We arrived in the imperial capital Lubeck of the Schwarzveldt Empire before sunset, but……
「Welcome, my worthy rival. Unfortunately, my sister is not here! Nyah nyah nyah!」
The moment we entered the capital, imperial soldiers politely escorted us straight to the castle.
I thought there must be some urgent business, but it turned out he just wanted to taunt me.
What’s with this guy?
「Ha ha ha! Too bad for you! My sister went to deepen her friendship with Koren, the queen of Roukaku whom she met in Einzheil!」
「Huh, with Koren. Well, that’s better than fighting.」
I’d rather not see people I know go to war with each other.
It’s good for countries to get along, as far as I’m concerned.
「As if there’s any reason for Roukaku to fight us, you fool! What kind of bullying is it for one nation to be so close with dragons! The queen was riding on a dragon’s head, you know……? And apparently it’s your fault! You meddled too much! Get us wind dragons, fire dragons, water dragons, anything! The Empire needs some too!」
「Can’t do that……」
「Hmph. Useless man. Well, fine. Oh, right. My sister said that if you came while she was away, you could use the house. So stay at her mansion tonight.」
Oh, that helps a lot.
Since we were summoned right after arriving in the capital, we hadn’t booked an inn anyway, so I was planning to ask for at least that much hospitality.
Wait…… did he call us here just to tell me that……?
「Honestly…… I’m not even allowed in my sister’s house, yet you get to……」
That’s probably because if you were left alone there while Sicilia is gone, you’d do something weird, right?
Siscon emperor…… no, just a breast fanatic, I guess.
「By the way, why did you come to the Empire? Einzheil only just became a nation, it can’t be fully settled yet, can it?」
「Yeah. Things are still pretty hectic.」
「Then all the more reason. Merchants are increasing, and as an alchemist this should be a good time to earn money. Surely you didn’t come just to see my sister…… right?」
「Sorry to disappoint, but I have business in Amatsukuni.」
「Hou. Amatsukuni, is it. I see. Drifters all pass through there at least once, I hear. And since it’s on the way, you stopped here.」
「Well, yeah. I figured since we’re passing nearby, it’d be rude not to say hello. I was planning to come greet you even without Garcia calling me.」
Well, Garcia is probably busy as usual, so meeting him would be a bonus. My main goal was Sicilia…… but no need to say that.
「Fumu. I see, I see. That’s commendable.」
For some reason he looks a little pleased.
This emperor is easy.
But a man getting all bashful doesn’t make me happy at all.
「……So. Unless it’s just my imagination…… hasn’t one unfamiliar face been added to your group?」
「Ah…… yeah. Um, yes. We gained one.」
Well, of course he’d notice.
The number of people is the same since Mizera isn’t here, but he still notices.
I thought maybe Shion wouldn’t notice since she’s more about flat chests than boobs, but yeah, he noticed.
「Shion」
「Yes! Nice to meet you, Your Majesty the Emperor! I’m Shion, the newest slave to serve m’lord! Please take care of me from now on!」
This is the emperor’s presence, after all.
Well, she probably chose such a light greeting because she judged it would be fine based on his personality.
「Fumu…… Hm…… You look familiar somehow.」
「Ah, I did work in the Empire before, so perhaps you saw me somewhere.」
「I see. If even I remember a woman who isn’t oppai, that means you stood out even from a distance as capable. Just to ask, would you consider working for the Empire――」
「No thank you」
「Hmph. As expected. Then serve my worthy rival well and protect him. It’s impressive enough for a commoner to have so many guards, but it’s still not enough. I think this man is an idiot.」
「That’s harsh right off the bat.」
「He must be an idiot…… Any alchemist who fights a hero like Lord Hayato would be called an idiot by anyone.」
「Ah…… yeah, I think so too.」
You don’t have to agree so readily, Shion.
I don’t do reckless things either.
Only when absolutely necessary, and that’s just how people are.
「He is one of the few worthy rivals I acknowledge. Do not die over something trivial.」
「It’s fine. Situations that force me into that kind of recklessness don’t come up every day.」
「……When you say it, I find it hard to believe.」
Even if you say that……
Hey, everyone nodding behind me, stop it!
But come on, I’ve been training lately, so I don’t go overboard just because I feel strong, that’s worth some praise, right?
I think I live pretty humbly.
So…… yeah. No, yes. Sorry!
※※※
We stayed one night at Sicilia’s mansion. Since we were already in the Empire, I decided to drop by the adventurer guild to greet some acquaintances.
「Ara! It’s onii-san!」
「Ara…… welcome……」
「Oh, Milk and Cocoa, long time no see. ……Hey, Cocoa, what’s wrong? You don’t seem energetic at all.」
When it comes to adventurers in the Empire, it’s 『Lovely Sugar』, Milk and Cocoa.
