Chapter 38: Chapter 38
"Wow! Master, look at that! The ceiling is amazing!"
"How fitting for a ball hosted by a duke of the great Shiga Kingdom,"
Lulu and Arisa pointed excitedly at the ceiling. Not long before, they'd also pointed out the fluffy carpets and mythical engraving on the marble wall with equal enthusiasm. Even after seeing this place multiple times now, I am still impressed. It's a shame they weren't here as guests like me and could enjoy everything this place has to offer. Wearing black dresses with lace-trimmed white aprons. While everyone else was watching the house, Lulu and Arisa were here as Satou's cooking assistants.
"Was it like this the last time you were here?"
"Near enough," I nod. "They have changed a few things, but it is basically the same as before."
They would have loved it here if they could have attended as guests. The venue was as large, with mirrors on its domed ceiling sparkling brilliantly in the chandelier's light. On the outer edge of the venue were spaces for resting and light conversation and the booth where Satou and company were preparing the food. It seemed that evening parties were generally buffet-style. Between each booth and rest area was ample space with small, elegant tables. Much of the food consisted of light hors d'oeuvres so the nobles could snack easily during casual conversations. Which means I am most likely in for a night of dodging marriage purposes. I hope Lady Seiryuu can keep them at bay again.
"Sir Knight, are these arrangements satisfactory?"
The maids did a great job with the presentation. Decorating the buffet with flowers that are especially pleasing to the eye. I wonder what type of flowers they used. I have never smelt a kind like this before.
"Yes, it's perfect. You've made my food look much more appealing,"
"It's an honour to assist your cooking in any way, Sir Knight,"
The maids moved onto the next booth smiling. Satou should cook for a living in this world, as all it took to secure the maid's help was the promise of food. If he does become a chef, I wouldn't be surprised if people give him their kingdoms to taste his dishes. No matter what he makes, the people of this world can't seem to get enough of it.
Before long, the guests began to arrive. I was here a little early since Lady Seiryuu had business with the king. Still, despite the fact she says it is about my promotion, I can't help but think there is something more to their meeting. But I might be overthinking it. Marquis Lloyd and Count Hohen, two gourmets in love with Satou's food, were also present.
Satou had prepared four dishes for the occasion. The first, of course, was the consommé soup the duke had specially requested. Since it took a long time to make, Satou had locked himself in the kitchen all day back at the mansion. Satou had really put Mia to work making the dish. The poor thing was so tired I had to carry her to her bed. Earlier that morning, we brought some of the finished soup to Tenion Temple. There was no time for me to see Sara, but hopefully, she'd try it with the head priestess.
"Ooh! So this is the soup that the young master Lloyd praised so highly!"
"But it looks like water...."
"You can't call yourself a gourmet if you let appearances fool you,"
"Indeed. It smells deliciously rich,"
It didn't take long for people to gather around Satou when he took the lid off one of the consommé soup pots. Imperial Knight Ipasa, aka "the young master Lloyd," had been spreading the word about the dish, it seems. But it is the only dish available right now since the oil for the tempura wasn't hot enough yet.
I can't believe I had to get the nobles here in order as they scrambled to be the first to get a serving. I did have some interesting conversations during my crowd control. And some annoying ones. Why does every noble propose marriage or ask for loans? Not everyone is like that, but it is starting to get worse.
"Delicious! What in the world is it?"
"How heavenly,"
"Wonderful. It tastes even better than it smells,"
"Ahh... I must have been born to eat this soup,"
Once again, Satou's cooking is a big hit, but he seems slightly embarrassed about all the praise. He busied himself prepping tempura while Lulu and Arisa served bowl after bowl of the soup. It's starting to get crazy with people not getting enough of the dish. I hope the five pots Satou made will be enough. In the end, Satou had to limit it to three bowls per person. A few of them got childishly whiny about it, but tempura soon distracted them.
The demand for the tempura wasn't quite as high as the soup, but plenty of people still wanted to try every kind. Hopefully, Satou can keep up with the orders. Several kitchen cooks are helping him, so he should be fine.
"I dunno about this one. It looks nice and all, but…."
Arisa's face clouded at the sight of the third dish. It was Satou's take on the meat jelly we ate. I was a taste taster for this dish, so I know it tastes good, but I'm not sure the people here will be interested in trying it. It was a dish for commoners, after all. If no one takes a plate, I'm sure they will get curious if I try some.
Satou had tried making a more elegant version of the meat jelly we had. At Arisa's suggestion, I also used colourful ingredients to avoid an unappetizing brown colour. I think he ended up using magic while he was cooking to further enhance its look. I was surprised that Satou could turn the meat jelly into a work of art. I understand why people are too scared to come near it.
"Oh-ho, how clever! You've crafted our duke's coat of arms in edible form,"
This compliment came from a gentleman with an impressive beard. Satou had indeed arranged the jelly into the duke's coat of arms. Unfortunately, this meant none of the nobles wanted to be the first to take a piece and thus destroy the crest. It was a mistake to get all fancy like that.
