kscans

Chapter 131 - After It Was Over

Having finished recounting the events so far, I took a sip of tea.

Princess Olivia was furiously scribbling notes on a piece of paper she'd brought. Glad had his eyes closed, seemingly in prayer—most likely for Rodel's soul. Sakura watched over Princess Olivia, placing fresh tea and snacks by her side.

In the midst of this, the princess abruptly stopped writing.

"That's right. There was something I wanted to discuss with you both. It's about your adventurer ranks."

Her words made me ask, "Our adventurer ranks? Is there some kind of problem?"

I was just confused.

I couldn't recall violating any rules in my actions so far. Then again, perhaps I'd done something without realizing it. I had a history of that.

"No, it's not that," the princess said with an exasperated look. "As you know, A and B-rank adventurers are generally not allowed to leave the country that granted them their title. To leave, they must either lower their rank to C or quit entirely. I'm sure you can guess why, having seen the A-rank adventurers of the Kingdom and the Empire, can't you?"

Indeed, the A-rank adventurers I had met in both countries were, to put it simply, scum.

Rodel was tyrannical and selfish, using his rare light attribute to mess around, and he had a terrible reputation among the soldiers. His companions weren't with him for his personality, but were assigned by the guild or the state to keep an eye on him. That's why Glad, despite working at the castle, wasn't shunned.

In the Empire, there was Morji, the son of a noble hero. He used his power and influence to threaten the guild, shirk his duties, and live a life of indolence. Apparently, he was diligent when he was a rookie, but he changed completely the moment he became A-rank. His disillusioned companions left him, and the two who remained were only in it for the money, showing how little respect he commanded.

Looking at those two, it was reason enough for the countries to not want them leaving.

It was nothing but a source of shame. This system seemed to have been around for a long time, so perhaps the A-rank title, while being the highest honor, also created the worst kind of people.

As I was thinking, the princess continued, "I can tell by your faces. You've only seen the foolish ones. The reason the Republic has no A-rank adventurers is that they haven't had a major national crisis, and they know that granting the rank would only create troublesome individuals."

To the princess's statement, I replied, "But Tina here is also A-rank, and she had a good reputation. Weren't there similar people among the high-ranking adventurers of the past?"

The princess thought for a moment.

"There might have been, but people like that never leave their home country. As representatives of their nation, they may have feared getting involved in unnecessary trouble or disputes. The pressure of representing a country might be stronger than one imagines."

I glanced at Tina, and she nodded. So she didn't want to get caught up in trouble either. And yet, she still followed me. I was nothing but grateful.

I took a breath.

"Getting back to the topic. What was it about our ranks?"

To this, the princess declared clearly, "Because of the kinds of incidents I've described, a new rule has been established. After discussions with Emperor Yorune, we have decided to grant you, Shinsuke and Tina, the authority to maintain your A-rank status in both the Empire and the Kingdom. In other words, you may leave and return to either country without having your titles revoked."

I had been using the transfer magic circle to go back to my house in the Kingdom, but I'd always done so without meeting anyone. Since I'd been given A-rank in the Empire, I had no choice but to return in secret.

"Therefore, your roles as spies will also end as of today," the princess announced. "Thank you for your reports up until now."

Tina was taken aback by the statement.

"Princess Olivia?! How did you know about that...?"

I was surprised as well.

Only the Guild Master and the lord were supposed to know.

"Since the incidents with the Kraken and Rodel," the princess explained, "my father has required the Guild Master and Lord Rosen von Alum to report if anything happens. We know that you left the country and about the turmoil in the Empire. That is precisely why we dispatched the diplomatic mission so quickly."

Her words made sense.

So that was why the distant Kingdom had sent an envoy, and why it had arrived at almost the same time as those from the Republic and the Church.

I thought for a moment.

"But until you report this to the Guild Master, won't we still have to keep sending reports? It takes at least a week to get to the Kingdom from here."

"No need to worry," the princess replied confidently. "I will add my signature to the report you send tonight. I am the head of this diplomatic mission, and negotiations with the Empire have been entrusted to me. The matter of an adventurer's status is a trivial affair compared to other things."

From a broad perspective, she was right. Compared to the fate of nations, the affairs of an adventurer were a small matter.

But I said, "Still, and I don't mean to be rude, but while Tina may be one, I am not a model adventurer. If anything, I'm rather selfish."

Seeing my self-deprecating tone, Tina interjected, "Please don't be so pessimistic. Considering your actions so far, your reputation isn't bad at all. I may be called a model adventurer, but I never aimed for it. It just sort of happened from acting normally."

Sensing the conversation was going in circles, the princess cut in, "In any case, your achievements so far have been wonderful. Emperor Yorune was also in full agreement."

