kscans

Chapter 182 - Welcome

The other side of the Gate was a certain room. However, it was not a small interrogation room like before. This place was spacious, like someone's personal chamber. A four-poster bed, an ornate desk, paintings... And judging by the handsome man in magnificent armor and the maid standing before me, it seemed to be a royal's room.

"Is this your room?"

I asked Arc, who was standing in front of me.

"It is. The last room was an interrogation room. This time, we're inviting a guest, so we need a proper place, right?"

Arc said, gesturing for us to sit at a nearby round table.

"Hmm... it seems you've learned some manners... oh? It looks like you made it."

At the end of my right hand was Yoshino-san.

"It seems so."

Yoshino-san said, letting go of my hand and looking around the room curiously.

"Hey, I let the other person in because I had no choice, but what's this about being scared? You're definitely not scared, are you?"

Apparently, he had heard my words directed at the Gate.

"Of course a girl would be scared to go to an unfamiliar land all by herself."

"A girl... what is a 26-year-old saying..."

As Arc said that, Yoshino-san's expression darkened.

"Huh?"

"Arc, this girl and I are the same age."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

Arc apologized, a look of panic on his face.

"Mia, what are you teaching this boy? That's just rude, even before we get to manners."

We're at a delicate age!

"I am terribly sorry. I will have a word with him later."

"No, what's your position in all this..."

"Hmm?"

Hasn't he learned his lesson?

"No, it's nothing... A-anyway, both of you, please sit down. I'll have some tea prepared."

I and the dejected Yoshino-san sat down in the chairs as Arc prompted. Then, Arc also sat, and the maid, Mia, began to prepare the tea.

"I trust it's something we can drink?"

"Huh? I don't know."

This kid...

"What do you people usually eat?"

"Meat and fish. We were able to eat the food we received as aid from your world, so I don't think it's that different."

Hmm, then I guess it's fine.

"Well, in the worst case, a Cure Potion should fix it..."

As I said that, the maid's movements paused for a moment.

"It's just tea, so I think it's fine."

"Well, I was the one who told you to prepare tea."

"That's right."

Arc nodded in agreement.

"You said something like that?"

Yoshino-san looked at me with an exasperated expression.

"These guys locked me in a small interrogation room. And they didn't offer anything, so I taught them some manners."

Well, I feel like a katsudon would be more fitting for that room than tea.

"You really aren't fazed by anything, are you?"

"Good. So Eleanor is an exception among the Feire people. I'd hate it if all Feire people were like this."

Exception... like this...

"Mia!"

Kill him!

"I told you, I won't kill him... Arc-sama, that is rude."

Mia, who was preparing the tea, admonished Arc with a straight face.

"Ah, sorry."

As Arc honestly apologized, Mia finished her preparations and placed three cups of tea, excluding her own, on the table.

"Shall I taste it for poison?"

Mia asked with a playful smile.

"Yes. Arc, you drink first."

"Huh!? Why me!?"

"It's common for the host to drink first."

I said, but took the cup in my hand and drank the tea.

"Oh, this is delicious."

I've never tasted it before, but the aroma is nice, and it's delicious.

"Hey, I can't keep up with your actions."

You don't have to keep up.

"Hmm, is this black tea? I can't tell."

Yoshino-san also commented after drinking the tea.

"This one too..."

"I told you I have a Cure Potion. Besides, the Appraisal result said there's no poison."

Though I have no idea what the Saban tea that came up in the Appraisal is...

"You have the Appraisal skill too?"

"I do not."

"Huh? Then what about the Appraisal?"

"There are ways."

I have the Appraisal Contacts.

"I don't really get it."

"You don't need to. It's mysterious, right?"

"Hmm, the word 'shady' seems more fitting. Oh, speaking of mysterious, was that response to the various countries okay?"

"Well, it's a passing grade. Though I felt there was a bit of malice in it."

The word choice, like 'unknown entity' and 'genuine witch,' wasn't great.

"I didn't really understand the word 'mysterious.' So I just avoided being explicit."

