Chapter 659 - Beside the Table
“Nat-chan, how long are you going to be so tense?”
“I-I’m not tense or anything…”
While the guys were roughhousing, a teasing voice came from the other side of Nat-chan-senpai. It was the voice of a maiden, filtered through steel—
“...You really are always in full gear, huh.”
“Well, yes. It’s never been a problem.”
It was none other than the lady [Knight], sitting at the table in her usual full plate armor. True to her word, it didn’t seem to be a ‘problem,’ as she was tipping back a cup with her helmet still on.
“…? …………???”
“Hey now, it’s embarrassing when you stare so intently.”
“Ah, sorry, I just…”
What in the world? How is she doing that? It wasn’t like her visor was open; food and drinks were literally disappearing through her helmet. It was pure fantasy.
So the rumors that no one has ever seen her face were apparently one hundred percent true.
“—Well, well. It seems we have a guest.”
As I continued to gawk at the strange sight, a voice came from behind me. I turned to see a tall, slender blue figure standing there.
“Ah… Um, hello. Sorry for intruding.”
“Welcome, Prince. You did well yesterday.”
“Could everyone please stop calling me that…?”
His expression and tone were fifty percent calmer than what I’d seen and heard on the battlefield. I wondered where Record-shi, also known as [Long Legs], who hadn’t been at the table, had been all this time—
“...There’s the latecomer.”
“The self-paced alien.”
The answer came from the two women who had formed a three-person cell with him. It wasn't that he was somewhere else; he apparently hadn't even been at the venue yet.
He stood right behind me, tall—no, super tall. In reality, this angle would have given me a crick in my neck in no time. Looking up, I saw Record-shi offering a friendly smile.
“A family man is a busy man, you know. Give me a break.”
“Oh, really, you have a family—”
““That’s a lie.””
“Huh? …What?”
His casual remark was instantly shot down by Nat-chan-senpai and Aika-san in perfect unison. As I stared blankly, he just smiled his incredibly good-natured smile.
“...That one is usually a lying mage. Be careful he doesn’t tease you.”
“Less of a liar and more just… random. He has a clever face, but he’s even more of a free spirit than Ume-san.”
“I, I see.”
Okay… I think I get it? Aika-san’s description seems more apt. I’ve met a few of those random types in my life, the kind whose stories change with the mood, but I’ve never seen anyone do it with such a genuine, sincere air.
And hey, nothing about that was in his online profile.
“Haha, my apologies. Just think of it as part of my character.”
“You’re just going to admit that yourself…?”
“There’s no ill will behind it. It’s just a habit.”
“What a troublesome habit to have…”
A weary complaint slipped out from the person next to me. Yep, I get it. She’s probably been teased mercilessly by his fibs in the past. I can picture it vividly.
“Anyway, let’s get along. Is Haru okay?”
“Ah, yes. Anything but Prince is fine.”
There was no reason not to take the offered hand, and as we shook, he smiled again.
He’s probably a good, easygoing person at heart. Just with a few… odd habits. Then again, among the rankers, each with their own strong quirks, his might not even stand out that much.
—Now then. I think it’s about time I asked what I’ve been wondering about this whole, entire time.
“Umm… is she actually sleeping?”
“Hm? Oh yeah, she’s out cold.”
“She’s our second princess, the sleeping one.”
“Dead to the world.”
“She won’t wake up no matter how much noise you make or how much you try to rouse her.”
“It would be quite an achievement if you could disturb her sleep.”
“Honestly, I think she’s the bigger problem child here.”
That was the machine-gun commentary from the Southern rankers, minus Ume-san, who was engrossed in her chat with Kanata.
Beside the large table floated a bed. And sitting on that bed was Ashe, who had been curiously silent this whole time. In the center of the bed was a lone girl in a nightgown-like outfit.
She had long, long, pale purple hair. Her eyes were closed, so I couldn’t tell their color. Perhaps it was her innocent sleeping face, but she looked even younger than our Mi-na and Ri-na.
This must be [Castle Lord] Mei. The third-ranked member of the Southern faction, and the master of [Fairy Tale, Castle of Chalk and Blackwood], which holds the undisputed number one spot in the unofficial Anima rankings for the defense category.
Setting aside the time I outsmarted her defensive stance, she, along with the lady [Knight] when she’s serious… is the second guardian I believe could definitely stop me in my tracks.
“Hmm… Should I just wait for her to wake up to say hello?”
“...It’s probably fine. I don’t think she’s going to wake up, though.”
Just as my still-shy senior said, the girl was sleeping so peacefully that I was certain her slumber would continue indefinitely.
She was the very picture of tranquility, completely oblivious to the roaring festival around her.
“Hmm… Hmmm.”
I see. So it’s true after all.
It seems that every single ranker, from every single faction, is a bona fide eccentric.
And that includes himself.