Vol 3: Chapter 40

W-W-Wait a minute! Wait just a minute there! How does he know that I came from the Kruvan Holy Kingdom!? The story of national crisis is spreading wide!

No no, calm down first. Even if the other party has a solid information network and investigates me, I did nothing guiltyNo.

Attempted kidnapping of the daughter of Earl Sillys.

Engaged with 100 troop members of Duke Ebene (and a bonus of road destruction).

Ah~~ There are guilty things towards the end~~!!

Kuh

As I was thinking about how to respond

Kuhahahahaha! Whats with your face Whether you try to dodge the question or admit it, you shouldnt be shaking like that. It is like saying, This is my weakness. Kuhahahahaha

The Emperor was laughing while banging on his armrest.

I wasnt the only one who was staring blankly at him. Her Highness Anastasia, who was behind him to the right, the secretary-like woman, and everyone who were sitting in the rows, looked at the Emperor as if they were caught by complete surprise.

Aah, I laughed. That was a good laugh Be at ease. Just think of that as a small payback. If you really were plotting something, I thought I could make you slip up some information by shaking you upbut it would seem that you are just a 14 year-old kid. I am also relieved, but no, that is fine.

Now, then. That is the end of this audience. You can leave.

I was at a complete loss as to what to do. There were a lot of things going on in my mind. Like, how did the Emperor get information about me, or if the Kruvan Holy Kingdom said something. For now, however, it would be a good idea to leave silently.

Abba has already been slowly backtracking.

Non-san and I stood up, bowed deeply and left the audience.

**

Im beat~~~~~~

After the mentally exhausting exchange, we returned to the guesthouse on a magic car. As soon as I returned to my and Dante-sans room, tension left my body and I felt relaxed. I just jumped onto the bed. Im still tired from the labyrinth exploration, and in addition to that, the audience with the Emperor was also tiresome as hell

You did well today, Reiji-kun. Shall I applyHealing Magicfor mental stability?

Thank you Rather, how are you feeling, Non-san?

I was stunned by the glare at first, but you took care of all the rest. Please lie here.

Sitting on the bed, Non-san patted on her lap.

?

Lap? What about your lap?

Please lie down your head here.

Huh?!

I sprang up to my feet. A lap pillow? Im not crazy, thats a lap pillow right?

Come. Its most effective when you lie your head here.

I am indeed hoping theHealing Magicto stabilize the mind would help relieve the fatigue, but that spot is obviously Non-sans thighs, and if it is discovered that I did such a thing, her father, Dante-san, would no doubt drop a yakuza kick on me.

That said, I could also decline it.

Ah So you dont want to lie down on my lap after all?

Nooo, guilt, youre working overtime! And, Non-san, its not fair if you make those puppy eyes! Youre even wearing make-up right now!

T-T-Thats not the case. I just dont want to dirty your dress with the hair styling cream on my hair.

Now that you mention it Let me lay a towel on top then. Now, come.

The ball of evasion I hurled as the last defense was forced out by a simple towel. I ran out of excuses and laid on Non-sans lap.

Dante-san, this was unavoidable. Non-san offered, and I resisted. But the temptation was irresistibleNo, I mean, the atmosphere of this place made it so.

Soft.

That was the first sensation. The next thing I sensed was a really sweet fragrance. As I lay on Non-sans soft and warm lap, in front of me Non-sans two big mounds.

Aaaah

Ill cast the mental stability magic now.

Theres no way my mind can calm down now!

Human beings, when they stay up all night, or when they are overcome with extreme fatigue, they temporarily enter into an excited state. That is exactly how I am feeling right now. This excitement is due to fatigue and no other factor, and I mean absolutely no other factor. I would like to just add that to protect my honor and for Dante-sans peace of mind.

Ahhhhh~~~~~~~

When Non-san placed her hands on my chest and the top of my head and the mana flowed in, I felt that my mind and heart quickly calmed down.

Huh?

Wow the excitement disappeared.

Is this how a mothers love feels like..? To feel spoiled by your mom?

How do you feel?

Amashing. Very nishe.

Ufufu, you sound like a baby.

Mama!

This way, Your Highness.

At that moment, the door to our room suddenly swung open. Her Highness Anastasia, who had taken off General MacArthurs sunglasses, stood there.

Ah.

Ah.

Ah.

Our gazes met. I was still in the lap pillow pose.

**

And that is why I asked to cast the magic of mental stability. Thats the truth. There isnt anything suspicious going on.

I dont know why, but I was coming up with all sorts of excuses to convince Her Highness Anastasia. No, Her Highness eyes simply widened when she saw us, but the butler-like Lev escorting herthe one who accompanied her to Muge-sans company previouslymade a big scene by shouting, Youre milking in a long-established state guesthouse?!!Milking? It was such an out-of-date word that I wonder if anyone even uses it these days. And I was deeply embarrassed when Non-san asked me, What does milking mean? [1. TL Note: Milking is a literal translation of , which is an old Japanese word for secret affair.]

Returning to the main topic, Her Highness Anastasia, who came all the way here, looked away with a pouting look, and Non-san, who is pure of mind, looked lost on what was going on, so it was my job to make an excuse after all.

I suppose while its a great honor to have an audience with the exalted His Majesty the Emperor, its understandable that a human like you would suffer serious mental damage from his magnificence.said the bothersome butler.

With a deep exhale, Her Highness Anastasia wrote on a memo paper and showed it to the butler.

!?

The butler stiffened, but when Her Highness pointed to the note repeatedly, he left the room while gnashing his teeth. I caught a slight glimpse of what was written on the note. They are heroes who captured a labyrinth. Disrespect will not be overlooked. Leave this room. something along those lines.

Her Highness is strong.

Well, then Your Highness, did you come all the way here regarding Lulusha-san?I asked.

Her Highness brought along an attendant, seemingly an ally, who was standing at a distance away. We four were the only ones in the room.

Her Highness nodded with a smile.

Thank you very much. Truly. But why did you go so far?

I was slightly hesitant to answer that question.

However

Because of the letter I received from Your Highness.

I decided to be honest. At the end of the letter I received, there was a trace that the pen was removed after it was placed. I guessed from thatthat Her Highness wanted to help Lulusha-san, but couldnt ask us for any more favour.

It feels kind of patronizing. But if I am not honest, it would feel like I dont trust her. This person is Lulusha-sans one of very few friends. So I want to be sincere, at least.

Of course, it was nothing more than just a guess but I just couldnt leave things alone after handing over the bag, and above all, the labyrinth capture would certainly help Lulusha-sans case, so I decided to challenge it.

Her Highness Anastasia was looking at me in a daze.

Your Highness? Was our actions too intrusive?

Your Highness?!

I raised my voice despite myself. Because tears streamed down Her Highness cheeks.