"It looks like the jelly spoken of in the legends of Ancestral King Yamato,"
"Is this a new dish, Satou? I can't wait to try it. Everything you make is always tasty,"
Behind the gentleman was Lady Ringrande, wearing makeup and a dress for the occasion. She makes breathing look so easy in these torturous fashionable dresses. I wish someone would tell me if there was a trick to it.
"Oh, so this is the fellow you mentioned, Rin?"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Satou Pendragon, an honorary hereditary knight,"
The man with Lady Ringrande was her father and the next duke. We have spoken a few times over the past few days, but he isn't there most of the time I visit the castle.
"Pendragon, eh? So you're the saviour of Muno City, which Tolma mentioned? You're much younger and more diminutive than I imagined,"
"That Tolma would be a great lobbyist," Arisa muttered.
She crouched behind the booth, snatching food on a small plate. I couldn't agree more with her. I have often heard that Satou and I defended the city single-handedly.
"Tolma bragged about your deeds as if they were his own. Why, you even defeated a demon in Gururian City, did you not?"
Politely dodging the future duke's compliments, Satou managed to redirect him toward the food.
"I hate to destroy this work of art, but I am quite interested in your cooking. I'll take a serving,"
Satou gave Lady Ringrande and her father each a plate with two of the best kinds: jellied mackerel and jellied vegetable broth made with edamame and carrots.
"Hmm, I've never had the likes of this before. It's very flavorful,"
"It really is. The fish is delicious, but so are the vegetables... but... Argh! No matter how good your cooking is, I'm not letting you marry Sara,"
I'm surprised Satou always seems to get himself into these kinds of situations. To top it off, he always finds new ways to get there. I can already see Karina in the crowd looking worried.
"Sara is a kind girl, too kind for the life of a noble. Besides, she has left the house of the duke for the sanctuary. If you wish her to return to secular life, you would first need to convince the holy woman of Tenion Temple,"
"Rest assured, I am not trying to court Lady Sara. It is only a misunderstanding on Lady Ringrande's part, you see...."
I don't know why Satou is looking at me for help. There is nothing I can say that will change Lady Ringrande's mind. At least her father quickly understands the situation. Karina isn't looking convinced either as she glances at Satou.
"I'm sorry for my late greeting, Hero Kura," He smiles, finally turning to me.
"It's fine," I return his smile. "I hope you are having a lovely evening, sir."
Now that Lady Ringrande and her father had broken up the crest, the rest of the nobles ventured to try the jellies. This is just as bad as it was with the soup. The booth was crowded between the people clamouring for food and the ambitious ones trying to cosy up to the duke's heir and Lady Ringrande. It might be even worse than it was with the soup.
"Hmph. Have you changed roles from a so-called saviour to a servant?"
No, it is definitely worse. Of course, this rude comment came from the third prince, dressed to the nines in royal garb. This time, he was attended by only the old knight, not that deranged young one. But why is he standing so close to me? But before anything happened, the future duke came to our rescue.
"And you shouldn't keep disappearing," The prince warns me.
It's no secret why I want to stay as far away from him as possible. Unfortunately, I am running out of excuses to turn down his invitations.
"He is an honoured guest of the duke, Prince Sharorik. My father heard of his fame as a miracle chef and requested that he make some of his famous dishes tonight,"
The prince, who hadn't noticed the next duke amid the flock of nobles, looked startled. It also looks like Satou got a new nickname. "Miracle Chef," I think it suits him.
"He is also Rin's friend and my youngest daughter's benefactor. I shall not look kindly on insults toward him, not even from a prince. And should you really take such a tone with the hero who saved our city?"
The duke's heir stepped forward as if to protect me from the prince. Even I could tell Sharorik was out of his league here. Then, more people jump into the conversation.
"Sir Satou! I hope there's still some of that incredible shrimp tempura left for me!"
"Or the superior pickled ginger tempura!" The gourmet nobles, Marquis Lloyd and Count Hohen, raced each other to the front of the crowd.
"Hmm? If it isn't Prince Sharorik,"
"As if bringing dishonour on Lady Ringrande's name wasn't enough, now the fool dares to insult Lord Satou?"
"Quite so, quite so! An upstart who fails to appreciate Lady Rin's swordsmanship or Sir Satou's cooking has no place at Lady Sara's side,"
His temper sparked, the prince reached for the Holy Sword at his waist, and I prepared to draw mine. Luckily someone else came to the rescue.
"Why, there you are, Your Highness. Won't you come and regale us with tales of the royal capital?"
Cutting through the crowd, a small army of women in slightly heavy makeup came to lure the prince away. Mercifully, he deigned to join them and brusquely took his leave. Lady Ringrande's father sighed as he watched the prince go.
"If only he would mature a little, perhaps,"
"I doubt that'll ever happen. He hasn't changed a bit from ten years ago,"
"But he is one of the finest swordsmen in the kingdom...."
"Father, physical strength has no bearing on the strength of character. Otherwise, even Hayato would be more…."
