s household.

“Oh, Pearl and Ao have returned. It seems Pearl absorbed plenty of goblins and powered up.”

“Really? She can use light magic now!”

“Ao said she’ll teach her some new ways to use magic.”

“I want to learn light magic too.”

Fina-san was chatting excitedly with Shiro and the others about Pearl, who had leveled up considerably after absorbing goblins. With both holy magic and light magic at her disposal, Pearl was bound to become even stronger.

“Good timing—it ended just as we were about to wrap things up. Thank you all for your cooperation.”

“No, no. Instead, you’re really impressive, Margrave. To knock that magcian down with movements even sharper than mine!”

The martial artist and the Margrave chatted amicably, but it seemed the evening would conclude naturally from here.

As for me, I couldn’t wait to change out of these unfamiliar formal clothes.

Come to think of it, Shiro and Fran had moved surprisingly well even in their dresses. Maybe the Madam had designed them to allow for easier movement.

And so, with the victory celebration successfully concluded, the guests began heading toward the rooms prepared for them.

“Tonight we’re all sleeping in Fina-oneechan’s room!”

“All together!”

“We’re sleeping side by side!”

Still buzzing with excitement over Pearl’s power-up, Fina-san and the others headed off to her room for a sleepover.

“Fina-san, please take care of Shiro and the others.”

“Of course. Leave them to me.”

Fina-san answered with a bright smile, so I was sure the night would be filled with chatter and laughter.

After parting ways with the still-energetic Shiro and the rest, I headed back to my own room.

Incidentally, Sue would be sleeping in the same room as Sylvia-san tonight.

Now that the most important event in the Northern Margravate is over, it’s about time to make plans to head to the Western Margravate. It was already late, though. I’d talk things over with Sue tomorrow and figure out our next move.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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We were totally disappointed to see only goblins appear, but that didn’t change what we had to do.

“Here we go!”

“Keep tossing them!”

“““Kiishaa!”””

Shiro and Fran deliberately positioned themselves on the balcony, provoking the goblins. Drawn in by their taunts, the goblins rushed forward in droves.

““One,two, yaa!””

And thus began a battle that consisted of nothing more than throwing goblins outside.

Except… Shiro and Fran didn’t simply toss them into the garden. They hurled them high—absurdly high—into the sky. By the time the goblins came crashing down into the garden below, they were practically wiped out on impact.

“Take that!”

“I won’t lose!”

“Gyagyagya!”

Before long, it turned into a full-blown competition between Shiro and Fran to see who could throw the goblins higher.

For the goblins, it must have been an absolute nightmare.

“All done!”

“We threw every last one!”

“Um… we didn’t really do anything on our side. Ao and Pearl are handling the cleanup.”

In the end, those of us stationed in the garden had nothing left to do. It was entirely up to Ao and Pearl to deal with the aftermath. In fact, since they wanted Pearl to absorb the goblins and power up, Ao focused diligently on cutting off goblin ears first.

Because of that, the mansion’s soldiers stayed behind to keep an eye on Ao and Pearl, while the rest of us returned to the party hall.

“Well then, shall we conduct a body search?”

“He may be carrying some kind of clue.”

“Uhm… I think the Margrave and Madam don’t need to personally strip him down…”

The Margrave and his wife returned to the party hall and immediately began searching the still-unconscious magician. Before long, magical devices started pouring out one after another.

“My, my, look at this. He’s packed with magic tools under that robe.”

“He likely intended to activate additional devices after the first one.”

Perhaps this magician had been quite skilled in handling magical artifacts.

“Ao said this magician isn’t actually that impressive.”

“Apparently, he’s pretty bad at casting spells.”

“She said Horn is way better than him.”

“In that case, our guess was right—he’s a magician who specializes in magic devices rather than magic itself.”

Shiro and the others relayed what they’d heard from Ao, but Sue seemed to have reached the same conclusion as I had.

“Oh? He’s hiding a weapon here.”

“So he really is a member of the dark organization.”

And just like that, the Margrave and his wife stripped the magician down to nothing but his underwear as they continued their inspection. They really did take everything.Well… making their grandson cry probably guaranteed this very thorough search.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“I’ve had enough! I’ll slaughter every last one of you!”

With that furious shout, the magician raised a strange magical device high above his head.

Kiiiiiinnn—

A piercing sound echoed throughout the party hall as multiple magic circles flared into existence across the floor and walls. But it wasn’t the spell itself that changed everything.

It was the sound.

“Waaahhh!”

