That night - the night of the day when he was angry about many things.
　It's a very good idea to have a good time with your friends. But Loki was there, and he and Ilyce, who is exuding a sense of exhaustion to the point of being uncomfortable, had a sumptuous meal.

　Normally, a kind of dining room is located on the ground floor of this house, where you can also have a meal at a table with chairs and tables that are just made of processed logs. Of course, since a reasonable number of humans are stationed within this base, there are several even more vast eating places.

　The reason why we are eating indoors only today is because all three of us will be back in the survival zone tomorrow.

　As for Ilyce, I've given him the materials that Ars has brought with him, and I've also asked Beric to be the backup for that.
　One case in which Ars told Beric to submit a presentation of a paper to Beric as an unnamed person is useful. By putting that presenter under the name of Ilyce, her name can be made widely known.

　Ilyce was very reluctant to do this, but it would be a far-reaching project that would take three years to complete if she was honest and followed the procedure. There was no point in that, and Ars had a reason why it had to be done immediately in order to build up a track record.

　It was also to make it easier to get approval from the nations for this one, and it could be swapped out in the negotiations between the Alphas.

　Nevertheless, all Ars could do was provide financial backing and set up a foundation mechanism. The rest would have to rely on Ilyce's skills, and the reason why Ars had pushed for her to do so would resolve that point.


　To spread the name of Ilyce, it's only one of the cuts, such as publishing a paper. Still, it would be quick to spread because it would overturn the existing magic evaluation standards.
　Whether it will be officially adopted is unknown, but perhaps........

''But you're being bold or something...''

　The three of them gathered around the table, and in the midst of them, Ilyce thrust the meat into his fork, retreating only the red-colored food from the colorful plate to the edge. Their mouths were opened not to eat, but to speak.

　As for the arrangement, Ars and Loki sat side by side at a table for four, with Ilyce sitting face to face with Ars, eating with his sleeves elasticized without taking off his ill-fitting robe.

　Ars and Loki peer with blank eyes into the plate of the child sitting face to face. The ingredients are being treated as if they were not food, but decorations.

'Hey, don't be a good old man and don't like it.
If it were food, I'd eat it too. But these are just for decoration.
'Are you insane, Mr. Ilyce? Those color additions alone take up half the dishes?
Geez I'm too old for this, let me do what I want.
Only at times like this do you treat me like an old man, you nasty piece of shit.
'Yes, I don't want to be like that, Al. I mean, you can't be big, Mr. Ilyce.
'There was a time when I believed in such superstitions... yeah, I suppose I could eat... if I ate...'

　It was good until he reopened it, but the way he looked at the food left on the plate was as if he was his parent's enemy.
　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any more of this stuff.

　I chewed it slowly just twice. After that, the opening and closing stopped, if at all.
　Ilyce, who was shaking her head slightly with her mouth open with an auau, complained with her gaze that she couldn't do it. The ingredients that stay as solid in her mouth must be dripping their original flavor onto her tongue.

'In case you're wondering, I've overheard that you have a renowned chef here, but apparently that's not the point.

　While saying that, Ars throws the same thing into his mouth. It is usually delicious, and even when I was in the military, I never tasted a dish that kept the aroma of the mellow ingredients in my mouth like this. It's a good thing that the spices are there to spice things up and make the flavor of the dish even more pronounced as it spreads through the mouth.
　I'm sure it's nothing more than a pain in the ass for those who are not good at it.

Eat, swallow and enjoy without being extravagant.
"Mr. Ilyce, please dispose of what you put in your mouth first. For any leftovers, you can apologize to the chef who made it for you, and he will forgive you.

　When I say that, I swallow and hurriedly pour the water down my face as I turn away.
　You have to let a sense of exhaustion float across your forehead, even more so than the morning practice.

Why do I have to do that? This is a conspiracy. It's a conspiracy. What a horrible thing to do.

　He had a reluctant face that seemed to be chewing the bitter taste of defeat in his mouth, but his hand wrapped in his sleeve was slowly moving his plate away.



　This was after the meal, which was anything but busy, had come to a close and the serving staff had cleared the dishes away. As they were being replaced, a rough knocking sound woke up Shijima in the night as it began to get late.
　The three of them looked at the door in a very strange way. It wasn't that there weren't more people visiting these days under the guise of a visit, but there must be fewer than before.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　In addition, would it be a bit harsh to kick Ilyce out now for not returning to her room? She chewed up as much of the food she was not good at as possible and poured it into her mouth with tears in her eyes. So now she lay down on Ars's bed like a gravely ill patient.

　Just before he was about to shout for entry, wondering, the person opened the door with great fanfare and entered - without an attendant.


　Loki, who was about to pour the tea with an astonished expression, peeled his eyes away as if he was stiffening, while Ars and Ilyce took a sharp glance at him.

''Head of Haorg........''

　The name that reflexively poured out of Ars's mouth was just an abrupt and therefore run-on word.
　However, the large man who staggered in had a slight blush on his cheeks. Seeing the handout gave Ars a headache.
　He braced himself, but he had better worry about something else.

We're all here.
'Oh!　You are a clever man, Head of Iberis. I was just about to have a palate cleanser.
"Call me Haorg.
'That was tactless on the booze, then you can call me Ilyce if you like.

　Ilyce, who has been aroused to jump up from the bed, is irreverent to the head of state, making good use of his drunkenness.
　But I guess it's not a problem since the other party seems to have already made it. As proof of this, the two of them smiled grimly at each other and laughed hysterically at each other.

''Little girl, hold the glass.
'Who is this little girl?　

　They're extremely annoying, but I'm hesitant to turn away the head of the former. Besides, I hadn't seen him once since I woke up.
　Of course, he hadn't come here to make a fool of himself.
　I signaled my approval with a glance and let Loki bring me a glass. However, since both Ars and Loki are underage, it would be a drinking spree for just the two of them.

　When you think about it, it's still annoying.

　There is a table and a pair of chairs for four people here, but after all, a chair would be a pitiful thing with Haorg's huge body, so we arrange simple chairs for visitors.

Let's have a good time.
I'm coming to you. Don't let me join those other boozers.
You're welcome.

　The near-inebriated former head of the company emits a gleaming eye light.
　From the side, Ilyce is definitely out. In that respect, it would not be a problem as her identity has long since been revealed.


　Do you think that the night that has just begun is alien to the earth that never sleeps? But for today, the magical lights were softly pushing the darkness away, even outside. Maybe it was just a little noisier than usual.