Lady Ringrande was evidently about to slander the hero, but she clapped a hand to her mouth at the last moment with a guilty look. I was tempted to ask her more, but the duke arrived and recommended the consommé soup to everyone. Before too long, the atmosphere was back to normal.
Once the older and higher-ranking nobles. Like the duke and his family drifted away from our booth, the younger ones watching from a distance scrambled to grab food. They were so intent on filling their bellies I thought I might be spared, but it wasn't long before one of them asked for my hand in marriage. Arisa's giggling isn't helping. Several of them inquired into Satou's relationship with Lady Ringrande. He assured them that she was only teaching me swordsmanship occasionally.
But now another problem has occurred. I thought we had brought plenty of food, but somehow Satou ran out of everything in less than thirty minutes. The nobles sure loved every bite.
"Sir Pendragon, Hero Kura, might I speak with you?"
Karina approached us surprisingly with a young man on her arm. But with how closely they resemble each other, they could be related.
"Hello, Lady Karina. And this must be the brother you spoke so highly of? I am Satou Pendragon, a hereditary knight. Pleased to make your acquaintance,"
"Indeed. I'm Orion Muno. Nice to meet you, Sir Pendragon," But he doesn't look upon me so kindly. "Miss hero, can you explain to me why you let my sister fight the demon lord?"
"Oh, that. I needed Lady Karina to ring the demon sealing bell she has in her possession," I explain. "There were hostages who had become possessed, and that bell was necessary to save them."
"So you gave my clumsy sister an important task,"
"Clumsy?" Karina fumes, shooting her brother a look.
"Lady Karina performed her task admirably, and because of her, we saved two of the hostages unharmed,"
My compliment seems to have gone straight to her head. Karina puffs out her already too-big chest and looks proud as her brother stares at her in surprise. Even Satou looks shocked despite the fact I told him everything that happened during our battle with the demon lord. After a short chat, the two went off to the main hall. Satou discreetly advised them to steer clear of the prince. The advice I am all too willing to back up.
The dance was picking up at the hall's centre as young noblemen invited beautiful ladies to join them at the edge of the floor. It seemed like a pretty good place to meet people. I have seen scenes like this before, but today, so many young nobles were making their debuts. So many young faces with bright rosy smiles.
While we watched them dance, Satou decided it was time to bring out the last course. Initially, he wanted to make strawberry shortcakes or cheesecakes, but Satou couldn't perfect his sponge batter in time. He settled for crepes in the end. The nobles seemed averse to eating with their hands, so Satou devised a creative solution. Instead of the large crepes, popular street food in modern Japan, he made mini crepes and cut them into quarters.
That way, you could eat them in a single bite, and after taking one for myself, I can guarantee they haven't lost any of their flavours. The sauce, made from strawberry jam, is also delicious. It might have been hunger, it might have been curiosity, or it might have been me enjoying them, but soon a long line forms for the crepes.
"My, that smells delicious,"
"They'll be ready soon, ma'am,"
Satou placed fresh cream and sliced strawberries in the hot crepes. Then he cut them up quickly, put them on Lulu's plate, and presented them to the waiting young woman. The girl's face melted as soon as she tasted the bite-size crepe. Even the makeup she'd worked so hard to apply couldn't disguise her innocent glee at that moment. Charmed by her reaction, a gaggle of young male nobles gathered around as soon as she finished eating and asked her to dance.
"You realize you're making a total old-man face, right?" Arisa munched on a crepe as she sniped at Satou from the floor.
I don't think there is anything wrong with routing for young people searching for love. But neither Satou nor I can respond as more people arrive for crepes and some to talk with me. I wish I could take up the challenges to duels I receive right away, but I can barely breathe in my dress, let alone fight. All I can do is promise to arrange a sparing match for some other time. I wish I had more offers like these. They are certainly better than marriage proposals.
Satou ran out of ingredients partway through, so Lulu and Arisa had to run and grab more cream and strawberries from the kitchen. I wanted to go too and escape these ceaseless conversations, but the maids and cooks didn't want me anywhere near the kitchen while wearing such a fancy dress. At least I won't be the only one to experience this.
"S… Sir Knight! Would you like to share a dance with me, please, maybe?"
Because a girl in her early teens who was just making her societal debut came over to me almost immediately. I showed him the basics of dancing, and with Satou's cheat skills, he should be fine. It definitely won't be as bad as dancing with the prince.
"Certainly, if you'd like,"
The fear of rejection was written all over her face. Satou must have felt he should at least oblige her for one song. The girl's face lit up when she heard Satou's response, but she quickly got nervous again once the dance began.
"Please, there's no need to be so tense. Just pretend the people around us are trees or statues. And you can think of me as a father or older brother-like figure if it puts you at ease," Satou whispered, and the tension seemed to leave the girl's shoulders ever so slightly. "Don't worry, just relax. Try to go with the flow, like a princess."
I turn away. I shouldn't be listening to them anyway. I look around the rest of the hall to find Lady Seiryuu talking with Karina and her brother. Henry is dancing with her brother, and everyone seems to be having a good time. Still, the best news is that the prince is too distracted to bother me. Those ladies don't look like they will let him go any time soon.
