The next day, Tsutomu had been reading the newspaper after a morning of sweating and running in, and he was reading the newspaper. Lately it had been all about Stampede related topics, but today it was still filled with articles about it without getting bored.

　Apparently, it wasn't just the Infinite Circle that had been summoned from the King's Capital, but other major clans as well. It seems that Aldoret Crow, Golden Examining, and the Red Demon Clan are also about to leave for the King's Capital.

　Then I received a call that they wanted to talk about the letter from the Kanchelsia family that I gave them yesterday, so after reading the newspaper, Tsutomu headed to the Babenberg family's residence. He was discussing the future with the head of the Babenberg family, his eldest son and daughter.


'You had better respond to the summons. If you refuse, Kanchelsia will try to take you out of the house at all costs. The head of the Kanchelsia family is one who will do anything to get what he wants.
"...I see. Well then, I will.


　The head of the Babenberg family, who is familiar with the aristocracy's affairs, also said it would be better to respond to the summons to the royal capital, and Tsutomu reluctantly agreed with a bitter face. However, being deliberately summoned by the Kanchelsia family by name is a great honor. The eldest son of the Babenberg family, however, was not happy about this, and began to lecture him.


''The Kanchelsia family has made you an offer, you know?　Why do you look like that?
Excuse me.
..........


　When Tsutomu just bowed his head and apologized, the eldest son of the Babenberg family turned away with a simmering look on his face. A little later, Tsutomu left the mansion and went straight back to the clan house.


''So, I'm going to the royal capital tomorrow.


　Tsutomu then told the clan members that he had been called to King's Landing by the Kanchelsia family. Although he had said beforehand that he might be heading to the King's Capital for Stampede related reasons, everyone except Diniel was uniformly surprised at the word Kanchelsia family.

　Especially Xeno and Leleia, who were from the King's Capital, reacted the most, and they seemed genuinely surprised when they saw the coat of arms on the letter. Even Hannah, who was from the village, seemed to know about the Kanchelsia family, and they were celebrating.


''Who wouldn't want to go to King's Landing?''
Yes, sir.
Dini?　No?


　Diniel immediately raised his hand at Tsutomu's words, but Amy had forced him to lower it.


'I wouldn't want to go either,'
"...are you kidding me?


　And Tsutomu did his best to assert himself, too, raising his hand, but Garum had forced him to lower it. There was no one else in particular, so Tsutomu told them to get ready for each of them with a grimace.


'Oh!'　King's Landing?　It's my first time!
It's my second time. How about you, Korina?
Wow, I haven't been there at all lately.
The castle is huge!
'Oh!　That's awesome!　That's awesome!


　Hannah and Amy, who had never been that far to King's Landing, were excited to see if they were looking forward to it. And Corina, who was from King's Landing, was looking away slightly awkwardly.


''Have you ever been to Garum?''
'I've been there three times on guild business. Of these, I believe Xeno and Leleia are from King's Landing, right?
'Oh!　Okay, Leleia, then!　I want to learn about King's Landing!
Huh, huh...


　When Garum said that, Hannah tugged on Leleia's arm with a twinkle in her eye. Hanna, who was like a child begging for a fairy tale, had Leleia puzzled and asked her about the royal capital.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I've been there.


''Come to think of it, I've never been to the royal capital either, right?
Oh, me too. We're all together.


　Tsutomu gave Daryl a somewhat disgusted look as he quickly peeked out from behind Garum and gave him a reassuring smile.


''Matching, that's kind of weird to describe.
What?　That's not true, is it?
It doesn't happen.
'No, sir!　There isn't one!


　Amira looked up at Daryl, who had been leaning heavily on the couch, with a disdainful look in her eyes as she raised her voice to ask for agreement from those around her.


'You're being effeminate. It's creepy.'
Yes....
You make me want to cry.
'Mr. Tsutomu.... It's always like this lately, isn't it?　Miss Amira,
Shut up!


　As Tsutomu looked indescribably at Amira and Daryl as they exchanged such an exchange, Xeno came out from behind them and put his hand on their shoulders.


