Chapter 412 - The Second Invitation
“Ah, uh………… Wh-What is it…?”
As the topic shifted, Nia must have sensed her role changing from observer to participant. With both our gazes fixed on her, she shrank back warily.
In any case, the speaker remained the same… or rather, I had to stay silent on this matter, as I felt it would be inappropriate for me to state an opinion.
“First, I need to confirm something. Nia, have you met him in the real world?”
“Huh? Uh, well…”
The only information these two had on each other was that they were in the same situation.
Nia was unaware that Iris and I had signed a contract with Yotsuya Development and were living under the same roof… or rather, in the same building.
Conversely, Iris didn’t know that Nia and I had met in the real world.
I had no right to leak information about either of them. If they needed to share that information, they’d have to do it between themselves, like this.
“Well, um… yes. I have.”
Nia glanced at me as if for confirmation, and I gave a slight nod. She hesitantly affirmed, and Iris nodded in return.
“In that case, this will be quick.”
“Okay, stop.”
My ears picked up the princess’s next words, and I had to cut in immediately. Hearing “this will be quick” from her was terrifying.
This was a delicate matter directly involving our real lives. For the sake of my mental health, I needed her to refrain from her usual blunt-force approach.
“For this, a roundabout approach would be best, so please proceed with care.”
“...Mm, right. I understand.”
“...???”
That was a close call. I’m pretty sure if I hadn’t stopped her, she would have dropped her usual ‘conclusion’ bomb within two seconds.
“Then, I'll start by explaining our current situation.”
“Huh? What situation…”
“About the state Haru and I are in right now—to put it bluntly, we've signed a contract with a ‘certain company’ and have become something like colleagues. Along with that, we're living together in a dormitory provided by the company.”
“Uh, well……………… huh? What?”
Watching Nia’s expression shift rapidly through a storm of emotions, confusion chief among them, I found myself stunned as well.
Didn’t I just ask her to be tactful?
So why is she being so “blunt”!?
“Our rooms are separate, but we're under one roof. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we're cohabitating.”
“Wait a minute, that’s an exaggera—gack…!”
And just as I expected, a certain culprit was being hoisted up by the collar from the side.
“Hey.”
“Yes…”
“What’s this? I don’t remember hearing about it.”
“That’s why I’m telling you now—I’m sorry, I’ll be quiet.”
Met with a glare and tone colder than any I’d ever experienced, I, the overwhelming underdog in this situation, was instantly knocked out of commission.
Hey, I’m counting on you, Princess. I’m really counting on you.
Why do you have a faint look of triumph on your face???
“S-So…? What kind of reaction am I supposed to have here? If you want my honest opinion, I’m prepared to burst into tears right now, you know?”
“No, I didn't tell you because I wanted to brag.”
That's a lie, she definitely had a slightly smug look on her face.
Well, anyway. If things were going to turn out like this, it would be better to just get to the point quickly.
“Th-Then what is it—”
“You should come too.”
And there it was. The main point of the conversation.
“I've gotten permission from ‘above’… from the client. A room has been secured.”
“………………H-Huh? Uh…? W-Wait, wait, I don’t get it, I don’t get it.”
Naturally, she couldn’t keep up with the conversation. The hand gripping my collar went limp as Nia, her face a mask of confusion, let out a completely bewildered voice.
“Huh…? E-Eh? Um, so basically, you got an offer as a ranker and signed a contract, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m a complete outsider in all this. How did it lead to getting permission and securing a room… I-I’m sorry, I just need a second to calm down…”
Seeing her gaze drift to the table, I handed her the glass that was in front of me. It was mine, but I hadn’t drunk from it, so it was clean.
“Oh, thanks…”
“Yeah… Um, look. I know this is all sudden, but no one’s forcing you to do anything, and it’s not some complicated, difficult situation. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please try to listen with an open mind.”
“…………Okay.”
And with that, once Nia had calmed down a bit, Iris began to speak again. After all, this whole thing was her idea.
“For form's sake, you'll be signing a contract with him. The pretext will be that you're Haru the Acrobat's exclusive artisan and supporter, following him in both worlds.”
“P-Pretext…”
“Yes, a pretext. You don't need to do anything more than you already are. If I had to say, just try even harder than before to win over this troublesome person.”
“Th-That………… Huh…?”
Thinking about it calmly, what Iris was saying—what she was trying to do—was a level of absurdity far beyond simply ‘giving ammunition to the enemy.’
It was no wonder Nia was confused—but to tilt her head at that was to underestimate the [Sword Queen], Iris… or rather, Alicia White.
“Fair and square, with the conditions as equal as possible—that's the only way I can get serious.”
While I trembled at the fact that what she’d shown so far wasn’t her being serious, Nia was completely frozen, her mouth agape in sheer disbelief.
This is just who she is, this princess. She’s a hero who plows straight ahead, fair and square, anytime, anywhere, completely indifferent to whether she’s putting herself at a disadvantage.
It’s a losing personality, to be sure. But that’s precisely why so many people respect her.
“Ugh………… um… well……………… huh?”
“There’s no need to rush your answer. We’ll keep the room reserved for you, so it’s fine to take your time until you’ve made up your mind.”
“…………Um, sorry. First of all, this dormitory? Where is it located? This would mean… moving, right?”
“Yes, hold on.”
With a few quick taps, Iris manipulated a window at an incredible speed. She had probably sent a message with the address.
Nia stared into the void for a moment, presumably reading the message she’d received… then let out a sigh that contained an indescribable mix of frustration and relief, and swiped to close the window.
“Well, of course it's in Tokyo. It's not far from my current place, so it wouldn't be a huge hassle to move… but still, ugh… this is so sudden.”
“I think that’s a perfectly normal reaction to all of this. And like Iris said, you can take your time to think it over. If you do decide to move, I can guarantee the quality of the room, though.”
“...Out of curiosity, what kind of room is it?”
“Uh, it's less of a room and more of a house?”
“You damn rankers…”
Though Nia herself was presumably some kind of rich girl to an unknown extent… well, I didn’t know how she was currently living.
“...You can take all the time you need to think, but if you need one more push…”
“Uh… Ah, yes. You will?”
I sensed a ‘faintly triumphant look’ appear on her emotionless face again and had a bad feeling, but it was too late.
“If you live with us, you can eat his home cooking.”
“Home cooking.”
“It’s very good. Good enough to make you want him as your wife.”
“His wife.”
“The coffee he makes after dinner is delicious too.”
“Coffee.”
“And staying up late playing games with him feels wonderfully mischievous.”
“Mischievous… —Hey, you?”
“Wait a minute, there's a misunderstanding! I'm the one who tries to set up safety measures and defend myself, you know…!!”
From Iris’s words, Nia must have concluded that I wasn’t just living in a separate room, but was actively inviting her over.
I desperately tried to explain myself as Nia’s eyes hardened and she gripped my collar once more. I swear, I have never once invited Iris into my room.
But if you asked me if it was a crime that she broke through my paper-thin defenses every single time, I would have to say yes, it is a crime, and I am truly sorry.
And so, a moment later—
“Alright then, could you tell me the details again? Everything, honestly.”
As Nia closed in on me with a smile so forceful I could practically see a vein popping on her forehead, how she answered Iris’s invitation—well, that hardly needs to be said, does it?