"It… it's strange to see you free,"
Lady Ringrande suddenly appears at my side with a glass of wine in her hand. She certainly looks a lot worse for wear than when we first spoke. Slurring her words and looking unsteady, Lady Ringrande should have put that glass down instead of taking another sip. The song ended, and Satou walked his partner off the dance floor, only to find a line of girls waiting their turn. I'll let him handle that situation as I take Lady Ringrande out for fresh air.
Once outside, we are greeted with a pleasant view. Fireflies dart around the garden as the stars light up the night sky. If it wasn't for the sounds of couples getting more closely acquainted in the background, I would say it was a perfect sight. I set Lady Ringrande down and replaced the wine in her hand with water.
"Tch… your no fun,"
"You will thank me in the morning,"
I probably have the spells to cure a hangover now, but I wouldn't want her to suffer like the girls did back in Bolehart City. I didn't think she was the type of person that drinks so much.
"A… at least let me d… drink,"
"I think you've had enough,"
"Bully,"
"Lady Ringrande, if you keep drinking, not only would you be hurting in the morning, but you might also do something you'll regret,"
"Well, I already… hick… regret coming here…." Lady Ringrande slurs. "The prince is a… annoying… you may be stronger than Hayato and Hayato… Hayato won't talk to me! Every time I call him, he is always… busy…."
I let her rant and get everything off her chest. She probably doesn't mean it, but the more Lady Ringrande talks about Hayato, the lower my opinion of him drops. Still, despite Arisa's warning that Hayato was an unrepentant lolicon, I was surprised by the things Lady Ringrande would tell me. He could have at least been there when she reported in.
"And… and now you keep treating me like a… a stranger!" Lady Ringrande stood up, and I had to catch her before she fell. "Just call me Rin… like everyone else…."
"Okay, Rin,"
"Better,"
"Now let me take you back to your room,"
"How forward of you…." Great, she misunderstood me. "But Hayato, if the only one I want to take me to my room…."
"Not like that dummy," I sigh, helping her stand. "You need to rest before you hurt yourself."
"So I'm not good enough for you?"
My god, she's worse than all our girls combined after they got drunk. But with a lot of effort and help from one of the maids, we managed to get Rin back to her room safely. It is pretty neat and tidy, just what I expected from her. Even the presence of the sword rack and training dummy doesn't seem out of place in her room.
As I returned to the party, I came across Arisa and Satou waiting in the courtyard, gazing up at the stars in the cool evening breeze. The lilting strains of a waltz were still faintly audible.
"Even out here, you can still hear the music from the ball,"
"Yeah,"
"You were pretty popular with the lolis in there, huh?" Arisa commented, making Satou sound like Hayato.
"You think so? I figured they just needed a practice partner to get used to dancing with men," Satou stood up with a shrug.
"Are you mad?"
"Of course not," Satou smiled at her. "More importantly, madam, may I have this dance?"
"Huh? Oh, umm... Yes! It'd be my pleasure!"
I take a different route back so I don't disturb them. Returning to the hall, it looks like the adults have taken over the dance fall, slowly twirling around together as the younger nobles sit around and talk. It looks like Rin wasn't the only one to drink themselves under the table tonight as I spot several people, the prince included, passed out. I wonder if there is any food left. I barely ate a thing tonight.
<0>
After the ball, my days only got busier. Still not as busy as I was back in Japan, the endless tea parties hosted by nobles or their daughters were a significant improvement to those times. The only trouble came in the form of gifts to bring. It seemed strange at first to bring a gift when you were invited over for tea for the first time. Still, I seem to be adjusting better than Satou. All the tireless talking at parties and feasts has paid off.
The gift couldn't be just any old gift. If you gave something too expensive, the host would assume that you were trying to curry favour for marriage, civil service, or something of the sort. But, of course, something cheap would insult the recipient. And the ideal gift differed depending on the faction and influence of the family, too. Satou looked so confused as I told him that.
"Good evening, Sir Satou. I heard you were invited to the homes of some young ladies for tea, so I thought I'd come over to give you the run-down on the families and their preferences and such,"
Luckily we had an ally to help with the gift-giving. Showing up on our doorstep with a bottle of high-class wine, Tolma gave Satou unusually detailed information on all the noble families in the old capital. It was far more information and advice than I could ever hope to give. I even borrowed it occasionally when I had to bring a gift.
Tolma ate a mountain of snacks Satou had prepared as he listed every aristocracy member's likes, dislikes, and personalities. He even warned us about which topics to never mention around certain people. We probably would have gotten more information from him if he hadn't passed out after drinking too much. I'm starting to think the people of this kingdom have a drinking problem.
"Well, you might not need that much info anyway since you managed to mediate between Sir Lloyd and Count Hohen. Those two fight like cats and dogs,"
"Those two, like cats and dogs? But they seem like, such good friends,"
"Good friends, eh? You're a pretty weird kid, Sir Satou,"
The tea parties were going smoothly, thanks in no small part to Tolma's help. Satou brought cheese soufflés and other baked goods, and for hosts who didn't have a sweet tooth, he took soufflés baked with brandy and raisins. He had an easier first run than I did. At Arisa's suggestion, Satou also brought some plainer baked snacks for the maids of each home. For the gifts, he tried making jewellery like earrings and necklaces on thin silver chains, with his own personal twist.