Right. Little Arthur, who had been in such a good mood just moments ago, was startled by the sudden noise and burst into loud, heartbroken cry. The instant everyone saw Arthur crying, the atmosphere shifted completely.

“My grandson is crying, you fool!”

“Guh—!”

Someone moved.

No—many people moved at once.

In a single instant, the Margrave closed the distance and drove a strong body blow into the magician’s abdomen.

“You dare make Arthur cry? That is a crime worthy of ten thousand deaths!”

“Guaah—!”

As the magician is sent flying with his body bent in a つshape, the Madam stepped forward and delivered a powerful uppercut.

And just like that, the magician—who had only managed to activate his magic device—was sent sprawling, completely knocked out.

Arthur’s ultimate security system had been triggered.

As for Sura-chan, who had been hoping for a rematch, looked slightly displeased at having her prey snatched away right before her eyes.

“It seems this magic device is the type that won’t stop once activated.”

“Most likely something that summons a creature. Last time it called forth an orc… so perhaps goblins this time?”

I tried to stop the magic device, but it wouldn’t budge in the slightest. Just as the Margrave had said, once activated, it seemed impossible to stop it.

But for some reason, the summoning was taking time. That gave us a brief window to prepare.

“If we defeat it here, the room will get filthy. Let’s toss it off the balcony into the garden.”

“Then we can simply finish it off outside.”

“Alright, let’s split up—some to throw it down from the balcony, others to intercept in the garden.”

“Agreed. Let’s go with that plan.”

While we were calmly discussing our strategy, the summoned monsters finally appeared.

“““Kiishaaa!”””

“…Huh? Just goblins?”

“There’s nothing else? No Goblin King, no Goblin General?”

The sight left us more than a little deflated.

Only goblins?

To think they planned to wipe us all out with nothing but goblins.

That was… almost insulting.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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After we had our fill and finished talking, everyone’s attention shifted to little Arthur.

“Ah, ah.”

“Baby, you’re so adorable.”

“Your hands are so tiny.”

“Your feet are moving so quickly.”

“You’re full of energy.”

Everyone took turns looking at Arthur and holding his hand, smiling as they watched him. Arthur is quite a big shot, and he’s completely unfazed by people like us who see him almost every day, as well as the martial artists and female guards he’s meeting for the first time today.

“He’s remarkably calm for a baby… such a solid little one.”

“Indeed. I’ve never seen a baby so steady, even at just one month old.”

“Fufu… I truly look forward to seeing what the future holds for our grandchild.”

The Margrave and his wife were utterly smitten, watching little Arthur with indulgent, doting expressions. Their faces had completely relaxed, every line softened by affection for their grandchild.

And then… the peaceful moment was shattered.

Shuuun! Buon!

“Huh? What’s happening?”

I muttered, instinctively scanning the room.

From the window side of the banquet hall, a magical circle suddenly sprang into existence, glowing with an ominous light. The cheerful chatter and laughter of the victory banquet froze in place, replaced by the low hum of magic resonating through the air.

Something is coming—something that would turn this warm, domestic scene upside down in an instant.

“Fufufu… I’ve come to kill every last one of you.”

“Ah… it’s that magician from before.”

Everyone seemed to have noticed the magician’s presence. The magical energy radiating from him was unmistakably the same as the one who had fought Ao in the tournament—there was no doubt he was the same person. His voice was deeper than before, rough and menacing, though the black hood pulled low over his head made him otherwise indistinguishable from that previous encounter.

“Au—”

“My, he’s remarkable, even as a child. Not a hint of fear, even with an intruder appearing.”

“Right, right. So strong and resilient.”

Yes, Fina-san’s older brother and his spouse were fully in parent mode.

Even the attendants around little Arthur were instinctively keeping a protective eye on him, while simultaneously glancing at the magician, ready to act if needed.

The room, once filled with laughter and chatter, had become a tense.

“Hey! Are you more interested in a baby than the intruder?!”

The magician, clearly frustrated at being ignored, shouted at us, but everyone only glanced briefly in his direction before immediately returning their attention to little Arthur.

“Oi! Don’t you have your priorities straight?!”

“Au~”

“He’s going to be such a handsome boy when he grows up.”

“Truly, look at those big, round eyes… So adorable.”

“Hey! Stop ignoring me!”

And yet… no one paid him any real attention. Everyone—adults and children alike—is entirely focused on Arthur, fawning over him with smiles, soft laughter, and gentle words.

I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath, What is even happening here?

The room had descended into utter chaos—a dangerous intruder standing at the window, threatening our safety, while the entire hall was completely enchanted by a baby.

