Sasaki and Peeps - Volume 1 - Chapter 5

<The Count and the Knight>

Our trip back to Baytrium was instantaneous thanks to Peeps’s teleportation magic. We arrived in the courtyard of the viscount’s castle. Even though I understood why, I got a little dizzy thinking about all the work we’d just put in hiking through that forest.

It reaffirmed my determination to get my hands on that spell one day.

As for the treatment of the purple-skinned woman called the Blood Witch, Peeps said he’d already told her off enough—and that things should be fine now. I trusted him and let the matter drop.

I didn’t know what sort of relationship the two of them had, but as a pupil with little practical knowledge of this world, I simply went along with my master’s wishes without a fuss. Peeps had said he knew her, and if they weren’t total strangers, that made it harder for me, or anyone else, to object. The same went for Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis.

All kinds of ideas floated through my mind—perhaps she was a troublesome person he kept on running into, or an ex-girlfriend, or a younger stepsister. Not only did they call her a witch, she also had long hair, so she certainly seemed like a woman rather than a man. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about what had happened between Peeps and her.

That said, she’d managed to escape while we were chatting, so there was nothing I could do about it now. Partially as a result, we were able to avoid disagreement.

Then a moment after we’d teleported, I suddenly remembered something. Our return wouldn’t be met only with good news. In Viscount Müller’s absence, some terrible things had happened at this castle. Not only had a dispute over the succession broken out—his eldest son and second son had died, leaving his eldest daughter to accept her fate and temporarily take over stewardship of the family.

When I thought about what a shock it would be for the returning viscount, I couldn’t even walk.

I hadn’t cared all that much after we’d wiped out the Ohgen Empire forces, none of whom I’d known personally. Of course, not only were they strangers, but they were also from an enemy nation. Plus, I hadn’t been the one to personally hand down judgment.

But these were the children of someone I knew. It was human nature to be worried about something like that, especially if they were the sons of one who had been so good to me. I may not have ever met them, but it made me start wondering whether there was anything I could have done.

“What is it, Sir Sasaki?”

“Well, to tell the truth, several things have happened in your absence, my lord.”

“Does this have anything to do with those fool sons of mine?”

“…You were aware, my lord?”

No, wait, that wasn’t possible. The succession dispute had only started after they’d been informed of the viscount’s death. Obviously, he was still alive, but timewise, it didn’t add up. By the time they’d started fighting, he was already wandering the forest.

Which all meant he must have seen this coming.

“You needn’t concern yourself over it.”

“But, my lord—”

“I will talk more about it at a later time. Please, for now, do not let it bother you.”

“…Yes, my lord.”

Maybe there was more to the viscount’s family circumstances than I was aware. Either way, it made us too hesitant to say anything more about it.

Upon the viscount’s unexpected return, the castle flew into an uproar.

They’d taken him for dead, so it was only natural. Everyone was rushing around and screaming like they’d seen a ghost in a graveyard. It may have been improper of me to think so, but the sight was kind of hilarious.

Add Prince Adonis to the mix, and the entire place was in utter turmoil. It seemed the prince had also been reported killed in battle. When they heard the viscount had risked his life to save him, everyone started talking about what an amazing honor it was and so on.

This brought the once mournful castle into full-blown celebration mode.

With all haste, we were shown into the guest lounge and told to take a nice, long rest. The viscount and prince had left, saying they had several other matters to attend. Viscount Müller told us he’d probably see us again that night.

With time to ourselves, Peeps and I headed over to the Hermann Trading Company. When we asked for the vice manager, we were brought to the reception room.

There, we informed him that Viscount Müller was alive and well—and that he’d rescued Prince Adonis from the battlefield—and that the Ohgen Empire’s forces had vanished in a single night. I left out anything about Peeps and the business with the Starsage but told him everything else I knew.

I’d figured a merchant would appreciate the news. When I finished, the vice manager showered me with gratitude, his hands shaking.

“Mr. Sasaki, thank you so, so much!”

“Hey, I only happened to be there by coincidence.”

“The business opportunities will be massive! I will capitalize on this—you have my word!”

“I’m happy to hear it.”

He said he’d be setting off for the capital next week, so I was glad I was able to catch him beforehand. If he’d already left, I would’ve had a hard time reaching him. Literally everything outside this town was unfamiliar ground for someone like me, who’d still just come to this world.

“I know it’s sudden, but I think I’ll send a post horse to the capital straight away.”

“I’ll just see myself out, then.”

“Please wait. I need to repay you for this information.”

“No, that’s fine. Viscount Müller should be announcing it all very soon. Then everyone will know.”

“Yes, but this little bit of extra time is vitally important.”

“I see.”

“In which case, how does this sound? I will profit heavily from this opportunity. I’ll pay you, Mr. Sasaki, a suitable percentage of that profit. It wouldn’t be fair for me ask you for a price—not when you’re still unfamiliar with the way our nation does things.”

“Thank you for the consideration.”

“In any case, I must hurry off…”

“Oh, right. Would you be free tomorrow?”

“I’m sure I will be. Was there something urgent you needed?”

“Tomorrow, I plan on seeing Prince Adonis and Viscount Müller to the capital. I can’t furnish you with any details, but if you’d like to send a letter with me, I can do you the favor. I believe it would reach its destination faster than by horse.”

“Wouldn’t that be the same as sending a post horse of my own?”

“Actually, we plan to arrive in the capital tomorrow.”

“…By the end of tomorrow?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wait. That’s not…”

“Otherwise, the information will lose its freshness.”

“…I see.”

He seemed to have caught on to what I was implying.

Peeps had already told me about a subspecies of small, unintelligent dragons being domesticated for use in place of horses as a faster means of transportation. Even someone without access to magic could probably move pretty darn fast through the sky on one of those things.

Still, one of them arriving there in the day seemed like a fairly tall order. That said, the vice manager was someone who would keep his lips sealed regarding any mysterious methods—especially if it benefitted the Hermann Trading Company’s bottom line.

His resulting profits would benefit Peeps and me, too. And with Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis—a member of the royalty—along for the ride this time, it could easily be assumed we had help from a third party—an impression that was extremely convenient for us.

The letter would arrive in the capital by the end of the next day. That was all that mattered to the Hermann Trading Company.

“Will that work for you?”

“If it is possible, then yes, please do me the favor.” The vice manager smiled and nodded. His grin covered his whole face.

“All right, then, I will.”

“I’ll get the letter prepared right away. It won’t take long.”

With those words, Mr. Marc dashed out of the reception room.

Just after parting ways with the vice manager and exiting the reception room, the pile-hair princess called me over. She’d been waiting for me in the hallway in front of the door. That’s when it hit me—she’d been separated from her home this whole time, staying on the top floor of the building. Now that Viscount Müller had been confirmed alive and well, her confinement no longer made sense.

“H-hey, you!”

“Ah, Lady Elsa. Is there something I can do for you?”

“We’re going to the estate!”

“What?”

She practically threw the words at me before I could even think. Why did we have to go with her?

“Look, we’re going! My father is alive!”

“Yes, he most certainly is, but why am I going with you?”

“Because I heard you saved him when he was wandering on the battlefield! What the heck are you doing here, wasting time instead of being at our estate?! You must go and let them reward you properly!”

It seemed the information had skipped over the vice manager of the company and gone straight to her. She’d probably received an urgent message from her family. They must really love her over there, I thought.

“But, my lady—”

“Stop fussing and come!”

She was brimming with energy, as usual. Her hair was still piled atop her head, and she looked like a trendy teen girl puffing herself up—it was adorable.

“In that case, I would be glad to accompany you.”

“I have a carriage waiting below! Let’s hurry!”

“Yes, my lady.”

She must have been bursting with excitement to see her dad again.

The carriage rattled along until we had once again returned to Viscount Müller’s castle. The pile-hair princess called it their estate, but it certainly looked like an entire castle.

“Father!”

No sooner had she spotted her father than she’d run over to him and given him a powerful hug, leaping into his arms. The good-looking dad wrapped his cute little daughter in an embrace. What a beautiful scene. If I’d taken a picture and posted it on social media, it would’ve gotten a ton of likes.

We then moved to a room in the castle for receiving guests. Accompanying the princess, I was allowed another audience with Viscount Müller.

I’d spoken with both the viscount and the pile-hair princess in this spot several times in the past. It was nearly empty now, since they’d sold off many of the furnishings to pay for military provisions. To anyone who remembered its previous extravagance, it would appear a little sad and lonely by contrast. Still, for today, that didn’t matter much.

After all, Viscount Müller and his daughter were together.

“Elsa… I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble.”

“No, you didn’t cause me any trouble!” protested the pile-hair princess, tears in her eyes as she smiled widely. She seemed as happy as could be.

“I’m so glad you’re safe and sound. I’m so glad.”