"Mother, do look at this,"
"Why, isn't that lovely!"
I was so busy I didn't have a chance to see the jewellery until, by chance, we were both invited to the same tea party. A rune appeared in the centre of the tiny pendant as it glowed in the young lady's hands. Satou had carved the symbol into a light stone scarcely bigger than a grain of rice, a simple design that would glow if charged with magical power. It is so pretty that I feel jealous of all the people he had gifted them to.
A single rune wouldn't have any special effects. Still, some had meanings similar to Japanese omamori charms, like "peace and prosperity" or "luck in love," so Satou used one of those. If he makes a good luck one for me, I can finally end my run of attracted danger. With everything that happened as soon as we arrived in Muno and Gururian City, I was starting to feel like I was cursed.
"How wonderful. It's a good-luck rune,"
"This one is a rune for bravery! Let's have Father carry it when he goes out to lead the high- way patrol,"
When first asked who made the glowing pendant, Satou randomly made up a name. A fictional magic tool engineer called Trismegistus was gaining fame throughout the city. Satou is lucky he can cover his tracks so effectively.
"S… Sir Satou, would you like to come for tea at my home, too?"
"No, no, you should come to my house! My father is a baron, not a baronet like Ferna's,"
Before Satou knew it, he went from having tea parties every other day to every day, and in the end, Satou wound up with three per day. I should take him with me since his popularity would earn me more free time.
But even without Satou there with me, I was sometimes asked to bring a guest. Pearl was invited to the houses of knights after they saw her in the martial arts tournament. Some tried to recruit her, but Pearl quickly turned them down. When I visited families of mages, Mia was invited to, and those tea parties turned into magic lessons.
Nana was the most dangerous. I had to carefully look into the families for the invites that included her as a guest. Most people who wanted to meet her were only interested in getting close to her. I couldn't believe it when some people asked me if they could rent her for the night. But there were plenty of people that weren't like that. Most people we met wanted to meet Nana simply because she was a hero's companion.
However, making new friends among the upper crust wasn't always good. Satou is finally getting a taste of what I had to endure.
"Master, you've received letters and photographs for marriage interviews,"
"Again...?"
A disgruntled Arisa greeted Satou when he came home from the latest tea party. He'd received these with increasing frequency over the past few days.
"Karina, you okay?"
"Pull it together, ma'am! It's only a flesh wound, ma'am!"
"Tama, Pochi...."
Tama and Pochi comforted Karina on the couch, where she'd collapsed as soon as she entered the living room. Satou has been taking her to some of the tea parties. We had hoped to help her expand her circle of friends, but it wasn't going well so far.
"Sorry, Lulu, but could you bring my blue, green tea to the study?"
"Of course, master!"
I took the letters along to the study, leaving the photos behind.
"You're going to turn them down without even looking at the pictures?"
"It'd be more insulting to reject them after seeing them, wouldn't it?"
Satou shrugged at Arisa and headed into the study. At least I have it easier than him in this regard.
"How come no letters are coming for your hand in marriage?"
"Lady Seiryuu is handling that for me," I tell her. "I only have to deal with a few at parties now."
"Satou?"
"Master Satou, are you going out again? I inquire,"
Mia and Nana's sharp eyes immediately noticed that Satou's coat was in his hands.
"Yes, sorry. I've been invited to Marquis Lloyd's dinner party,"
"C'mooon, another one? Weren't you just at Count Hohen's yesterday?"
Marquis Lloyd and Count Hohen had been inviting Satou for dinner almost daily. He'd given both head chefs the recipe for tempura, so this time, Satou was invited as a proper guest, not a chef. By the way, he gave the tempura recipe to the chefs of Count Worgoch and the duke, too. I haven't been invited this time, but I'm not complaining since it would be my first free evening since arriving in the old capital.
"You aren't going this time?"
"Not this time," I answer Arisa as she looks at me. "They only want Satou's cooking knowledge."
"You should have pretended to be a bad chief," Arisa moans.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it,"
With a smile and a wave, Satou is gone. Not leaving with him feels strange, but I am not complaining about having some free time. Besides, it gives me some more time to practice woodcarving and study the book I found.
I settle down on one of the chairs and start widdling away with a small knife. I have just finished the basics of the book, but my talent is rapidly growing. Last night I made a simple duck. It wasn't detailed, but the shape was right. Now I am slowly adding more detail to the wings, making them look more lifelike.
It isn't that hard when I focus. Making sure I don't cut too deeply is the hardest part. After an hour, I have both the wings down, and half an hour after, I complete the whole body. Now I just need to work on the face, and it is done. I am considering buying some paint, but I am unsure if I want to do that with how expensive art supplies are.