A victory banquet, a magical attack, and… a cuteness-induced standstill, all at the same time.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“Everyone, thank you for waiting.”

“““Woah—amazing! So cool!”””

Once our conversation with the Margrave wrapped up, the Madam herself entered the room, perfectly composed in her dress. Her gown was primarily a deep, elegant blue, and her hair was impeccably styled. Every detail spoke of grace and refinement.

Shiro and the others were shouting “cool!” with such excitement though. I doubted they fully grasped just how regal her appearance really was.

And then, more guests arrived. Fina-san’s older brother and his spouse entered, accompanied by little Arthur in his stroller. I couldn’t help but notice the cylindrical magical device attached to Arthur’s stroller

Could that be one of the devices Ao had modified? 

The very same protective apparatus designed for emergency evacuations, now repurposed to keep the baby safe even in a crowd. It seemed Ao had thought of everything.

“Everyone, please help yourselves to a drink.”

“Shiro wants juice!”

“Fran too—juice!”

“Horn too!”

The maids are going around, handing out drinks, and that’s when I realized something important.

“Sue, no alcohol for you. T-there might be battles later on, you know that, right?”

“Yes, of course. I know better than to touch it.”

She replied, switching to a juice with a wry smile.

Of course, I took a glass of juice as well.

Better safe than sorry—after all, we never knew what the evening might hold, especially with Ao and the others around.

“Today, we celebrate the outstanding participants of the martial arts tournament. I hope everyone can relax and enjoy themselves. Now, let us toast—cheers!”

“““Cheers!”””

With the Margrave’s lead, glasses clinked and the victory banquet officially began.

As expected, Shiro and the others dashed straight to the dining area. They had been patiently resisting snacks all this time, just to fully enjoy the delicious feast laid out before them.

The chamberlains piled generous portions onto their plates, and the children carried them over to the designated kids’ area.

“The meat is so tasty! The fish is delicious too!”

“No one’s going to snatch your food, so take your time and enjoy it.”

“““Got it~!”””

They dug in with delight and the room filled with laughter, chatter, and the joyful sounds of children finally indulging in a long-awaited meal.

Just to be safe, I gave Shiro and the others a quick reminder about manners at the table—but by that point, their mouths were already stuffed with food.

Well… as long as they quietly enjoyed their meal, there wasn’t much to worry about.

“Auaumumu”.

“Hohoho, what a lovely child. The Margrave family is certainly in good hands.”

“Yes, he’s a lively, and adorable grandson. I couldn’t be happier.”

The martial artist and the Madam seemed to know each other, exchanging amused glances as they watched little Arthur in his stroller with fond smiles.

Meanwhile, Sue was seated with Sylvia-san, Fina-san, and the female guard officer, chatting as they enjoyed their meal. Occasional bursts of laughter drifted across the room, suggesting their conversation was lively and full of amusement.

Ao, for her part, sat with Pearl, nibbling at the food while quietly conversing with her slime companion, discussing whatever a group of sentient slimes might find interesting.

The room was a comfortable mix of chatter, laughter, and the soft clinking of cutlery—a warm, homey scene for a victory celebration.

“Honestly, it was such a relief to have you, Shun, and the others with us. Ordinary participants at the martial arts tournament wouldn’t have been able to take down the Orc King.”

“Even one would have been a challenge, but four appeared at once, it certainly could have turned into a very tough fight.”

“Thanks to your efforts, we uncovered the dark organization’s illicit involvement. The royal castle has been notified, and even the noble family of that heir has undergone a thorough investigation.”

As for me, I found myself in conversation with the Margrave, discussing the events in detail.

The dark organization’s activities were growing increasingly aggressive. It was clear that vigilance would be essential from here on out—there was no room for complacency.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Click.

“Sue-oneesama, thank you for waiting.”

“Fina-chan is beautifully dressed as well… so very cute.”

Sue greeted her with a warm smile.

Just as we are talking about Ao, Fina-san appeared, now elegantly clad in a soft pink gown that made her look every bit like a true princess. She was accompanied by Pearl and Ao, who followed close behind.

Sue couldn’t help but compliment Fina’s outfit, but honestly, it wasn’t just a compliment. She really did look like a princess straight out of a storybook.

Ao, meanwhile, made her way over to Shiro. I figured now was the perfect time to ask what they had been up to before arriving.

“Ao said she was preparing for an interception together with the Margrave.”

“Preparing for an interception?”

“I’ll tell you about that.”