"Well, fine. It went according to my plan, so you've earned your bribe."

"Miss, I didn't receive any bribe. I just received a gift from you as a token of goodwill. It has nothing to do with the response."

...is what you want it to be. He's royalty, so a bribe would be bad.

"That's right. 'Friend' is a nice word."

"It is. So, you read the letter, right?"

Finally getting to the point...

"Yes, I read it. I came because I thought I'd hear you out, but the sender, Charles-san, isn't here?"

"Charles is my father. You'll meet him later, but I thought I'd give you a brief explanation first."

I see. I'd rather not meet the King right away either, so it's good that I can talk to this guy first. Well, he's a prince too.

"An explanation?"

"First of all, am I correct in assuming you have a lot of transparency potions and Healing Potions, Eleanor?"

"That's right. I have enough to sell."

I have a large quantity of both the potions and the Item Bags to put them in.

"Well, to put it simply, we want you to sell them to us. Especially the Healing Potions."

"How many do you want?"

"A lot."

You kid...

"Give me a number."

"You can discuss that with His Majesty. But I think it's as many as you have."

"Depending on the level, it could easily be 1000 or 2000, you know?"

"I think he'll still buy them."

Seriously? You need that many?

"Why do you need so many?"

"There are some circumstances. About that... hmm, what should I do? I can't really say."

Was there some kind of trouble? A monster attack, or maybe they're at war...

"Well, fine. I'll speak with your father."

"Please do. Also, you don't need to worry about etiquette. We don't expect such things from someone from another world."

Is that sarcasm?

"Are you trying to say I'm short?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that... though I do think you're short."

This brat!

"Mia."

"I told you, I won't do it..."

Honestly... what an ill-mannered kid.

"I have your word that we'll meet your father, but will it be in some kind of audience chamber? Will there be soldiers?"

Yoshino-san asked for confirmation.

"I was wondering about that too. I don't like soldiers."

They're scary.

"There won't be any soldiers. There aren't any here either, right?"

"Just like last time, you don't have any guards?"

It's just Mia.

"This girl is my guard, for what it's worth. She's strong, you know?"

As Arc said that, I glanced at Mia.

"She's weaker than Yoshino-san. Is she really okay as a guard?"

I don't think she's weak.

"I'm worried about your Provocation level."

Yoshino-san shook her head.

"It's fine. I'll stop at 3."

"Ah... so it's already at 3."

Shut up!

"To be honest, I'm fine because I can use teleportation magic. Besides, you two can't attack me."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Take a look around the room."

I already know what he's talking about.

"It was the same in the interrogation room last time. There's no door."

This room has no door. Not even a window.

"I was wondering about that too. Why is there no door?"

It seems Yoshino-san had noticed as well.

"I told you that royalty can use teleportation magic, right? This is the royal family's greatest method of self-defense."

"So intruders can't get in."

Well, that's reassuring.

"That's right. So I don't recommend you attack me. You'll just dry up in here."

So we'd be trapped.

"Well, I had no intention of cutting down a child like you from the start. I like children."

Though this one is a bit...

"You look like you'd eat children, but you like them?"

"Do the witches here eat children too?"

Hansel and Gretel?

"Witches are just legends, so I don't know for sure. But there are stories like that."

It's not so different from Earth.

"Hmm, I'm interested in that kind of culture."

"Sorry, but that's impossible. One of the reasons for using this room, or rather, this mansion, is to not teach you about our culture."

I see. Since there are no windows here, you can't see outside. It's perfect for hiding things.

"Hey, why are you guys so secretive? Why don't you try to interact with us? You were the ones who made contact. I'd think there would normally be more cultural exchange."

"To put it simply, we don't want war. Even if we have no intention of attacking, you might attack us."

Well, there's a high probability of an attack. History proves that.

"Then you shouldn't have made contact."

"Something happened that was serious enough to require us to make contact."

"What was it? A water shortage? A famine?"

"Well, something like that... The truth is, our world... what you call Frontier, is a world that was once destroyed."

He just blurted it out! Weren't you trying to hide things!?