The school building is open to candidates even during the hot season break.

　However, since the Sacred Martial Arts Festival is over, many students have left the royal capital temporarily, including returning home.
　The number of candidates passing each other in the corridors of the school appears to be less than half of the usual number.

''Ah, Krohikor!''

　The one who approached at a small run was Ira Horne in his normal clothes.
　Since he was on vacation, he wasn't required to wear a uniform.

''Ira-san, you're back already?''
Yeah, he came back yesterday. I'm back.

　After the Holy Martial Festival, she had returned home to her mansion in the Horne family's territory for a week.
　Leaving the royal capital had refreshed her mind.

''I'm here for training today! I'm going to use the training grounds and ask Ray to train with me.

　The school grounds have a diverse range of facilities.
　Many of them go there for other purposes even if they don't have classes.

''Oh, isn't that Kurohiko?''

　Lei-senpai appeared from across the hallway.

''Ah, senior Ray,''
'I heard that?　I hear you've stayed at the Arkwright family's mansion in King's Landing?

　Ira fumbles.

'Hey--Ray!　I don't think that kind of in-depth discussion is a good idea--
Yeah, I'm staying here, right?

　I replied simply.
　The two of us rolled our eyes.
　Ray-senpai shrugged his shoulders in relief.

I'm not sure if we can expect an exceptionally progressive flow with this one. Well, it's Kurohiko, right?
What do you mean by that?
Because by the looks of it, you just happened to stay here without incident, right?　It's kind of uninteresting, isn't it?
Well, I've got my own funny side.
'Ho-ho-ho?　What's it like?
'What?　I mean, for example--

　I fought back with a lot of momentum....
　My funny part, huh?
　In short.....
　It's a place where you can do things that not many people do?
　Oh, yeah.

"Where you can gouge out your own eyeballs?
I'm scared!

　Ray-senpai jumps up.

'It's not funny, it's more like my knees are laughing in fear!
"Ha-ha.
What are you laughing at, my dear?　That's really hard for me to tease, too!
'What?　Is that so?

　Hmmm.
　I don't know the boundaries.

"Haha.

　Ira let out a laugh.

'I think it's interesting that Kurohiko is a bit off-kilter like that.
Come on, senior Ray. I hear it's really interesting.

　A disgruntled senior.

"I thought you two would make a good match for each other...


　　　　　*


　After leaving Ira-san and the others, I was heading to the headmaster's office.
　The purpose of my visit here today was to meet Makina-san.

　On my way to the headmaster's office, I encountered two familiar faces.
　They noticed me too.

'Kurohiko.

　It was Zeke and Mr. Hyrgis.

'You two were also at the school today. Huh?　Where's Miss Cecily?
'Lady Cecily has not been here on an errand. She wants to get some things done during the heat break when she has time.
Okay.
Hey, Blackie.

　Mr. Hyrgis spoke to me.

'How did it go with Lady Cecily?'
And how is that?
"The other night.
I mean, it all went smoothly, didn't it? I feel like I'm a bit of a tosser when I first met Société... hahaha...

　Zeke smiles.

''He has a side of him that plays tricks on people he likes. On the other hand, he is also a person who has supported the Arkwright family for a time, both inside and out. According to Master Gaiden, the uptight Mr. Vadiace can't go to a night party without his wife, Miss Societé, accompanying him. In a way, he and Master Vadia are the best of pals, I suppose.
'Well, for better or worse, he seemed to be very good at inspiring people...'

　You certainly seem to have excellent social skills.

Well, there is a world where you can't survive just by being a serious person. Personally, I find the serious people more approachable.
Hmm?　Is Zeke aware of the seriousness of the situation?
Well, you'll have to admit that if people keep telling you otherwise.

　Hmm?
　So..........
　Will I have to think about my insensitivity and crazy reputation in the direction of self-recognition at some point...?

"So...

　Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

'Did you get it right, Kurohiko?
Results?

　Mr. Hirgis let out a sigh from his little mouth.