“Thanks to Sir Sasaki over there, I managed to escape with my life. He was also the reason we were able to save Prince Adonis. Had I been alone, I couldn’t have done so. We would have certainly died.”

“I heard that from the others, too.”

“Yes—it is no exaggeration to say I owe my life to him.”

“But I don’t get it. Sebastian said he’s a merchant…”

“He is at once a merchant and a talented magician.”

“……”

The Viscount choosing this moment to sweet-talk me had been the last thing I’d expected. And with others in the room, it embarrassed me a little.

All this was a result of the magic Peeps had given me. My gaze was naturally drawn to my partner, who sat perched on my shoulder. It made me feel like I needed to splurge on some even higher-grade meat for him tonight.

“I still have a long way to go,” the viscount said. “From now on, I must study even harder.”

“Even you have more things to learn, Father?”

“A person’s life is an endless series of lessons.”

“…I see.”

“You must strive to keep up your own studies as well, Elsa.”

“I… All right!”

For Viscount Müller, worshipper of the Starsage, there was likely no more difficult position than this. It was only for a moment, but I thought I saw him glance at my shoulder before a look of bashfulness flashed through his eyes. Now everyone was embarrassed thanks to Peeps.

A moment later, we heard a firm knock on the door.

“My lord! My lord, you’re all right!”

From the hallway appeared the butler. His name was Sebastian, I think.

“Yes. I managed to return alive.”

“Nothing could possibly make your humble butler happier, my lord! And if what I heard from the other servants is correct, you rescued Prince Adonis on the battlefield. Why, we must gather everyone and make preparations for a grand feast!”

“Yes, that would be very welcome.”

“Understood, my lord! I will make this feast one to remember!”

“However, Seb, I have something to discuss with you first.”

“What is it, my lord?”

Viscount Müller, untangling himself from his daughter’s arms, turned to face the butler. Our attention shifted to them as well, and the pile-hair princess regarded them with a puzzled expression.

“Upon my return to the estate, I heard that you were considering introducing the second son of Count Dietrich as Elsa’s husband. This is good timing. Elsa, is it true that Sebastian raised this with you?”

“Count Dietrich’s second son?”

“That’s right.”

“I heard from Sebastian that I would inherit temporarily to prevent the house from falling, take a husband, and then rebuild. He told me it would be what you’d want, Father. But I didn’t hear anything about my potential husband being the second son of House Dietrich.”

“……”

Upon hearing Viscount Müller’s remark, Sebastian’s face had stiffened. I felt the mood in the room change.

“Sebastian, is there something you need to tell me?”

“……”

The key term here was Count Dietrich. Being an outsider with no knowledge of how nobility worked in the Kingdom of Herz, I had no idea what any of this meant. If there was anything I could be sure of, though, it was that counts were higher up than viscounts. I glanced at Peeps casually, but he was playing the sparrow as usual.

Meanwhile, Viscount Müller clapped his hands and announced, “You may all come in now.”

In response, another door, different from the one that went to the hallway, opened. It seemed to connect directly to the next room over. With a click, it swung wide, revealing two young men in their teens on the other side, both wearing very fine noble clothing.

“What…? Lord Maximilian! Lord Kai, how…?”

I was pretty sure those were the names of Viscount Müller’s children. The longer name was the elder, the shorter name was the younger.

“For a long time now, I have had doubts regarding you and some of the nobles. I used my deployment as an opportunity to enact a certain plan. If her prospective husband was to be the second son of Count Dietrich, then it was Viscount Döhl moving behind the scenes, wasn’t it?”

“Ah…”

With a soft grunt, suddenly, the butler moved. He pivoted on his heel and tried to dash out of the chamber. Contrary to his previously placid demeanor, this response was quite aggressive.

Where did he think he could run? In the blink of an eye, knights appeared at the exit. A few of them piled in and surrounded the butler. I got a glimpse of even more guards outside—they must have been positioned there beforehand. Now it was all but impossible for the man to escape.

“Ugh…”

“Sebastian, you will tell me everything later.”

The butler, bound with rope by the knights, was taken away somewhere. They’re probably hauling him to some kind of holding cell, I thought—an easy assumption given everything that had just happened.

But anyway, what was going on? Viscount Müller’s sons were alive?

Right now, just knowing that fact made me extremely happy. It was probably the happiest I’d ever felt about another person’s life before.

We remained in the reception room where Viscount Müller explained things to us.

It seemed he had arranged things with both of his sons beforehand. Essentially, if they were to receive word of Viscount Müller’s death, they were to hide themselves away from the rest of the family for a time.

His sons had loyally followed his instructions and made it look as if they had both died in the succession dispute, exactly as I’d heard it from the vice manager. According to the sons, they never thought for a moment the viscount had actually died. They were wise young men, just like their father.

On the other hand, the butler had simply believed the news of the sons’ deaths and begun advancing his own plans, under the orders of this Count Dietrich, to promote the surviving princess and thus take care of the Müller family. Considering all this, Count Dietrich’s family must have been something of a rival to the viscount’s house.

Having to account for not only the war against the Ohgen Empire but internal conflicts between families as well… This kingdom’s noble society was really something else. It made sense to me why someone as exceptional as Peeps wouldn’t want to go back.

As for the whole matter of the poisoning attempt on the pile-hair princess, that had apparently been Sebastian’s work—after which he’d played the victim—to distance her from the nobles who were friendly with Viscount Müller. And the Hermann Trading Company had been totally exploited.

“I see—so that’s how everything played out.”

“I’ve caused you some distress, Sir Sasaki. I apologize for getting you involved with our issues.”

The viscount turned to face me and bowed his head.

As always, his children gathered there looked at us in shock. It really was a rare thing for a noble to lower his head to a commoner. The pile-hair princess, sharp-tempered as ever, immediately opened her mouth.

“F-Father, what are you—?!”

“Elsa,” he interrupted, “I have caused trouble for you in particular. I am sorry.”

“Mgh…”

He took his hand and stroked the piles of hair on his daughter’s head. It was so voluminous, and soft, and fluffy, and there were ribbons and other decorations here and there, so it seemed quite difficult to pat like that. Nevertheless, he did his best.

“…Father, why didn’t you tell me about this?”

“You’re a very honest girl, Elsa. You know you’re bad at hiding things.”

“B-but I was so worried!”

“And that is precisely why I was able to force Sebastian’s hand. You really helped me out there. In that sense, your actions have also given me great strength. Thank you, Elsa, my beloved daughter.”

“Ah…”

It was yet another picturesque scene. With her dad smiling so gently at her, Elsa blushed. Had I done what he was doing, it would only have been notable to the prosecution.

After waiting a few moments for his daughter to calm down, Viscount Müller turned this way again. The pile-hair princess was in a better mood now that he’d given her head a good pat. She, too, regarded us with a docile gaze.

“What I did not expect was to truly almost die. At first, I had intended to return immediately after sending out the news of my demise. Before I could even send a notice, though, I had already been reported dead. My diligence was insufficient.”

“I think you would have saved the prince on your own even if I hadn’t helped, my lord.”

“That is not so. At the time, I was certain we were done for. The prince was severely wounded and barely able to walk, and I had exhausted all my energy. When you made all that water fall from the heavens using your magic, it not only wet our throats but gave us hope.”

I was pretty desperate back then myself, as it happened. I seriously thought I was gonna die—well, from falling anyway.

“Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to talk about regarding Prince Adonis, my lord.”

“I would answer any questions you have.”

“Thank you, my lord. I will do so at a later time.”

“All right. Understood, Sir Sasaki.”

For the moment, it seemed the disturbances in the viscount’s family had been settled.

That day, we ended up staying over at Viscount Müller’s castle. He insisted on it.

Prince Adonis would also be spending the night, so the castle was in a great commotion. Although the viscount had already asked me not to inform anyone aside from the Hermann Trading Company of the prince’s visit, it was doubtful how long they’d be able to keep it a secret at this rate.

And so, that evening, the extravagant feast began.

Because we’d returned so early in the morning, Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis had gotten the chance to rest while everyone else was preparing. When I saw them, the color had returned to their faces—they even seemed energetic. Peeps and I had been invited to the party as well.

Nobles were constantly swarming around the main players: the viscount and the prince. For commoners like us, it was difficult just to get close, much less have a conversation. And since we’d already talked quite a bit anyway, we figured we’d devote our attention to the food right from the start.

It was a standing buffet and all-you-can-eat. Chances like this didn’t come along often, so we needed to chow down.

“This meat is quite delicious. The sauce is very good.”

“Really? I’ll have to try some myself, then.”

At a table in the corner of the hall, I kept my hands—and the food—moving as I talked to Peeps. All eyes were on Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis. They wouldn’t notice as long as we kept our conversations quiet and discreet. I could see others who seemed to be commoners, so we didn’t stick out like a sore thumb while we ate.

“Doesn’t this dessert look like something Mr. French made?”

“I believe it may be just that.”