Glad spoke with a serious expression. "This is a great honor, you know. It was made possible by a new amendment from the new emperor and a recommendation from the First Princess of the Kingdom. You understand what will happen if you break the rules, don't you?"

Of course, I understood. If I violated the terms, it wouldn't just be a matter of having my rank revoked. I could be immediately executed for the crime of shaming royalty. In a medieval era like this, it was common for people to be executed for just being witches or foreigners.

"I understand," I replied, my voice devoid of emotion. "Not that I have any intention of trying."

When I first came to this world, having just quit my stressful job, I hunted monsters. I don't like violence, but it was refreshing. On Earth, I sell the hides I hunt at an underground auction. It has a criminal ring to it, but I don't sell anything illegal. Probably.

"We are aware," Tina said, her eyes filled with determination. "Bringing shame upon them is a grave offense."

Glad nodded, satisfied.

"Your Highness, we must be returning soon," Sakura said, a sense of urgency in her voice.

"You're right," the princess agreed, rising from her seat. "Well then, we shall take our leave. We have concrete negotiations scheduled at the castle."

They headed for the entrance.

We also stood and saw them to the door.

"I apologize for not being able to offer any hospitality."

"Please, don't worry about it," the princess replied. "We arrived so suddenly. In fact, I'm glad I had the chance to hear your stories. I think I can write a good poem now."

Her last words were a murmur I couldn't quite catch.

After the three of them left, I let out a long sigh.

"Haaaah... I feel strangely tired. Let's just rest for today. The underground auction is tomorrow, I think."

"I agree," Tina said, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I'll make something for dinner. And... you'd better remember what day it is today."

Ah, that. It seemed tonight would be anything but relaxing, in a way.

But that aside, I asked, "Tina? I might be imagining it, but I feel like I've seen the princess somewhere other than the Kingdom."

"You're just imagining it," Tina said, deftly changing the subject. "In your world, I believe they call it déjà vu? More importantly, I need to get started on dinner."

I supposed that was that, and sat down to wait.


After leaving the base, the princess's party walked on.

Princess Olivia was beaming. The two's tales of valor... they were endlessly fascinating.

"To get caught up in such a commotion even after coming to the Empire..." Sakura mused. "Do they have some kind of special luck, or perhaps a curse?"

Glad felt the same. His first encounter with them was due to Rodel's stupid scheme, but after that came the riot at the Church, then the undead incident in the Republic. The timing was too perfect. It was no wonder people thought it was a curse.

Amidst their conversation, the princess said, "Well, isn't it for the best? These are incidents that were resolved because the two of them were there. If they hadn't been, it's not that they wouldn't have been solved, but the number of victims might have increased."

She was right. Both incidents would have been resolved even without them. They were of that scale. The question was whether it would have been resolved quickly or slowly. That difference alone would change the number of casualties.

Fewer was obviously better. As they talked, the princess was considering something.

The incidents that had occurred so far were almost certainly targeting the two of them. There was no other explanation. If someone was behind it, the only thing that came to mind was the top-secret 'Seven Demon Lords.'

But would those seven monsters really be interested in humans? It was highly unlikely. If so, then there must be something about the two of them, particularly Shinsuke, that would draw their interest. For example... the legendary otherworldly hero.

It was a possibility.

The dish he had served, houtou, Sakura had said tasted the same as her hometown's, but that she didn't know the dish. So where did he learn of it? The answer was simple. He learned it in a country or a world I didn't know.

Thinking of it that way made sense. It also explained why her father and brother were so concerned with his movements. But the princess was debating whether to include this in her poem. It was common sense to write the truth in a poem, but the otherworldly hero was recognized as a fairy tale. That meant she would need some cleverness.

Cleverness to write the truth in a way that would still work as a poem.

The princess's mind was ablaze with inspiration.


Night.

After a simple dinner and some conversation, I was waiting in the room when Tina entered, wearing her green armor.

I had Tina lie down, raised her hands, and bound them with rope. I tied them to the bedposts so she couldn't move. I spread her legs and tied them to the corners of the bed. A triangular restraint. I took in Tina's scent.

I sniffed every inch of her body with my nose. Tina writhed, whether from embarrassment or because it tickled. But she was restrained and couldn't move. Her squirming only fueled my desire. After I finished, I stroked Tina's defenseless belly.

Her navel, covered by a black suit visible through the gap in her armor—it was only natural to want to touch it.

As I caressed her, Tina whispered, "Fufu... that tickles... Stop... even if I say that, it's... n-no, use... fufu."

She was trying to hold back her laughter.

That only intensified my actions. From there, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, like a female knight being humiliated in her armor.