'Too dull, as usual. I mean, did you and Lady Cecily get to know each other better during this sleepover?
'Well to say it was deepened is an understatement to say it was deepened...'
Ambiguous.

　Pop, Zeke put his hand on Hirgis-san's head.
　Uggh, Hyrgis-san snorted with a blank expression.

''Don't pick on Kurohiko too much, Hyrgis.
'I'm worried about Kurohiko because he's a natural at the edges. I don't feel like I can trust Cecily-sama with my life just yet.
'In short, Hyrgis wants Cecily-sama to be the best thing to happen to Kurohiko... in many ways.

　Zeke looks out the window.

'It's no exaggeration to say that Lady Cecily is a near-perfect person. But there are very few people that that man can truly trust.

　As the eldest son of the Gilleses family, he has served Cecily Arkwright all his life.
　So he understands Cecily-san well.

Kurohiko is one of the few people that Cecily-sama can unconditionally forgive her heart. We, too, would like to entrust Lady Cecily to someone like that.

　Mr. Hyrgis, who had escaped from Zeke's hands, turned his back on me.
　I didn't want him to see my expression.
　There was a little bit of that vibe.

''Even from my point of view, Kurohiko is a valuable person that I can entrust Cecily-sama with.
Mr. Hirgis?
I still expect you to do this.

　After leaving Zeke and the others, I went to the headmaster's office.


　　　　　*


　Ms. Machina was working hurriedly at her usual huge desk.

　Incidentally, Mia-san had already told me that she was in the room at this time.

'You wish to have an audience with the Holy King?'
Yes, actually--

　I explained about the matter of getting the Holy King's approval to attack the Special Class Holy Ruins.
　I also added that it seemed to gain the understanding of the knights.

　After I finished my explanation, Makina-san's hand, which had been running her pen over the documents, stopped.

''Just as well.''

　Makina-san patted herself on the shoulder with a pensive look on her face.

'Then let's adjust the date.
Oh, really?
''As I said before, they want to see you in the first place too. They even tried to go to see you on their own after the Seibu Festival... or rather, they even tried to visit the academy on the sly?
Oh, really?
But when it comes to the management of the Holy King's official affairs, your father is very picky...Unlike his daughter, who is so flexible, my father is not flexible in that direction. That's why you need to schedule it as a formal audience. I'm sorry.

　Makina clenched her tiny fist.
　And as she relaxed her stiffened body.

Hmmm.

　And he spread his arms out and stretched.
　Again, and

　It's kind of cute, like a little girl in bedtime.

　And if I were to honestly state the impressions that suddenly came into my head, this story would be a complete breaker.

　After Makina finished her cute little run, she dipped her mouth directly into the bottle of column water and took a sip.
　Wiping her mouth with a cloth, she continued her story.

''However, I'm going to arrange for an audience with you in a few days. Is that okay with you?
'Of course!　
'Hmmm?　You can't give me more compliments, can you?

　Makina-san poses ahem.

But a castle makes me nervous, doesn't it...
'I'll go with you, don't worry. I've been there so many times, I'm used to it.

　She's going to accompany me.

'It would be reassuring to have Makina-san with us.
I guess we need to teach you, an alien, at least some manners to follow.

　If you ask me, this is the first time I've ever met the king of a country.
　We must not be rude........

　Makina-san smiles bitterly.

''You don't have to be so defensive, as long as you're not too rude, you'll be fine. I've explained that you're an alien who drifted over from the East, and the Holy King is a tolerant person.''

　Mr. Machina.

Oh, yeah.

　And I notice something.

'I'm sure Currier will have to go with you on the day of your audience.

　Currier had previously been scheduled to climb the castle to meet with the Holy Kings.
　However, on the day of that ascent, the Four Deadly Plagues attacked.
　In the end, he ended up not meeting with the Holy Kings.
　It seems that the plan was to put together an audience with Currier-san, which couldn't be realized at that time, and do it all together.

I understand. I think I'll be less tense if I'm with Currier-san.

　And so the conversation about getting an audience with the Holy King progressed quickly.

　The next day, the arrangements were easily completed, and two days later, the day of the audience was to arrive.