It was so much fun talking to Peeps about this and that as we ate. Part of it was being in a different place than usual. The variety of cooking arrayed before us was staggering—enough to make me think we wouldn’t get to it all in a single night.

A short stretch of dinner merriment later…

“H-hey, you! You there!”

As I was seeking my next dish, empty plates in hand, I suddenly heard a familiar voice. My attention swiveled from the tightly packed buffet table to the source of the sound.

And what should I see but the viscount’s daughter—the pile-hair princess. It seemed like she had some business with us and was staring in our direction.

Noticing her presence, the nearby attendees also shifted their eyes our way, wondering what was going on. She may have looked like a teen fashionista, but she was the viscount’s beloved daughter, so her words carried weight here. Since she had addressed us, now everyone was looking at us.

“Ah, if it isn’t Lady Elsa. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“…I heard everything from Papa.”

“You did?”

What had he told her? This was such an abrupt conversation that I couldn’t help being uneasy about where it might go. Peeps remained silent on my shoulder as well, waiting for the princess’s next move.

Casually, I moved my eyes to seek out her father. However, he was busy in his own right with a gaggle of nobles jamming together around him—a little too far for me to request assistance.

“He said you rescued him from the Ohgen Empire’s soldiers.”

Ah—she was referring to what happened near the front. The viscount probably had probably been unable to fend off her questions and had ended up talking. I didn’t know how much he’d divulged, but these things weren’t matters I particularly wanted made public. I especially needed to keep Peeps’s identity a secret.

“Oh, I didn’t do very much. I happened to run into them and simply provided some support from the rear. Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis were the ones who stood at the front and fought. I can still see how heroic they looked in my mind…”

“I don’t care about that stuff!”

“……”

I figured I’d dodge the whole thing by showering them with praise, but she cut me down quite cleanly.

She took just a few steps toward us. And then, with a somewhat apologetic expression, she continued.

“Um, thank you…for saving Papa.”

“…Lady Elsa?”

In complete contrast to her always-angry-about-something demeanor from before, this behavior was gentle. It seemed she hadn’t come to press me about what had transpired—only to offer her thanks.

“And I’m sorry for being so harsh with you in the past.”

What had Viscount Müller even talked to her about? To think he could get such a strong-willed girl to say all this.

“No apologies necessary. Again, I only helped them a bit. In fact, I was the one who was saved. But if it helped everyone even a little, well, that would make me very happy.”

“You’re acting a lot different than when you were putting on airs before.”

Crap. Looks like she’s holding a grudge from when I lectured her.

It was extremely difficult to have her say this to me with so many others watching. And ultimately, since Viscount Müller was in fact alive, it was especially embarrassing. I never thought I’d still be doing things I’d want to bury in the past at my age.

“I am terribly sorry, madam. I had the chance to learn more about how this country works after that, which allowed me to deepen my understanding of the relationship between nobility and commoners. Thus, as a commoner, I have felt quite keenly the courtesy you, a noble, have given me, Lady Elsa.”

“Really?”

“Yes, madam, really.”

“…In that case, there will be more relearning.”

“What do you mean by that, madam?”

“That’s all I wanted to say. If you’ll excuse me.”

“I am honored by your visit, madam.”

After saying what she wanted and not allowing any argument, the pile-hair princess left us. The way she walked with such long, stomping strides was very much like her.

With that, the other attendees lost interest in us as well. We hadn’t exchanged many words; they probably assumed she had come to politely greet a commoner on behalf of Viscount Müller, who was quite busy welcoming everyone.

“……”

Speaking of thanks, I recalled my lunch with Miss Hoshizaki. I’d spent quite a lot of time in this world. I’d have to make a point to return to my former world soon to check up on things. I was worried about my work phone’s call history, which I’d been neglecting. The boss may have already contacted me.

After the feast ended and the next day dawned, we all gathered in the castle’s reception room. Our group of four included Peeps and me, as well as Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis. Nobody else could be seen in the room. Thick, light-blocking curtains had been drawn across the windows, making the interior dark despite the daylight. In the midst of all this, we had stood up from the sofas and were standing around the low table.

“Lord Starsage, thank you for doing this. We are ready.”

“Very well.”

In response to Prince Adonis’s words, Peeps cast the spell.

A magic circle emerged at our feet, scattering light into the dim room. The next thing I knew, the scenery in front of me had darkened. For a moment, I felt weightless. I’d experienced this spell many times before, but that moment in particular was something I still wasn’t close to getting used to.

My vision was only black for a few seconds. Eventually, when light returned to my eyes, I saw an expanse of blue sky overhead.

“I felt the same way yesterday, but this spell really is wondrous,” remarked the prince, staring up at the heavens high above.

We were on a street surrounded by stone buildings. It was about two or three meters wide. It seemed to be a smaller alley that fed onto a larger road, so nobody was around. We could see the hustle and bustle of pedestrians at the intersection several meters ahead of us.

“Judging by our distance to the castle, could this be the western edge of the noble district?” speculated the viscount.

Off in the distance, one could see a gigantic castle. Viscount Müller gazed at its soaring towers.

“That is correct. I would not have wanted to arrive too near and risk being seen. I apologize, but please arrange a carriage or walk from here. We will be returning now.”

“Please wait a moment, otherwise I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

Hearing Peeps’s intention to depart, Prince Adonis immediately raised his voice. Looking at the Starsage perched on my shoulder, he continued without pausing.

“At least stay the night at the castle. I want to show both of you my thanks. It was only on your account that I was able to return to the capital. It would be incredibly rude of me to use you for transportation and then send you back home.”

“Would strangers like us be allowed?”

“You’re important guests. I won’t let anyone object.”

As the prince spoke, he wore a serious expression. Perhaps that was why Peeps then turned to me.

“So he says. What do you think?”

“What? Me?”

“I do not mind either way. I shall abide by your decision.”

It seemed like he was going to let me choose. In that case, I couldn’t exactly say no. Peeps was asking me purely out of goodwill, but I basically had no choice in the matter—not unless I wanted to pick a fight with Prince Adonis. It is in the nature of all wage slaves to be incapable of refusing an invitation from someone higher up the chain.

“If you insist, I would be glad to, sir,” I said with an honest nod.

“Yes, then leave it to me!” answered the prince with a full smile.

Leaving the narrow road, we headed off for the royal castle. As we walked, Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis explained Allestos—the capital of the Kingdom of Herz. Normally, royalty and nobility showing a commoner like me around town would be inconceivable.

For starters, the prince would definitely stand out, whether he liked it or not. There was little doubt we’d soon have military police all over us. To remedy this, the prince and viscount went so far as to visit a clothier and procure robes and hoods, all to act as tour guides to this foreigner in an unfamiliar city.

“This place is absolutely flourishing. It seems so vivid and full of energy.”

“By one account, the population numbers over a million.”

“That’s amazing.”

The prince sounded boastful as he talked about his city. I’d heard a lot of unhappy things about the kingdom deteriorating or collapsing, but he must have been proud of his family’s many generations and the homeland they had supported.

That said, there was one person who kept interrupting: Peeps.

“Adonis. The town this man calls home consists of over ten million people.”

“What?! …Is that true?”

“Peeps, the prince is being very kind telling me about these things, and you keep interrupting. It’s not nice to compare. Besides, the total population is different here than it is there, so there’s no point comparing individual cities.”

“I see. There is truth to your words.”

He’d definitely learned that while surfing the Net. And he probably wanted to show off his knowledge to the others. I understood the feeling. Recently, Peeps had been doing research on the internet whenever he had a free moment. It was becoming a bit concerning to me as his owner. This must be how parents felt when they were worried about their kids staying cooped up inside.

“I would like to hear about your land someday as well, Sasaki.”

“Yes, certainly, should we have the chance.”

It was with that type of friendly banter that we continued up the street.

This being the capital city of the Kingdom of Herz, it apparently boasted the greatest size in the nation. In the center of it sat the castle where the royalty resided, and ordinarily, the prince lived there as well. The building was of massive; it was overwhelming to look at, even from afar.

Surrounding the castle were rows and rows of noble estates. Apparently, the higher ranking the noble, the closer their estate was to the castle. That said, many nobles had a house in their own domain as well, to serve as their main residence. It was similar to how daimyo would maintain residences in Edo.

This was all on a much larger scale than Baytrium, the town Viscount Müller governed. We were mainly walking through streets where the upper classes lived, like nobles and wealthy merchants. These roads were paved and well-kept, and the buildings lining the roads were all beautiful. It was reminiscent of the Little Italy area in Shiodome, Tokyo. The place really felt like a gorgeous sightseeing spot.

“You can see over there the Hermann Trading Company’s Allestos branch.”

“Ah, so they have a branch in the capital as well.”

This name, offered by Viscount Müller, was one I knew. I looked to where he pointed and saw a relatively large building. A sign hung out in front of the shop, letters in the local language written on it. I had no problem talking to people, but given my hopelessness when it came to reading or writing, I couldn’t determine what the letters meant.