Before I knew it, the Margrave also appeared at the party venue and he said that he’ll explain things in person.

We all sat down in the refreshment area to talk.

“After interrogating the captured individuals, it was clear they were planning to attack the party. Since the attack at the tournament was incomplete, they’re planning to attack the Margrave’s residence directly.”

“That is why you guys are preparing for an interception?”

“That’s right. I’ve also arranged the tables in this room to the bare minimum, creating an evacuation area.”

Since the Madam herself had interrogated them in a furious fit, there was no doubt that the information was accurate. And, considering that the magician had vanished during the martial arts tournament, another attack wouldn’t exactly be out of the question.

“Ao was more than ready for a rematch. But at the same time, she was concerned for our family—especially the baby and the mother. So she and I hurriedly improved the magical device that generates the barrier spell, turning it into a shelter for evacuation.”

“So Ao went that far as well?”

“That’s not all, she even enhanced several other magical devices. If we ever end up in actual combat, those improvements will likely have to be put to the test.”

Ao wasn’t just thinking about duels. She had been preparing, meticulously, for the worst-case scenario—and making sure everyone’s safety came first. The Margrave and Ao were both wearing those confident, self-assured expressions—but really, I hoped they wouldn’t overdo it.

“Well, even though this is a victory banquet, it’s meant to be a relaxed, homey gathering. Let’s take it easy.”

“Yes, that’s right. We’ll keep some formality, of course, but let’s enjoy ourselves.”

“““Yes!”””

I couldn’t have agreed more. Formality and stiff manners weren’t my style, and honestly, they never really suited me.

With a relatively small group of attendees, it seemed only natural that the evening would be lively, warm, and full of friendly chatter.

So, that was the plan: a cheerful celebration rather than a solemn banquet.

“My wife’s getting ready—just a little longer, so please wait. She’s really put her heart into this today.”

“Perhaps she feels relieved now that the big work is done.”

“Haha, no doubt about that.”

After all, the Madam had taken on the huge responsibility of serving as ring announcer for every match in the tournament. We couldn’t let that go without proper recognition.

And so, preparations for the party continued steadily, each small detail falling into place.

There were plenty of concerns lingering in the back of my mind, but for now, it was time to enjoy ourselves.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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“Everyone, we’re ready. I’ll show you around.”

“““Oka~y”””

The chamberlain came to call us, so we all headed to the venue. I grabbed Fran’s hand, and Sue grabbed Horn’s.

Click!

“This will be it. Please wait until it’s time to start.”

“““Wow!”””

The main hall, where the banquet was being held, had been arranged as a standing buffet-style party. We, however, took a seat in the small resting area set up toward the back of the room. Simple refreshments had been laid out, yet—unusually—Shiro and the others didn’t touch a thing.

“Shiro, Fran, Horn… aren’t you going to eat anything?”

“We won’t. We’ll bear with it.”

“We’re saving room to eat lots of the delicious dishes later.”

“Mm, lots of it.”

Watching them sip their juice in tiny, measured sips, I could tell their resolve was solid. Still… I couldn’t help but think that a small bite wouldn’t hurt.

Let’s cast one vote for giving in to temptation and trying a light snack before the real feast begins.

“Wait, the participants today are limited, right?”

“Yes. Everyone present here is the entirety of the invited guests.”

Originally, only the prize winners had been invited. I’m because I had helped out at the Margrave’s food stall, and Sue was recognized for her achievements with the medical team.

Ao, who wasn’t present, and Shiro and the others—who had already begun sneaking sweets—were officially being treated as prize winners as well.

My my, Shiro and the others had only declared they wouldn’t eat anything just a few minutes ago.

Perhaps noticing my gaze, they shouted,

“““Sweets don’t count!”””

I see. Very well, then.

“I just hope no uninvited guests show up.”

“He’s disqualified. Even if he does come, we can just remove him from the hall.”

I understood why Sue was concerned, but really—if that mage showed up, all we’d need to do was fend him off. And, truth be told… Ao would almost certainly want a rematch. There was no doubt about that.

“Still, Ao is late.”

“Maybe she’s having some kind of meeting with the Margrave.”

Shiro seemed genuinely worried about Ao, but I had no reason to be concerned. Ao could communicate through Pearl or Fina-san if needed, and written messages were always an option too.

If I had to guess, they were probably discussing measures to prepare for any unexpected attacks—just in case.

Though… part of me wished that either Sue or I could be included in those discussions. It would be reassuring to know the plan firsthand, instead of relying on secondhand updates.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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