"Hero Kura, may I care for this little bird? I inquire,"
Nana quickly arrives as I put the finishing touches on the duck. She must really like it since she is leaning over me, resting her chest on top of my head. Nana never changes, even after I warned her that stuff like this isn't appropriate.
"Sure," I tell her. "I just need to finish it, and you can have it."
"Mmm,"
Mia swiftly separates Nana from me with a frown. She doesn't need to be so jealous. If she wants one, I can make Mia something as well.
"Should you really be doing that with your fingers?"
Arisa asks, looking at me as I sand down the rough edges. I have been just using my thumbs for the job since I didn't have to proper tools for it.
"It's fine," I shrug. "It won't harm me."
"Cheat," Arisa mutters before returning to what she is doing.
I think it could use some paint, but it is okay not as pretty as the carvings I have seen in other noble's homes but not bad. I handed the finished thing over to Nana, who instantly started to rub her cheek against it. I leave her to it and see what everyone else is doing.
Arisa looks like she is having fun braiding Lulu's hair while Pearl and Liza are sparing in the courtyard. Mia is practising with her lute, filling the room with beautiful music while Nana hugs her new duck. But Pochi and Tama look like they have the most fun out of the group. With another book with pictures, they tell the latest adventure of their meat-loving knight.
"Ah!"
"The meat knight, sir!"
I couldn't help myself. Using my new illusion magic causes a small knight figure to appear on the page. The meat-loving knight bows to the young girls in clean, pure white armour and with a shield proudly displaying a hamburg steak. Unfortunately, that is the extent of my abilities with this type of magic. I could make it move but not talk, and when Tama tapped it, the illusion was broken.
"Sir knight,"
"Come back, Mr knight, sir,"
As the illusion vanishes, the others go closer. Even Pearl and Liza run into the room. They probably heard the girls yell out in surprise and came rushing to their aid. I quickly explain what happened, earning praise and a scolding for my actions. But it turned into an enjoyable evening. I ended up bringing Pochi and Tama's story to life with illusions while Arisa did the voice acting.
<Title Acquired: Entertainer.>
<Title Acquired: Master of Illusions.>
<0>
"Master?"
"Master! Sir! Come see how hard we've been practising, sir!"
Six days after our fun night, I had a few spare moments before leaving with Satou and Karina. I sat in the courtyard watching the others train with nothing else to do. Pochi and Tama spot Satou right away when he arrives a few minutes later.
"Tama, Pochi, you mustn't touch master's clothes with dirty hands,"
"Hero Kura, I would like you to praise the results of my training, I entreat,"
Liza and Nana were there, too. As usual, Nana couldn't hide her true motives. They'd all been working hard, though. Pearl is here, too, getting some training in before the semi-finals later today. She won her quarter-final match two days ago, defeating Zena's brother. She will be fighting Lord Johorn of the Long Ear Tribe later today.
"Why, the young master is here! Why don't you spar two-on-two and show him the fruits of your training?"
Mr Kajiro, the Saga Kingdom samurai who were drilling the vanguard team, gave the signal for the mock battle to begin. Miss Ayaume, the female samurai, was hiding behind a nearby bush with a short bow in hand. Instead of arrowheads, the tips of the arrows were wrapped in cloth.
"Remember, Ayaume will ambush you if you let your guard down! Watch yourselves!"
Satou and I stood by Mr Kajiro and watched the battle play out. They really have improved, leaving little to no openings for their opponents to attack. Pochi, who was typically focused solely on attacking, was paying closer attention to her surroundings. Whenever one of them let their guard down for a moment, Ayaume would shoot an arrow at them or surprise attack them from a tree with a twig. Mr Kajiro explained that they had to do extra training each time they fell victim to one of these surprise attacks.
Liza and Tama won the sparring match, but Nana and Pochi performed well. There is room for improvement, but everyone is already ten times stronger than when they started. But we couldn't watch them any longer as the butler informed us it was time for our departure.
Karina, Satou and I rode in a carriage behind the retired Count Worgoch and his wife towards the airship landing area. There was already a great deal of old capital nobles gathered there when we arrived.
"It's rather small for an airship, no?"
"That's true. But it's likely more agile, and its armour is made of mithril alloy,"
I listened to Karina and Satou as we watched the airship touch down on the ground.
"Is the Emperor aboard?"
"Yes, His Majesty informed me,"
As I nodded at the anxious-looking Karina. I was surprised when the king informed me that the leader of the Saga Empire, Emperor Rugan Second Saga, was coming to see me. Although rumour has it that Empress Morienus Saga, his wife, is the one who truly leads the empire. The king assured me there was nothing to worry about, but I was still nervous about our meeting.
I left Satou and Karina and walked over to where the king was waiting to greet the emperor. I greet Henry and Lady Seiryuu on the way before joining the royal family. I'm glad the king decided to stand between the prince and me. I only wish we were standing further apart.
I can see a few other familiar faces. Temple representatives had come, too, but I didn't see Sara or the head priestess of Tenion Temple. I hadn't seen Sara since the soup kitchen incident, but from what I'd heard at a few tea parties, she was lying low in the sanctuary to avoid the prince's courtship.