“Mr. Marc mentioned moving the main branch to the capital soon, didn’t he?”

“Is the Hermann Trading Company’s manager’s long absence from Baytrium related to that, my lord? I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never actually met him before.”

“Yes, most likely.”

I was holding a letter from Mr. Marc, the vice manager. Maybe it was time to stop by and deliver it.

“My lord, could I possibly have a moment to conduct some business?”

“I wouldn’t mind it, but did you need something from this branch?”

“I have a letter from the Hermann Trading Company’s vice manager.”

“Ah, I see.”

After getting approval from my guides, I headed over to the shop. Compared to the one in Baytrium, it was much posher construction. They must have really put a lot of work into it, especially if they wanted to move their main location here. As someone who didn’t come here to buy anything, though, and was instead just delivering a message, I felt a bit hesitant about going inside.

But being timid wouldn’t get me anywhere. The viscount and the prince were with me, so I completed the task quickly.

After catching one of the employees walking around inside, I gave him the letter I’d received from the vice manager. I told him I was an acquaintance of Mr. Marc’s and that he’d asked me to deliver it to the manager here. During that exchange, Viscount Müller removed his hood and added a few words.

Matters progressed quickly after that. The employee seemed to shrink at the viscount’s presence and handled the letter with the utmost care. Finally, we were asked if we wanted a cup of tea. We mildly declined, then left the shop. It hadn’t taken long, all in all—not even thirty minutes. We wouldn’t have wanted to stick around so long that someone accidentally recognized Prince Adonis.

We then walked for a little under an hour before the three of us—plus a bird—arrived at the royal castle.

Immediately upon entering the castle, the reactions of those who caught sight of Prince Adonis were nothing short of remarkable. It seemed his family had already received word of his death in battle. Learning of his survival sent the entire place into a frenzy.

Viscount Müller’s estate had experienced a similar uproar, but that had been nothing compared to what was happening here.

Naturally, they had no time to bother with some commoner they didn’t know, so Peeps and I, at the prince’s urging, were brought to a guest room in the castle, giving us a bit of free time. We were told to ask the maid stationed there if anything troubled us.

The prince had taken the viscount off somewhere. It seemed like they would be busy.

It wasn’t as though I hadn’t expected this outcome. Still, it had turned into a bigger to-do than I’d imagined, so we ended up with some time to kill.

“Peeps, what should we do?”

“My only piece of advice would be to refrain from walking about the castle.”

That was coming from someone who had worked in the court’s service and then been assassinated. I would make absolutely sure I didn’t leave this room alone.

Viscount Müller’s castle had its own supply of knights on watch. They glared at everyone they saw. Even when I was with the lord of the place, the stares from those around me never waned. Seeing as this was the royal castle, I was afraid even to imagine what would happen here. It was like an action game on the highest difficulty setting—one tiny mistake on the controls would get my little ship, with no lives remaining, blown up for certain.

“Guess that means we should bide our time here.”

“Yes. That is for the best.”

Fortunately, the guest room was very extravagant. The high-class inn we’d been staying at in the town of Baytrium had been plush, too, but so much more money had been poured into this place. First, its size—shockingly, it was over twice as large. The furnishings all looked very expensive, too.

The sofa I was sitting on was incredibly soft in its own right; it felt like my rear end was stuck in it. As for the room service, they’d actually been considerate enough to prepare a little tree for Peeps to perch on. Now his position had risen to a special stage made just for him atop the sofa table.

Even if we were staying over, it would only be one night. In which case, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to enjoy the accommodations to their fullest. There was a restroom and bath adjacent, so I’d be able spend my time in comfort while still heeding Peeps’s advice.

Eventually, there was a knock at the door. I called out to respond, and a maid appeared. She was probably in her midteens and had pretty features. Her blue eyes and short blond hair really made her stand out. She wore a skirt on the shorter side, giving a view of her thighs. Big boobs, too.

“Please excuse me. I have brought refreshments.”

She took the liquid-filled glass from the tray she held and placed it in front of us. Also included was a longer dish, modified so a sparrow would easily be able to drink from it. I got the feeling I could ask for just about anything, and it would appear.

“Thank you very much.”

“If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”

“Hmm…”

I had the chance to make a request, so why not? I wanted something to help pass the time.

“I would love it if you had any board games.”

“Understood. I will bring one immediately.”

“Thank you.”

I didn’t know how long it would take before Viscount Müller and Prince Adonis returned. Settling in for about a half-day wait, I figured I’d absorb myself in whatever games this otherworld had to offer.

After waiting a little while, the maid returned. Unlike when she’d left, she now had someone else with her—a second woman, also dressed in a maid outfit. This one was quite a bit older than our original attendant, though, and seemed to be in her midthirties. Her age wasn’t that different from my own.

She had smooth blond hair that reached her waist and calm, gentle features. Her maid uniform, perhaps taking her age into consideration, consisted of a long skirt that went down past her knees and exposed less of her chest.

“I’ve brought several games.”

They were both carrying a few objects that looked like wooden boxes in their hands. The younger had probably gotten the older to help her bring what she couldn’t hold on her own. I felt apologetic—she probably had other work to be doing right now.

“Thanks, and I’m sorry for all the trouble.”

The wooden boxes—which must have had games inside—were placed in a pile next to Peeps’s tree on the low table in front of the sofa. The packaging lacked decoration compared to modern board games, so I couldn’t tell at a glance what sort of diversions were inside.

Perhaps catching on to my concern, the young maid continued. “If you’d like, we can teach you and serve as your opponent.”

“Are you sure?”

“That was why I brought someone with me.”

“I see. In that case, by all means.”

Apparently, having one more person was best for these games. This was some thoughtful room service. Two was better than one, and three was better than two. You could play a lot more games when you had more people. It all made sense to me, as someone experienced in analog games.

Even for two-player games, having someone on my side to help out was very reassuring.

“Excuse me—do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

The older maid sat down next to me, while the younger—the one stationed here who’d been with us from the start—took a seat across from us. Personally, I would have preferred it the other way around, but there was no helping that.

“Pii! Pii! Pii!”

What was that about? Suddenly, Peeps started chirping. He was looking at me, too, tweeting as if prodding me about something. Did he want to join us?

In that case, we could continue playing by ourselves once the two women had left the room. This was someone known as the Lord Starsage—I was sure he was no amateur at these kinds of games.

“Then I will play alongside you and provide explanations,” said the elder of the two maids.

“Thank you.”

In the meantime, the younger maid set up the game board. She must have been familiar with it because the board and pieces were all arrayed on the low table in a flash.

“Well then, let us begin.”

The younger maid signaled the start of the game and began moving the pieces.

This game seemed similar to shogi, pitting one player against the other. The elder maid, sitting next to me, explained how to play in thorough detail, telling me about rules that existed in certain situations—or how to move pieces to gain an advantage. She was like a real-life video game tutorial. Once she’d finished the basic explanation, we played several more times.

“By the way, I heard you aren’t from these lands…”

“Yes, I came from another continent.”

“Forgive my rudeness, but is the way you look characteristic of that other continent?”

“It is. I look a little weird, huh?”

“Oh, no, not at all.”

While we were enjoying the board game, the elder maid sitting next to me would ask me all sorts of questions. My appearance probably struck her as unusual, my skin being a bit more on the olive side and my face flatter and somewhat differently constructed than her countrymen’s. It was likely a point of curiosity.

“Have you been in this nation long?”

“No, I haven’t even been here for a year. I floated to this continent after my ship was wrecked. The first place I visited was the town Viscount Müller governs. Anyway, that’s why I don’t really know left from right here. I’ve never even seen this game before.”

“I see. Oh, you can’t move that piece there.”

“Whoops! Sorry about that.”

We enjoyed the otherworld board game for a while longer. Spending this time in peace and quiet, making casual conversation with two maids in a super-high-class castle guest room was really not bad. The sweets and tea they provided while we were playing were delicious, too.

If I wanted to do this in modern Japan, it would cost me at least a few tens of thousands of yen. The labor cost for the women alone would be considerably high. Because of that, I felt I was definitely getting my money’s worth having accepted this invitation to stay at the castle.

Eventually, the maids withdrew, and dinner was brought into the room. The food was even grander than in Baytrium’s high-class inn or Mr. French’s restaurant. They’d even prepared a special menu full of meats just for Peeps. Viscount Müller or Prince Adonis must have put in a word about it.

Naturally, I quite enjoyed the food, but the day had passed without my ever seeing either of them. There was nothing much we needed to discuss, so it wasn’t a problem per se, but having agreed to stay on their invitation, I found myself without anything to do.

They were probably busy handling the aftermath of the incident.

Before I realized it, night had fallen, and it was about time to get to sleep.

“Now that I think of it, you were making noise when we started the game, weren’t you?”

“…I was.”

“Did you want to play with us?”

“No, and the time to worry over it has passed.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, you need not concern yourself with it, either. Let us just go to bed.”

“Well, if you say so, I guess…”

That was a pretty vague response, but if Peeps told me not to concern myself with it, then I was more than happy to do just that. He was much better versed in the affairs of this castle than most. There was no point making myself uneasy by absorbing information I didn’t need.

The next day, soon after I awoke, Viscount Müller paid us a visit. It was good timing, too. I’d just been worrying about what I was going to do with myself that day. However, the first thing out of his mouth when he stepped into the chamber absolutely bewildered us.

“I will now be going to have an audience with His Majesty. I apologize for how sudden this all must seem, but would you mind coming with me, Sir Sasaki? You may feel a little uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t take that long, at least.”

“What? You want me to attend as well, my lord?”

“Could I possibly count on you?”

“It’s just that—this is pretty, um…”

I never thought the “audience with royalty” event would pop.

This discussion was taking place in the living area of the guest room. We were sitting on the room’s sofa set, exchanging words. Peeps was there, too, perched on his little tree atop the low table in front of us. The maid had left the room when Viscount Müller entered.

“His Majesty wishes to express his appreciation to us for saving Prince Adonis’s life. I know this is all very one-sided, but please. Could you grant us your presence for but a short time?”

“My lord, I’m a commoner and a complete stranger…”

“You should agree to do this.”

Unexpectedly, Peeps gave me some advice. It was rare for him to go along with someone else on a point like this.

“Huh? Peeps?”

“Should you refuse a summons from the king himself, there is no telling what could happen.”

“I see…”

It seemed we never actually had a choice to begin with. Considering Viscount Müller’s apologetic and imploring attitude when requesting my presence, the circumstances implied in Peeps’s comment were no doubt at work. Thinking of it that way, I felt very apologetic.

“I understand, my lord. Please allow me to accompany you.”

“I deeply appreciate you taking the trouble.”

“Don’t worry about it. Thank you for all the consideration you’ve shown me.”

And so my first scheduled item for the day had been determined.

The viscount guided me through the castle until we arrived in a small room that connected to the audience chamber. Apparently, any outsiders having an audience with the king needed to pass through here first. The rules required a physical inspection to check, among other things, that no dangerous items were being brought inside.

Incidentally, while I called it small, the room stretched over fifteen square meters.

The construction and furnishings were both as posh as could be. It seemed they’d spent even more money on this room than the reception room in the viscount’s castle.

For a short time, people in knightlike dress examined my body here and there before I finally received the go-ahead. Viscount Müller had endured the same inspection I had.

I would, however, be parting with Peeps temporarily. Apparently, bringing familiars in was forbidden. I had taken the perching tree from the guest room and placed it on the sofa set’s table, and I told Peeps to wait there. Perhaps because he had once participated in the court, he raised no objections. He probably remembered rules like these. In fact, with our audience awaiting us, he regarded us with concern.

A few moments later, someone appeared to lead us inside. The preparations were complete, and it was time to make our appearance.

Following our guide’s directions, we headed for the audience chamber. Leaving the antechamber behind, we walked down a hallway. Knights equipped with swords and armor escorted us from the front and rear. Viscount Müller seemed used to this, but being a freshman in this otherworld, I was on pins and needles—every little thing was new to me.

The whole experience was even more imposing than my first visit to the viscount’s castle.

As we traversed the awfully spacious castle hallway, my eyes caught sight of a portrait hanging on the wall. It sat in a picture frame with a very showy design—gold edges—and was placed so that everyone who walked through this passage would see it.

The picture showed a young man with blond hair; he looked about ten or so.

It was a full portrait, depicting the crown of his head all the way down to his feet. He wore majestic clothing that reminded me of what Herzian nobles wore, and he stood proudly, not only wearing a cape but holding a staff in front of him with both hands. These combined with his sharp expression to create a very powerful image.

That said, no matter how much of a stern, powerful touch the artist had given him, his youthful features seemed to hold him back just one step short of true intensity. His slightly long hair, too—done in a braid that hung at his side—didn’t help, either. He looked quite androgynous.

“Viscount Müller, this painting…”

“The figure in that painting is someone you know quite well.”

“Someone I know?”

I could count my acquaintances in this world on one hand. When it came to nobility or royalty, I was acquainted with only two—the viscount and Prince Adonis.

“That is the Lord Starsage.”

“What…?”

The answer was so unexpected and shocking that I stopped walking.

Owing to the positioning of the painting, I thought for sure this was a picture of a young king or one of his beloved sons and had expected an answer along those lines. To my utter shock, though, it was Peeps. I’d always envisioned him as a harder-faced old man, but he was really just a little boy!

“He looks quite young in the portrait, my lord.”

“Oh? Were you not aware, Sir Sasaki?”

“Aware of what?”

“Though the Lord Starsage looks like this, he has lived for hundreds of years.”

“Wow, I didn’t…”

“His appearance remained unchanged since I was a boy. It was probably an effect of the vast magical powers within him; he is possessed of a completely different life span than normal humans. Even I don’t know his exact age. He is a person surrounded in mystery.”

“Come to think of it, the same topic came up on the battlefield.”

I was pretty sure Peeps had given us a lecture when we first encountered the giant orc in the forest. He was going on about “elite individuals” or whatever. Apparently, creatures invested with large amounts of mana would gain much longer lives and much more power than other creatures of the same species.

As it happened, Viscount Müller got talkative whenever the conversation came to the Starsage.

“The first time I saw the Lord Starsage was when, like now, we were at war with another nation and he had been deployed to fight. He commanded tens of thousands of soldiers, even personally standing at the lead and scattering the enemy with overwhelming magic. I can still picture it in my mind, clear as day.”

“…I see.”

“At the time, I so admired him that I devoted myself to magic. Unfortunately, I just didn’t have the talent. Or the mana. With no choice, I took up the sword. Not a story that paints me in a very good light, is it?”

“……”

Still, what was up with this? Hanging his picture in the passage to the audience chamber? I could feel the king’s ardent admiration radiating from it.

You really were beloved, huh, Peeps?

After leaving the portrait of the Starsage behind us, we quickly came to the audience chamber.

We passed through the pair of double doors in front of us. As Viscount Müller proceeded through the room alongside me, I mimicked whatever he did. Once we’d gotten halfway to our destination, we knelt on the floor and bowed our heads. I was positioned with my gaze fixed on the rug laid out below me.

This was no different than my first audience with the viscount. That said, the stage was so much bigger this time. Large crowds of nobles lined the walls, watching us. I could hear whispers being exchanged here and there. Wow, this really is a ton of people.

From the sheer number of attendees, the size and decor of the room, and even the equipment of the knights standing guard—everything about this was on a completely different level. My heart had been pounding painfully with nervousness ever since we’d set foot in here. The stress was going to give me a stomachache.

Before too long, we heard a voice in front of us.

“Raise your heads.”

It seemed the king had taken up his position. Sensing Viscount Müller move, I lifted my eyes while remaining kneeling. I focused my gaze on a raised platform a few meters ahead of us, slightly higher than everything around it and topped with thrones. These were the two magnificent chairs that had been empty upon our entrance.

Two people had taken their seats there without me realizing it—and one of them was, surprisingly, a familiar face.

It was the maid who had played board games with me the previous day.

“Ah…”

I very nearly cried out but frantically swallowed it back down. What was she doing there?

No, wait, that goes without saying.

She wasn’t a maid at all—she was clearly the queen.

The one sitting next to her, in contrast, was a new face. That one must be the king of Herz. He seemed to be in his midfifties and possessed deep-cut, sternly handsome features. I imagined he’d been incredibly popular with the ladies in his youth.

He also was likely about twenty years older than his queen. It seemed that when you presided over an entire nation, you had your pick of the litter when it came to the opposite sex. I was certain he had plenty of other mistresses and lovers. As a man, I’d have been lying if I said I wasn’t jealous.

“Viscount Müller, I would like to sincerely thank you for saving my son on this occasion. I have heard he was separated from his knights and was alone on the battlefield when you lent him your aid. It would seem you further drove off many enemy soldiers on your way home before safely delivering him back to me.”

“Your words do me too much honor, Your Majesty. I met His Royal Highness by chance, and I only had the privilege of aiding him a little in his return. I am sure the prince, talented with both the pen and the sword as he is, would have been able to return to your side hale and hearty without my assistance.”

“Come, you needn’t be so modest. I heard all the details from my son himself last night. I, too, dispatched you all knowing full well how difficult a war it would be. I am incredibly thankful for what you have done, Viscount Müller.”

“It honors me to no end to hear those words, Sire.”

The conversation had begun between the viscount and the king. The atmosphere gave me the impression it was reward time for the former. Considering how much the latter was grinning, it didn’t seem like he would do any scolding today. The king’s features were intimidating, so it was even more moving to see his joyful smile.

“Your accomplishments are great, Viscount Müller, for offering everything to protect Adonis, even on the rear lines, when so many other nobles fled in the face of the enemy out of fear for their own lives. I would like to grant you a new title—that of count—as well as a reward.”

“Once again, Sire, you do me more honor than I deserve.”

“I look forward to what you will do for the Kingdom of Herz in the future.”

“I would do anything for this kingdom, Sire, even if it meant giving my very life.”

Looked like Viscount Müller had just been promoted to Count Müller. The assembled nobles raised excited voices when they heard the king’s words. Apparently, this was a pretty amazing event. Without knowing very much about any of this world’s systems, I couldn’t even begin to judge the importance of the exchange.

Maybe like a section chief becoming a director? I’d have to check with Peeps later.

“Now, Count Müller, according to what I have been told, we have another among us who protected Adonis alongside you on the battlefield—and who actively gave his help to assure the prince’s return. If it is no trouble, I should like to hear more about this man.”

Uh-oh. I got the feeling the conversation was going to include me very soon. As the topic steered my way, my whole body tensed. My armpits were already soaked with sweat.

“As you have so keenly pointed out, Sire, this incident was not my work alone. I could have only accomplished it with the assistance of this man, whose name is Sasaki. He is possessed of a rare magical talent, and it is he who healed the wounds the prince suffered on the battlefield.”

“My, that is excellent work. He can use healing magic?”

The viscount—er, I guess he’s a count starting today—explained this and that to the king on my behalf. As someone who had no clue what kind of courtesy to show royalty, I was really grateful. I honestly doubted I could have carried on a proper conversation here.

“He can use not only healing magic, Sire, but he has enough skill to cast intermediate-level attack spells without any incantation. As you can see, he is of another nation. However, by my estimate, his abilities are at least on par with those of the court magicians serving the palace.”

“And this evaluation is coming from a count himself.”

“Forgive my straightforward assessment, Sire.”

“Not at all. In that case, I must grant him a reward as well.”

It seemed it wasn’t only the count being rewarded—I’d get a little gift, too. What could he give me? I never turned down a gift when offered, so I was happy for a chance like this.

“It is an honor to hear Your Royal Majesty speak my name aloud.”

“I have heard of your deeds not only through Count Müller but from Adonis as well. He told me that his entrails were spilling out after being caught in the side with magic, and he could not so much as walk properly until you saved him. This aligns with Count Müller’s testimony.”

I figured if I spoke carelessly it would backfire, so I received his words in silence. When I did, the king started chatting about this and that.

“And the bit about you casting intermediate magic with no incantation is certainly no empty boast, I am sure. It is for that reason that I would like you to put your strength to use for the Kingdom of Herz. And so I wish to grant you the title of knight of our nation and have you serve in the court.”

Immediately after the king spoke, there was a reaction among the nobles gathered in the audience chamber. They were making far more noise than when Viscount Müller had been promoted to count. Here and there, I heard a few people saying things like, “How could such a commoner be—?!” I’d been treated like I was invisible before, but now countless noble eyes were on me.

Which made me panic.

A lot.

I had no idea I’d be getting my hands on a noble title. I’d even told Count Müller and Prince Adonis beforehand that I had no desire for such a thing. Furthermore, it was against the wishes of the Starsage himself.

My eyes drifted to my side. Count Müller looked shocked as well. His whole face was saying “For real?”

It looked like the powers of the court had moved without any input from us.

After our audience with the king concluded, I returned to the waiting room with Count Müller, where he immediately apologized.

“I am so sorry. I had no idea things would turn out this way…”

It seemed this turn of events had caught him off guard as well. He’d known some reward awaited me at the end of the conversation but hadn’t thought it would be a knightly title. With my own appearance being clearly foreign, the count’s judgment couldn’t be faulted. I had also thought the matter would be settled with gold coins.

From things I’d heard him say in the past, the nobles in this country were extremely feudalistic. I very much doubted they’d welcome a total stranger into their ranks as one of their own. Everything, from the way my face looked to the color of my skin, was different. I had also explained to the count and prince that I was from another continent.

“Sir Sasaki, I’m sorry, but could I have a brief word with you?”

“Yes, of course, my lord.”

“Thanks.”

Other knights and officials—they must have worked in the king’s court—could be seen in the room, and their gazes were probably the reason for this suggestion. I could hear people whispering even now at the sight of Count Müller bowing his head to this freshly appointed knight.

I had plenty of things to ask, too, so I was grateful for the opportunity. Despite having received a new peerage and becoming even busier because of it, he still made time for me. Count Müller was truly a good man.

I returned to the palace’s guest room with Peeps and Count Müller. With the maid nowhere in sight, we seized the chance to lock the entrance door. I hadn’t been able to bring Peeps into the audience chamber, but he seemed to have overheard our conversation from the waiting room and quickly commented:

“Sounds like yet another inconvenience,” he muttered, sounding frustrated.

At this, Count Müller rose from the sofa and bowed even deeper than usual. Ever since he’d learned this sparrow was the Starsage he’d loved and respected, his attitude toward Peeps had been getting humbler and humbler.

“I am terribly sorry. This is all my fault. I told Prince Adonis many times not to let this happen, but someone must have overridden him. I really do apologize for how this turned out.”

“Well, no helping what’s done.”

“I’m terribly sorry.”

“Anyway, what about territory?”

“The idea was for him to work in the court.”

“Ah, so that’s what he went with?”

Seeming like they were on the same page, Peeps and Count Müller quickly carried out their conversation. With me being an outsider, I was losing track of what was happening. I’m sorry, but I need a more bite-size explanation.

“Sorry, my lord, but could you explain this in more detail?”

“Oh, that’s right. Well, it isn’t that big a deal, but…”

According to Count Müller, there were many different kinds of nobles. Some possessed territory within the nation and governed it while others had their own positions in public agencies, the court being first and foremost. It seemed I was to be one of the latter.

There were several other less common noble positions, such as those who simply received a yearly stipend. For the ones with territory or jobs, those positions could be inherited by the next generation. What the other nobles in the audience chamber had been so surprised about was probably this point.

The king had just created a new noble family in the kingdom.

“I see—so that’s how it works.”

“Which means the issue at hand is what tasks he’ll be given…”

Depending on the job’s specifics, it could pull me away from a life of just eating and sleeping. That would be a heavy blow to both of us.

“I actually haven’t been told a word about any of it, which has me confused. When things like this happen, it’s generally after the groundwork has been laid in advance. By the time things progress to an audience with His Majesty, in almost every case, we would already have been informed.”

“Ah.”

That made a lot of sense. Everyone had strengths and weaknesses—and of course, whatever work they’d been doing before. It would make sense to have a job that was a natural extension of those. Someone with no experience becoming a knight was exceptional.

“Sir Sasaki, have you noticed anything odd since arriving at the palace?”

“Odd, my lord?”

“I can’t think of anything, either. Rushing things like this is very rare. The only case I can imagine is if something like a royal mandate was issued from very high up—much higher than we were aware of.”

“……”

“To repeat, I made your viewpoint known to Prince Adonis several times. The prince is not a man who would treat such debts with anything but gratitude; he wouldn’t have broken his word. I believe perhaps there are yet other powers at work here.”

After hearing that, I naturally thought about what had happened the previous day. For some reason, the queen had come dressed as a maid to play board games with me.

“There is one thing, my lord.”

“If it’s all the same to you, would you mind telling me?”

“It’s astonishing to think about now, but yesterday evening, the queen visited my room. I had asked the maid for board games to pass the time, and the queen arrived and accompanied me as we played. She was dressed as a maid and didn’t say a word about her name or rank.”

“Wh-what…?!”

The count’s face tensed.

Now I understood why Peeps had been tweeting away like that the previous day. He’d formerly worked in the court himself. He would have recognized the queen’s face. After seeing her, he’d done his very best to be a warning siren for me. I had been oblivious and had just enjoyed the distraction.

The games in this world were no less interesting than the ones in mine, so I’d gotten pretty worked up about them. Given that they were in the palace, their handiwork was amazing, too. It had been so long since I’d played a game with anyone, I’d had quite the time.

“I only realized all this today when we went to the audience chamber, my lord.”

“You didn’t do anything careless with the queen—”

“No, no, of course not. We just enjoyed the board games, that’s all.”

“……”

“But now that I think about it, enjoying games with the queen must itself be highly improper. If there is a possibility they might use it as a reason to accuse me of a crime, I had better leave the country immediately.”

After hearing my explanation, Count Müller fell into thought, a difficult look on his face.

If I were the hottest guy of the century, I could imagine the kind of daytime soap opera twist where the wife falls madly in love upon seeing my face. However, no matter how you looked at it, my looks were that of an unattractive middle-aged guy, so there was no such possibility. And naturally, I hadn’t laid a hand on her.