Muscular yet cute macho men.
Just like last time, they’re wearing bikini-like chest supporters and miniskirts, but for some reason Cocoa is sitting in a chair, stirring the contents of her cup and sighing, looking completely down.
「Ara. Don’t worry, it’s fine. It’s just from that time in Einzheil…… you know.」
「Eh, you came too? You should’ve said hi.」
Yeah…… I figured those two would definitely notice if they were around…… Were they there?
「I mean…… come on, what was that? Too many big shots. Even just as an adventurer, it’s intimidating.」
Ah…… now that you mention it, Garcia, Koren, Sicilia, Iris, top-level figures and nobles from various countries were all gathered there.
By this world’s standards, it’s probably the kind of gathering that makes people feel unworthy to approach.
「And besides……」
「Haaa…… Hayato-sama…… was so cool…… Really wonderful…… The way he talked with you…… it really stirred my maternal instincts……」
「She’s been like this the whole time…… It was her first time meeting Hayato-sama up close, so I told her to at least say hello, but…… I managed to sneak in a chat with Garcia-sama when there was an opening…… He was wonderful……」
Ah…… right, Milk is a blonde fanatic who stans Garcia, while Cocoa is a black-hair fan who pushes Hayato and Makoto.
「Because…… it’s impossible. You and Hayato-sama were already perfect together…… There’s no room for me there……」
Ah…… when the two of us were talking.
Perfect…… what does that even mean……?
「Fuu…… well, giving up might be for the best.」
「Yes…… I realized once again just how amazing Hayato-sama is, and at the same time understood that he’s in a realm I can never reach…… He’s an ideal, not reality…… Ahh, but heartbreak hurts……」
「And that’s why she’s been dragging it out without properly moving on.」
「Hey! Don’t call it dragging! Can’t you understand my deeply sorrowful maiden heart right now?」
「I understand, but also I don’t. If it were me, I’d throw myself into the next love full force.」
「Not everyone’s love changes as quickly as yours!」
「Ara? I just don’t like wasting time.」
「Mine isn’t shallow. I want deep love!」
「Shallow……?」
Ooooo…… this feels bad.
The two stand up and step closer, glaring at each other without even trying to hide their anger.
And I’m stuck right between them, feeling like I’m about to be crushed.
I tried to slip away, but now I’m completely sandwiched by dense muscle and can’t escape!
「Hmm…… you two, stop.」
「Yeah, that’s right! Back off for a secssu!」
「Don’t stop us, Shiro-chan, Renge-chan.」
「Exactly. There are things a maiden simply cannot yield.」
「I get that…… Wait, no! My lord’s getting squished!」
「Kuh……」
「Gieee…… it’s so tight……」
I can’t move at all, it feels like some kind of technique is being used on me!
Because I messed up the initial move, I’m now firmly wedged between their abs and abs.
Aina tried to pry them apart by shoving her arm in, but even with one hand each, it seems impossible to budge them.
「Ara!」
「I didn’t notice…… I’m sorry. You have a mission to make Hayato-sama happy, yet here I am……」
Haa…… haa…… I thought I was going to die…… I don’t have any mission like that! He’ll find his own happiness on his own, probably for sure! ……I don’t even have the energy left to say it…….
The sense of release when those two rock-hard abs finally separate is incredible!
「Haa…… yeah, you’re right. Like Milk said, I’ll live for the next love.」
「Exactly. And you still have one more, don’t you?」
「Hah…… Makoto-kun」
「Yes…… I heard Makoto-chan is in the kingdom right now. If that’s the case…… shall we go? To the kingdom?」
「Milk…… are you sure? Your beloved Garcia-sama is in this country……」
「It’s fine. Garcia-sama won’t run away. Sometimes distance is necessary for the sake of a partner’s love. Besides, I’d like to see Einzheil again now that it’s officially a nation.」
「Milk…… Thank you. Wait for me, Makoto-kun…… I’m coming to see you right now aaaah!!」
I’m sure Makoto just felt a shiver run down his spine.
I can only hope it didn’t happen in the middle of fighting monsters.
「Well then, everyone! See you next time……」
「Yeah. If anything happens at the Einzheil adventurer guild, just mention our names, it should help.」
「I stop by the Einzheil guild sometimes too, but I’m heading to Amatsukuni next…… Mizera’s still there, so if you meet her, say hi for me.」
「Yes! ……You’re a good man too…… But……」
Cocoa’s heated gaze almost reached me, but everyone instantly formed a wall to block it.
「What a thick wall…… Well then, everyone, see you!」
And so, Milk and Cocoa of 『Lovely Sugar』 set off for the kingdom.
That night, a jubilant party was held in one corner of the adventurer guild, but the departure of a pair of A-rank adventurers from the imperial capital was apparently a huge blow to the others, leaving many in tears.
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