The emperor was strong-looking, but I hated how he acted as high and mighty as the prince. At least he looks like he could swing the sword at his hip better than the prince could. The Saga Empire must be trying to impress us. The king and his knights are wearing powerful magical armour that looks as pretty as it is effective.
Ten knights follow behind the king, and multiple other soldiers trail behind them as mistrals play a tune. He even has groups of knights flying around on Wooden Pegasus and Wyverns flying in formation above him. Finally, in the back of the group, servants exit the airship with a six-legged golem carrying luggage.
I step forward with the king and prince to greet him, meeting the emperor's party at the edge of the red carpet. Despite the arrogant look in his eyes, the emperor smiles warmly as he and the king bow to each other.
"It's been a long time, my friend," The emperor cheerfully says.
"Yes, it has," The king replies, raising his head. "Welcome to the Shiga Kingdom."
The crowd claps as the pair shakes hands, and the air feels less tense. At least until the emperor turns to face me. He seems friendly, but I can't stop the anxiety from building inside me. Meeting so many powerful people one after the other really isn't good for my heart.
"And I take it this is the hero your kingdom has produced,"
The emperor steps closer, and I must force myself not to step back.
"Yes," The king nods. "Hero Kura here earned her title during the demon incident in Seiryuu City. Since then, she has improved the kingdom as she travelled. She recently defeated the demon lord who appeared beneath this very city."
I can't help but feel the prince's glare burning a hole in me as the king says that. Meanwhile, the emperor only chuckles.
"So you beat our hero to the prize," The emperor doesn't sound disappointed saying that. "Still, with six more out there, I'm sure Hayato, the hero, will soon surpass you."
"I'm sure our hero won't lose. Now how about we talk inside where it is more comfortable,"
I followed the king and emperor inside, where I retell the tale of how I became a hero and my battle with the demon lord. I was tired of telling these stores everywhere, but what could I do about it? Maybe I could hire someone like Tolma to speak on my behalf. With how good he is spreading stories of Satou, I'm sure he will be a natural at this.
Still, the meeting wasn't that bad. The emperor shared delicacies from the Saga Empire and wasn't as scary as I thought once we talked. He was still arrogant but not at the same level as the prince. Still, despite his friendliness, I couldn't help but feel relieved when I entered the retired Count Worgoch.
"Kura," Reading a spell book with Arisa in the living room, Mia hurried over to me and latched onto my waist. "Prr, prr," Mia was imitating a cat's purr as she hung off me. I gently detached her. "Mrrr."
I patted her head to alleviate her bad mood and announced my latest errand. It's a shame I could only stop by for a few moments.
"I'm going to the stadium to watch the semi-finals,"
"kaaay," Arisa was too focused on memorizing Space Magic spells to give much of an answer.
"Hurry back,"
"Of course," Mia came to the entrance hall to see me off, and I patted her again.
"I'm just watching Pearl and visiting Tolma. I'll be back for dinner, so we can all eat together, okay?"
"Mm,"
The arena just gets more crowded every time I visit. When I settle into my seat, I fear the people standing will spill onto the field. It seems inevitable as they push and shoves each other to get a better view.
Pearl's match was up first. She stepped forward to face a skilled opponent. Lord Johorn of the Long Ear Tribe, the same fighter who elegantly danced around Pon and easily won his quarter-final match. The crowd quickly goes crazy, with most people cheering for Lord Johorn, but Pearl still has her fans in the stands.
Lord Johorn's shortswords still look like works of art. Despite their looks, I have seen them cut effortlessly through flesh and armour, so I pray for Pearl's safety. Still, Pearl is no pushover, and I am confident she would win.
The match begins, and Lord Johorn makes the first move, rapidly closing the distance and slashing at Pearl with his swords as if they were scissors. But Pearl was just as fast. Jumping over her opponent, she attacks his back, only for Lord Johorn to block her blade. The match continues for minutes with both attacking and defending. Unfortunately, this also leads to Pearl and Lord Johorn receiving multiple cuts and the bloodthirsty crowd cheering for more.
Finally, Pearl got inside Lord Johorn's defence. After deflecting one of his swords, she rushes forward and knocks her shoulder into Lord Johorn hard enough to knock him over. Lord Johorn could barely get back on his feet before Pearl was on top of him. Knocking one blade from his hands, it isn't long before Lord Johorn feels the cold steel of Pearl's blade beneath his neck.
The crowd is silent as Lord Johorn surrenders. Most people couldn't believe the favourite to win lost. But some couldn't stand that Lord Johorn lost to a beastfolk girl. Even among the cheering and clapping, I could make out people booing and accusing Pearl of cheating. I hope the people of the kingdom can become more accepting one day.
I decide to leave now that Pearl has won. I visit her in the waiting area, congratulating Pearl on her victory as I treat her injuries. She wasn't that badly injured, but the cuts would have most likely scared her beautiful skin if I hadn't used magic to treat her. Once done, I bid her farewell and headed to my last stop of the day.