Lately, I was too tired to even pay attention to women’s charms. Romance—real or fake—had a terrible return on investment. The amount of happiness you could derive from doing a good job and eating great food was much higher.

But in that case, what had caught her eye?

“No, I’d like you to hold off doing that.”

“I understand, my lord.”

“However, not knowing the reason does make it difficult for us to act.”

The count and I mulled this over.

After a short time, there was a knock at the door. The voice that spoke was one with which I’d become familiar these last few days.

“It’s me. Can I come in?”

It was the subject of our discussion’s child—Prince Adonis.

The prince had brought with him information about our predicament and had taken the time to come all the way here to explain in person.

After welcoming him into the guest room’s living space, along with Count Müller and Peeps, we continued our discussion. By his account, my time enjoying board games the previous day had indeed played a role.

“My identity, sir?”

“Yes. It seems my mother wanted to pay a visit in order to get to know you as a person, Sasaki. To put it plainly, she wanted to see if you really had no connection to any other nobles of this kingdom—if you were a brand-new face and a brand-new magician here.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Peeps?”

Peeps gave a little nod at Prince Adonis’s words. The total lack of dignity in the act made it absolutely adorable.

Now that I’d seen the portrait of him, I was feeling a little weird about it. Still, this was this, and that was that. I wanted to maintain our current relationship—with him as my cute little pet sparrow. Anyway, if I let it get to me too much, it would probably only cause him problems. I sincerely hoped we could continue on friendly terms.

“The same as the Müller family. Though that ended up being a lie.”

“What about it was the same as…?”

What suddenly sprang to mind was a single word: inheritance. Without thinking, I had turned to face the prince and opened my mouth.

“A dispute over the succession, sir?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

The prince nodded and gave a solemn answer. His face was apologetic throughout.

“I think my mother wanted to rope you into my faction. Not only can you use healing magic to fully cure fatal wounds, you can even cast intermediate attack spells without an incantation. To make the deal sweeter, you are unattached to any faction. Such a convenient magician almost never comes around.”

“So that’s what it was about.”

It seemed the skills I’d learned from Peeps were being appreciated. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy about it. Still, it had worked against us this time.

It was true she’d asked me all sorts of things during our board games. Like where I came from, whether I knew a noble named this or that… At the time, I figured she was just making conversation, but this made all the pieces fit together. In essence, it had been the prince’s mom’s chance to interview me.

That actually made the other maid, the one assigned to the room, seem incredible. Her attitude had remained unchanged even with the queen consort right in front of her, and she’d been indifferent as she presided over the board games we played. Internally, she must have been an absolute disaster. Despite her youth, she was really something.

“Now, my mother is most certainly the official wife of my father—the current king. However, I am not the eldest child. One was born before me, to my father and another woman. Since before I was born, he was treated as an unwanted child and hidden away until a few years ago.”

“And he’s the first prince, sir?”

“Yes, that’s right. As time passed—well, I’ll spare you the minor details, but he has begun to show talent. Ultimately, that led to my title becoming second prince, creating a somewhat odd situation in the court.”

“Wait. Then could your deployment have been…?”

I’d always thought it was ludicrous that the prince of a kingdom would be sent into a losing battle. Now that I understood more about the prince’s personality, I’d started to think maybe it made some sense, but that there still must have been a good reason for it.

“The truth is that the first prince’s faction did play some part. However, I personally asked to be sent to the front this time. So many of our citizens were willing to give their lives if necessary to benefit the kingdom. Without royalty leading their charge, how could we call ourselves the heads of the state?”

“I see.”

This guy really was an Adonis—in body and mind both. That probably led to hardships for his supporters. And yet his character was so honest and straightforward that those who did like that sort of thing would end up absolutely loving him—or so I imagined.

Personally, I felt like putting a bit of distance between myself and such a person was for the best, but anyway.

“For that reason, everything has been my fault. Getting you involved in our affairs—I really apologize. But a noble title, once given, is not easily returned. I know it may not be everything you wanted, but I have a suggestion for you and the Lord Starsage as well.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been tasked with assigning your work, Sasaki. I directly negotiated with my mother to exempt you from your responsibility to the knights and related court organizations, as well as the duty to govern land. We also decided that your duties as a knight will be communicated through either Count Müller or myself.”

“Then he’s a royal guard, for all intents and purposes.”

Peeps gave me a new term to chew on. Sounded kind of cool, actually.

“Peeps, what does that mean, exactly?”

“Knights of the royal guard are those assigned directly to royalty. They’re a level higher than other knights and are handled differently. That said, you are a knight and not a royal guard, so you have no duty to join the official group. In other words, you can move about at will.”

“I see.”

That was a pretty convenient position to have. Joining the knights sounded like it would force me into a group lifestyle similar to an athletic club, and that was not happening. Just adopting a pet had had me debating for some time. Ultimately, I’d ended up living with Peeps, but this would have been nothing like that.

“Am I correct in my assumptions, Adonis?”

“You are. I should have expected as much from the Lord Starsage,” the prince answered, nodding deeply.

It seemed I was going to get to spend my time pretty freely.

“And for you, Sasaki—for the days to come, I’d like to request that you manage my personal funds. I have heard from Count Müller that you are not only a talented magician but a merchant in your own right; is that so?”

“Manage your personal funds, sir…?”

“It will be for appearances’ sake with my mother and those around us. You don’t need to actually manage them, but you can. But with this setup, you would be able to continue your usual life under Count Müller as you have thus far.”

“I get it, sir.”

“It was my mother’s scheme to grant you peerage—she wants to have you as an asset. Perhaps it is more correct to view it as us marking our claim to you before my elder brother’s faction tries.”

Considering Prince Adonis’s mother’s position, I could understand that judgment.

Just like in Reversi, only black and white existed in this world. If you didn’t belong to either, one of them would try to convert you. If a piece was taken by the other side, it could only lead to your disadvantage. In that sense, it was fortunate that the prince’s faction was first to rope me in.

Had I kept plying my trade under Count Müller, an invitation might still have been extended to me. In that case, it was much more meaningful to have a significant position under someone who knew me, like Prince Adonis, than to be treated as the lowest rung on the ladder by the first prince, about whom I knew nothing.

“All that said, I don’t have anything I need from you right this instant. If my mother tries to force you to do something unreasonable, I promise I’ll stop her. With that in mind, would you be able to simply accept this title?”

He’d apparently been taking my circumstances into consideration quite a bit. He must have sincerely felt apologetic about all this.

“Of course, if you are interested in managing my private funds, you may feel free to do so. The monies I refer to are my own, separate from the palace finances. Even if you were to lose them, nobody would blame you for it.”

“I understand, sir. I humbly accept the rank of knight.”

“Again, I’m sorry for always putting you in situations like this. And…thank you.”

And so my position in this world had been determined for the time being.

I’d not only gone from a vagabond with no ties to a knight of the Kingdom of Herz, but I’d also been promoted to the prince’s financial adviser—and bodyguard in case something happened. If I wanted to stick to my all-fun, no-work plan in this world, learning about its finances really wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Whether I decided to actually manage Prince Adonis’s pocket money, it would be worthwhile to think about what I’d realistically do with it if I so chose. Because, as I now recalled, I had quite the bank account myself.

“In that case, sir,” said the count, “I will take care of Sir Sasaki for the time being. Though I don’t know if it will be necessary, given he is already a talented merchant with the Lord Starsage’s assistance, I believe I can still be of help to him in certain ways.”

“If you insist, Count Müller, then I’d be glad to leave him in your hands.”

“Thank you, sir.”

And so, for a time, I ended up learning about the nobility under Count Müller.

The same day I received noble peerage, I toured the palace for all the formalities and procedures that entailed.

For the occasion, Count Müller was kind enough to stick with me the whole time and help me out. Thanks to him, we finished all the necessary tasks without any particular difficulty. If I’d been on my own, it would have taken the entire day.

In the palace hallways, I received critical remarks from nobles on numerous occasions. Had Count Müller not been with me, things would have gotten dangerous. He was giving off a real aura of protectiveness. Had I been a young lady, I’d have fallen head over heels.

By the time most of the procedures and explanations were over, the sun—which had been high in the sky before—had already set. It had taken nearly the whole day to go through the formalities and lectures on how I should conduct myself as a noble and the like.

According to a story I’d heard during the process, Peeps himself had held the rank of count before his reincarnation. Unlike Count Müller, who had just been promoted, he’d been a high-ranking one—very close to a marquess, in fact.

He should have become a marquess, too, according to his number one fan, Count Müller. Anything marquess and above was considered a tremendous position within the Kingdom of Herz, and apparently, Peeps’s promotion had been held up by a faction of objecting nobles.

Given the portrait hanging in the audience chamber hallway, the royal family obviously had a high opinion of the Starsage. If his promotion had been delayed despite this, then the nobility must have had quite a bit of leverage against the royalty.

In that sense, my own rank of knight—gained only the previous day—might help contribute to my life in this world, depending on how I used it. Peeps looked sour at the prospect, but I’d decided to be optimistic. This was exactly the sort of time to split the load and work together to succeed.

In any case, we stayed that night in the guest room. We would be going back to the town of Baytrium the next day.

However, Count Müller did have a few things left to do in the capital. Word of the obliteration of the Ohgen Empire’s forces by the Starsage’s magic would arrive soon from the front, and the count wanted to handle things around the palace in advance.

He insisted he’d gloss over Peeps’s role in the affair, and we assured him it was all right to make it out to be his own accomplishment. That would make things a lot easier on us than having the Starsage’s name on everyone’s lips.

Because of all that, Peeps and I would be the only ones going back.

After a quick bit of teleportation magic, we’d returned to our hometown. In other words, the town of Baytrium, ruled by Count Müller, formerly Viscount Müller.

Incidentally, now that he’d become a count, it seemed he had a new job in the palace. According to him, though, the promotion was a reward, so he’d probably just get the title and the salary. That said, this was a rank passed down to the next generation, which made it pretty significant.

“We were only away for a little while, but it feels like it’s been so long.”

“So much happened, after all.”

We made our way to our lodgings in the high-class inn upon our return, like we always did. It wasn’t as nice as the palace’s guest room, but it was still way beyond my lame old apartment. I’d already paid my lodging fees for the next six months, so I was using the place as if it was a rented home.

At the moment, I was relaxing on the sofa in our leased living space.

“Let’s take it easy until Count Müller gets back.”

“That would be nice. I’m a bit tired myself.”

“From your fight with that demonfolk woman?”

“For the most part.”

They were probably throwing Count Müller a party to celebrate his promotion right about now in the capital of Allestos. We’d been invited to it the previous day, too, but politely declined. Considering my position, I just knew the other nobles would try something and make it difficult for me. Hurrying back home was partly a way to evade all that.

I was perfectly fine holing up in Baytrium for a while, at least until the excitement died down. Even if I did end up heading to the capital again, it would only be once the war was over. It would probably be quite the scene in the palace anyway when they received word of the Empire’s soldiers losing so badly.

It was terrifying just imagining it. Peeps had advised me to stay far, far away from it as well.

“That purple lady won’t come trying to attack you again, will she?”

“I think I dissuaded her. She’s no fool, so we’ll probably be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“If you’re with me, I won’t have nearly as much trouble as I did this time.”

“Oh.”

I remembered him telling me about how he cast spells using my body as a conduit. Seemed important for him to be perched on my shoulder. That was the only way he could conjure more advanced forms of magic, such as the one to go between worlds.

“I’ll have to learn the flying spell soon, then.”

“Yes, it would be somewhat difficult without that. I had the same thought after what happened.”

“Maybe it’s sudden, but can we start practicing that tomorrow?”

“I think that would be a good idea.”

Whatever the case, all signs pointed to the war with the Ohgen Empire drawing to a close.

The day after saw a return to my usual routine.

I woke up a bit late, then had brunch in the inn’s dining space, followed by setting off from town to practice my magic. When the sun began to set, we returned to town and enjoyed dinner at Mr. French’s place. At night, I’d go drinking in a nearby tavern or just go back to the swanky inn and play with Peeps in the living room.

A place in Baytrium was selling the board games I remembered from the palace. When I challenged Peeps, he beat the pants off me. It was really frustrating. No matter how many times we played, I could never win. Couldn’t he go a little easier on me?

I visited the trading company several times as well, but as the vice manager was always absent, I never got to see him. He was probably preoccupied with a massive workload, what with the news I had brought of the war situation, Prince Adonis’s survival, and all those other details regarding the dispute with the Empire. Instead, I just told an employee to pass on the message that I’d delivered his letter to the manager in the capital.

After a few days of this schedule, my efforts bore fruit, and I was able to learn the flying spell. Like Peeps had warned me beforehand, I almost crashed and died several times during practice. In spite of that, I continued to study and practice and could eventually fly somewhat deftly.

Flying magic was a beginner spell, and its usage, at least, was simple. On the other hand, you needed time to get up to speed or set your course properly. Hence, practice wasn’t over immediately after learning it. Soaring the heavens at a practical level took me a lot of time.

It also wasn’t a very fuel-efficient spell. Most mages, with their relative lack of mana, had a difficult time staying aloft for too long. Peeps told me that even the best could only manage it for a few minutes to maybe half an hour. This also meant they typically needed way more practice time.

Without the magic power Peeps gave me, I’d probably have run out of fuel in midair.

In my case, I never felt tired once during my flight training. I was able to fly for a little under an hour without any inconveniences. According to my master, I could probably manage it for an entire night.

Then again, now that I’d spent several days entirely on this spell, my progress in other areas was lagging. Of course, I was still showing zero signs of progress with the teleportation spell. It looked like anything of an advanced level or higher would require way more effort than any of the stuff I’d already learned.

If possible, I did want to have more attack options using at least intermediate spells besides the lightning magic. We’d have to leave that for next time, though. Still, knowing the flying spell was a big step forward—it let me flee much more effectively.

By pairing the flying spell I’d just learned with the intermediate barrier spell from before, I could probably even escape that hurricane psychic’s power without getting hurt. Or if things really got bad, I could probably grab Miss Hoshizaki and make a break for it.

“All right. Should we head back?”

“Yes.”

“It’ll be a month later when we come back here next, huh?”

“With that much time, this incident with the Ohgen Empire should have settled down for the most part.”

“Hope so.”

At my request, Peeps returned us to our apartment for the first time in quite a while.

(The Neighbor’s POV)

I haven’t seen the older man living in the next apartment over for a few days.

Normally, he’s only ever gone for a day or two. I haven’t seen the lights on in his apartment at night, either, and the meters for his electricity, gas, and water usage haven’t changed much.

It doesn’t seem like he’s been by his apartment at all.

In the few years since we met until now, I can’t remember a single time he was away from for more than two days. He seems like a workaholic—he’s even busy during New Year’s. And I’ve been watching from the front door of the neighboring unit almost every single day.

On sunny days, on rainy days, on snowy days.

“……”

The man’s residence feels utterly empty.

As I gaze at his undecorated front door, I think about this and that.

He must have gone on vacation.

Could also be a business trip, like for training.

Or maybe something unfortunate happened with his family.

“He did say before that he works at a small company, didn’t he?”

I feel like that rules out the possibility that it’s job training.

And New Year’s and the obon festival are one thing, but we’re well into autumn now. Doesn’t that make it hard for him to take time off? I hear midsize companies like his are really bad when it comes to vacation time for employees.

It seems fair to assume some sort of trouble in his private life.

“……”

But he didn’t seem any different the other day when he left home. Whether it’s good news or bad, if something happened to make him leave for so long, I would think he’d have been different somehow.

Maybe it’s too soon to rule out a vacation.

If it is a vacation, that brings to mind a bunch of different scenarios.

The first thing I consider is a solo vacation, the sort where you’re with friends and acquaintances. Beyond that, there are honeymoons.

Well, that last one seems pretty unlikely. He’s the same type of person I am. The kind who would live alone in an inexpensive apartment and grow old quietly, without anyone knowing.

That’s why I feel close to him.

Yes—he’s the same kind of creature as me.

“…A vacation…”

Come to think of it, I’ve never really gone on a vacation.

I’ve never gone to any school events, like the graduation trip or any day excursions. In fact, since moving here, I don’t think I’ve left this town. I just go back and forth between home and school every single day. It didn’t change a bit after graduating from elementary school and starting middle school.

He must be the same as me that way, too. He just goes back and forth between his job and his apartment every day—we’re identical.

We really are two peas in a pod.

“……”

If I was a little more grown-up, a little older…

If I invited him to go on a trip…

Would he say yes?

It doesn’t matter where—it could be some nearby park, for all I care.

Even just walking a couple minutes away from the apartment and sitting on a bench for a while.

“……”

Then, at night, after our trip, he would invite me to his place.

I’d accept, and we’d make love over and over.

How much time would the two of us have together?

A few months? A few years?

Eventually, with my sexual desires fulfilled, I would kill him, then myself.

We would be released from our worthless existences in this world and be free. We would die beautiful, without growing old and bitter, forever in that ideal relationship. The goodness inside him would remain within me. He has nowhere else to go, and I can accept him, body and mind.

An ideal relationship—where each of us could make up for all those things the other lacked.

“…You agree, don’t you, mister?”

When did I first start thinking like this?

The more I think about it, the more real it all feels.

Now I imagine his body in my dreams sometimes. I wonder how long his member is. Whether my body could take it in. I think about my own rapidly maturing figure and imagine that final moment.

So please, mister—come back to me soon.