On the way to the dinner party.
I found a place that sold some pretty good cakes during the day.
　Biblina spoke to me, as I remembered.


　There were people from all over the city, village and hamlet for this big martial arts tournament.
　Quite a few stalls have been set up by such people.


　According to Biblina.
　I heard that there was a place in one of them that served the most delicious cupcakes.
I bought a few extra for you and the others, but they were so good, I just ate them all... forgive me.
　Vibrina laughs at that.

　Forgive me or not.
　And it's something she bought with her own money.
　When I tell Biblina that.
I'll get you one tomorrow. Well, we'll do our best to celebrate you passing the preliminary round.
　Biblina laughs at that.
　Casually, I wish I didn't put so much pressure on you like that...

◇ ◇.

　Dressed up, with Erdena Biblina Unna in tow, I made my way out to the venue where the Batcombe dinner was taking place.
　It was just Batcombe, and Biblina was immediately surrounded by everyone.
Good evening, everyone.　
　and moderately mingling with everyone else who has gathered there, and Biblina doesn't always want to leave my surroundings.
　I'm not going to let that happen to Biblina.
"...Is it really necessary for the daughter of the Lord of Batcombe to be treated with such salt?
　And then he looks at Biblina with a smile that Eldena is not smiling at.
　To Eldena, Biblina says
'Isn't it enough that we have the honorable face of Biblina here?　In the first place, it's more of a problem to interfere with a mistress' love life.
　And then I'd say the words back to him.

　It's like I'm surrounded by...
　Eldena on the right.
　So, with Biblina constantly camped out to the left, they're all looking at each other...

Oh, my lord, you're here.
　The one who called out to me in such a shura state was the Captain of the Guard, Googus.
　In front of me, I saw Lil Pop feeding Googles some kind of meat....
You know, I told him to keep his goop company, but then he joins the preliminaries...
　Googus chuckles as he says that.
　To such a googus, Lil Pop
We were only assisted by one of our guards, the Kobolds, who were wounded and short.
　That said, lil' pops.
Now, goo-pop, eat up, big boy.
　While saying that, he offers the meat to the goop.

　Oh, by the way, there was a qualifier today who was firing his magic gun around like crazy.
　You know, the one with the bandana wrapped around his face.
Yeah, that's this guy.
　And googly eyes, giggle again.

　If I recall, the guard team that Lil Pop joined back then.
　You were tied in overtime with a martial arts team from Gatecombs that made it through the qualifying round....

　It's kind of like that, even though I shuddered at such a lillpop's true nature, his ability as a battle mage.

Is it good?
　Yes, to a goo-pop, but hardly a smile.
　But when I see you taking care of them, it makes me feel like

　.........I feel like my perception of Lil' Pop has changed a lot, yes.


　The team that Lil' Pop helped out in the game has had a great run since then, but
　The fact that the team had lost all of its matches up to that point had an effect on them, and they didn't seem to be able to qualify after all.

　Nevertheless.
　Apparently, Lil Pop himself was very happy to have been taken care of.

　While being taken care of by Lil Pop
　Goopop is smiling happily at me.

　Eldena is staring at those goopers.
Kid, that's good.
　I blurted out.

　I heard those words, and I couldn't help but turn my gaze to Erdena.
　Erdena seemed to have caught a glimpse of me too.
　Our gazes collided there.

　We couldn't help but look at each other.

You know, we're just trying to fit in.
　and
　It's the instant tea, well, it's Biblina.
　I'd like you to get a little air time.

　With a wry smile, we parted from Lil Pop and the others and went into the dinner party.

　then
　I saw Quinn Quinn, the young female president of the Quinn Chamber of Commerce, who was scurrying around for something.
''What's wrong?''
　I ask that, and Quinn chuckles at me.
'Oh, my lord.
　As a matter of fact, I was looking for the demons who were active in today's preliminary round.
　And when I say that.
　Quinn turns his gaze to the hall again.

　Anything.
　They are looking forward to welcoming him to the Quinn Chamber of Commerce in anticipation of his fighting ability.

　The Quinn Chamber of Commerce has its headquarters on the outskirts of the King's Capital.
　For generations, sub-humans have had their own idiosyncrasies.
　The one who now follows Quinn as his bodyguard is also a Kobold swordsman.

　In the royal capital, where racial absolutism is rampant.
　This isn't supposed to be...

　When I thought that, Quinn said with an ahaha and a self-important smile.
There are very few people who want to work for a weak trade association like ours.
　In fact, if there are sub-humans who want to work for our company, I'd like to ask them to come down and work for us.
　After saying that, he disappeared into the hall, scurrying around again.

　The Quinn Chamber of Commerce now.
　She's not as cash-strapped as her father's generation was.
　In addition to the dragon scale armor series that we have exclusively purchased from Liberty, good quality magic stones and other items have exploded in the royal capital.
　In addition, they operate the Royal City depot for regular magic ships, and their revenue is also considerable.

　Despite the fact that they are making that much money.　
　Quinn has never changed her policy of actively hiring sub-humans.
　Her attitude is truly mind-blowing.

'I hear she's still single, but I'm sure she'll have a good match.
　And with that, I asked Eldena to agree with me.

　Eldena sighed loudly at me, huffing and puffing.
''Don't you realize that ... it is you who that one is favoring?''
　And, Eldena.

　........what?
　That's not true, Eldena.

　I laughed back, hahaha.
　It's kind of like a big sigh, not only for Eldena, but also for Biblina.
In short, this man is........insensitive, or perhaps he doesn't understand the atmosphere.......how did I end up falling in love with such a troublesome man?
　But then, I'm kind of bobbing my head....

　I was just starting to feel some troubled air.
What's up, man?
　And then the Lord of Batcombe, Gelter, walked over with a big smile on his face.
　
　He was surrounded by
　The maids, whom Gelter calls the "Destroyed Maid Squad," were guarding Gelter without a hint of caution, while waving big smiles around.


　Not long ago.
　It was in the Batcombe. It was Gelter, whose life was being threatened by the opposition.
　For the moment, the threat has passed, but the
　You never know when they might attack again, so it's important to keep a close watch on them.


These guys, they won't leave my side for a while.
　They won't even hug my arm or expose themselves at all....
　As he said that, he looked at the maids that were developing around him for a moment, and then
　Geltar, who turns his gaze around me.

　Around Gelter, five women in matching maid outfits, with long sleeves and long skirts, surrounded him.
　I'm surrounded by Erdena Biblina Unna, and all three of them are in revealing dresses.

　.... well, I don't know what Gelter is trying to say.
　Because he said that, Gelter was pulled by the ear by a woman who seemed to be the head maid.
Have fun, mostly. Okay, now I'm going to go greet the elders over there.
　He was cunningly dragged to another part of the hall.

　In doing so, Gelter
"Good luck in the preliminaries tomorrow!
　And then he fluttered and waved at me.

　Yeah, I know, my qualifier is tomorrow.

　I've pulled myself together, once again.
I'll do my best to protect you, little one. Don't worry.
　And then Unja smiles at me as she says it.

　As a man, I don't know if I'm supposed to feel relief at this line.
　Aside from magic, I'm a total stranger to bare-knuckle combat, so I'd like to ask you to cut me some slack on that...