'You two need to calm down. Now this Xeno!　I'm going to tell you more about King's Landing!
f*ck off. f*cking a**h*le.
"First of all, King's Landing...


　With that, Amira covered her ears and moved away from Xeno, who began to explain about the royal capital. Daryl seemed to be interested in the story, and was twitching his drooping dog ears in a happy manner.

　Tsutomu listened at the beginning, but halfway through, he started to brag about Xeno, so he took off and went to Oli's place to talk about his preparations to go to King's Landing. However, it seemed that Oli had made preparations beforehand and had already packed everyone's luggage.


''I'm going to follow you, if that's alright with you?''
Well no, I think it's safer to stay in the labyrinth city, don't you?
I can protect myself, and it's frustrating to just wait for you all to return. Besides, when there are ten of us, you must be in charge of miscellaneous tasks. Please leave it to me.
Things are looking a little bleak for this stampede, don't you think?
''Then I'll have to expect Tsutomu-san to work even harder. I'll be at your side to do my chores so that we can fight in the best possible condition.


　As Oli dismissed him with a smile, Tsutomu gave him a look of resignation. And so the Infinite Circle made preparations to head to the royal capital the next day.


　ooh.


Yes, have a good day.


　Leaving the Clan House to the apprentices, the Infinite Circle all headed to the gates of the Maze City. Most of them were in good spirits as usual, but two of them were much less excited.


''I want to slack off.''
I want to go into a dungeon.


　Only Diniel and Tsutomu had the gait of a sinner on his way to prison. Diniel was still the same, but it was unusual for Tsutomu to be so unmotivated, and all but Garum and Amy looked surprised.


'Go home, Tsutomu,'
Yes.
Hey, hey!
Just kidding.


　Tsutomu, who was speaking with Diniel in a tone so serious that it didn't seem like a joke, sighed troublesomely. When he went outside the labyrinth city in such a manner, a ridiculously large and opulent carriage was waiting for him. Then, guided by a knight wearing an armor with a stern look on his face and the emblem of the Kanchelsia family, the infinite wheel group was welcomed into the carriage.


''Am I allowed to sit by the window?
Okay.
Thank you!


　When Tsutomu returned Hannah's inquiry with glittering eyes, she entered the spacious carriage with great pleasure. The others slithered in suitably, and soon the carriage was off to King's Landing.

　Then Amy, who was sitting next to Tsutomu, looked at the knight who was holding the reins of the horse on the gosholder's platform and then turned her head.


''I guess we're not welcome here,''
I guess so.


　The gaze that the knights of the Kanchelsia family turn to is not a welcoming one. But this time, in addition to the unusual stampede that struck the labyrinth city half a year ago, there are also mysterious phenomena such as monsters disappearing from the southern dungeon. That's why I'm calling out to the Labyrinth City just to be sure, but I guess I'm not convinced inside.


(Hopefully it won't be too much trouble.)


　Tsutomu looks around at the clan members as he thinks about this. Hannah is flapping her wings on her back as she happily gazes out the carriage window at the scenery. Amira seems to be discussing King's Landing with Corina, who is combing her cream-colored hair. Leleia is cross-legged in her boredom, but she is listening to their conversation in a chirpy manner.

　Xeno is talking in rapid succession, like a bird singing, and Garum and Daryl are listening to it with interest. Diniel is on the verge of slumber, arms crossed and slumped alone. And Amy, sitting next to him, looked up at Tsutomu, rolling her eyes curiously as she met his eyes.


'What's wrong?'


　If possible, I didn't want to take the clan members out to King's Landing. I don't want to take my clan members to the Stampede's defensive battle, the scale of which is still unknown. But if they openly defied the Kanchelsia family, the clan members would be in danger as a result. Even with the backing of the Babenberg family, that wouldn't change.


''It's nothing,''
Wow.


　Then he patted Amy's head and she looked down in embarrassment.

　None of the Clan members would die and return to the Clan House. For that reason, I don't care how many people I don't know the face of, I don't care how much I have to sacrifice. Tsutomu watched the scenery flowing by, swearing this to himself.