I headed to Tolma's house. It isn't as fancy as some mansions of the old capital, but it still stands out and is an impressive building. A maid guided me to a gazebo where, surprisingly, Tolma's family enjoyed tea with Rin and Satou. While Satou isn't much of a surprise since I already knew he would be here.
"Pardon me for intruding, Lord Tolma,"
"Hey, Hero Kura. Come on in. You don't mind, right, Rin?"
"Certainly,"
I had intended to simply thank Tolma for the information he'd given Satou and me and leave. Still, refusing his invitation would've been rude, so I came in and took the empty seat between Satou and Rin. He must have got Satou to stay in a similar manner.
"How's your social life going?" Tolma smiles as a maid pours me a cup of tea. " I heard Sir Satou here got some marriage proposals. He's not very forthcoming, so how about you tell me if he will take a few of them up on it?"
I knew polygamy was common among nobles in this kingdom. Still, I couldn't get used to the idea of having multiple fiancées. Multiple people have asked me to join their harem as a wife or sometimes a mistress. It never gets easier when it comes to dealing with people like that.
"No. Like I said before, I feel I'm still too young for marriage," Satou quickly replies.
Yeah, that sounds like an answer I would have expected from him. If Satou settled down, he wouldn't be free to travel the world. Still, despite the guarantee to be turned down, Satou receives a large stack of letters daily from the families of young noble ladies.
"You sure? You must be popular with the ladies, right? Suppose you at least marry your fiancée Karina. In that case, you'll certainly become a viceroy of Muno Barony. Then you'll have as much income and power as a senior noble. Then you could make Sara your second wife and probably find two or three more besides. If you take on some concubines, too, you'll have ten women easily!"
What is wrong with the people of this kingdom? Tolma's wife, Hayuna, looked as appalled as Satou and I was. Still, the reaction of one particular individual was incredibly intense.
"Satou! So you are after Sara, then? And what's this about a second wife? She wouldn't even be your first?!"
Rin stood up furiously, leaning over me and grabbing Satou by the collar, her love for her sister burning in her eyes. She practically sits on my lap, and she starts to shake Satou.
"Please, calm down. Lord Tolma is letting his imagination run away with him. As I said in the temple, Sara is a dear friend of mine and nothing more. Besides, Karina and I aren't even in a relationship, never mind engaged,"
Satou put both hands up in front of him, nearly smacking me in the face.
"You swear?"
"Yes, on my honour as a hereditary knight,"
Rin's suspicions hadn't subsided, but she at least let go of Satou. But she doesn't look like she will leave my lap anytime soon.
"I'm sorry. Something upset me earlier, so I'm still a bit on edge,"
Rin clenched her fists, trying to control her anger. There is no need to get mad over it. I already talked the king and emperor out of the idea. During our earlier talk, the king summoned Rin and asked her to leave Hayato and join me. I could understand her upset, but she didn't need to be. As I said, the matter has been dealt with. The emperor and I both talked the king out of the idea. Unfortunately, sensing the tension in the air, little cutie Mayuna started crying.
"Oh no, I'm sorry! There, there...." The baby's cries softened Rin's rage immediately. She finally climbs off my lap and gets to her feet. "Uncle Tolma, could we use your garden for a bit? Come with me, Satou."
With that, Rin drew her sword briskly and insisted on sparring with Satou for almost an hour. Leaving me alone with Tolma as Hayuna deals with their daughter.
"So, are you and Sir Satou planning on marrying any time soon?"
Kicking off our time alone, it didn't take long for Tolma to bring up those kinds of questions. It was an awkward hour we spent together.
"You two must be thirsty, right? Why not drop the training for now and come have some wine?"
Tolma already had the wine in hand as he invited us back inside. We already drank a bottle between us to make Tolma's questioning easier. Hayuna had returned to the house to put Mayuna to bed. The only other person left in the gazebo was a maid.
"Can you believe that, Satou? I'm supposed to leave my Hayato and join this new hero,"
Drunk on the wine, Rin leaned into me as she complained about what had bothered her earlier. But why is she telling me this when Satou sits on the opposite side?
"Rin, I'm not…."
"Why do I have to join her? Just because we are both from the Shiga Kingdom, I'm supposed to abandon my friends and Hayato. Why should I leave Hayato?"
She stops to finish draining her glass. This has been the third time she has complained about this, and the third time I tried to tell her I wasn't Satou. I shouldn't have let her drink so much.
"Hero Kura defeated the demon lord. Hero Kura wields the long-lost weapon of the ancestral king. Hero Kura is a hero of the Shiga Kingdom. Why is no one talking about Hayato like that? He is more handsome and stronger than her. Hayato…."
At least now, she finally passed out. I eased the wineglass from Rin's hand and quietly put it on the table. I let her lean on my shoulder as she napped. I hope she won't be mad when she wakes up and realizes I'm not Satou. Speaking of Satou. He should do a better job keeping that envious look from his face unless he wants Tolma to spread more rumours about him. Tolma, Satou and I chatted awhile, with her light snoring in the background.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone