The groundnut entered the room, and once he looked around the room
Then we will announce the results. Those of you who have been called to the front, please step forward.
　As he said this, he picked up the papers.

　The first person to be called in was Kiristic.
He was the only one who got a perfect score on all the exams in this training program. You have passed your first class.
　Grandnut said and handed him the papers with a smile.
　Kiristic took it, smiling happily.

　And I was the next one to be called in.
　I had missed one question on the first exam, so I guess that's why I was second.
　I was handed the paperwork with a smile from Grandonaz as well as Kiristic.

　Those who passed the test were to go to another room in the Central Frontier Bureau to complete the necessary procedures immediately after this.
　I walked down the corridor with Kiristic, who was waiting for me in the corridor.
　Then
You'll both be waiting!
　Melanesia followed us with a smile.

　Apparently Melanesia was the third person to be called up.
　It was a bit surprising, since it was Riknas who had been a regular on the list, but it was nice to know that our friend who had become so close to us during the training program had passed the test.

　The three of us walked down the corridor together.


　When we got to the designated section, we found
Now I'm going to ask you to come over here one at a time.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I'm sure it is.
　
　There, I was made to sign various documents.
　There were nearly 30 of them.
　I signed an oath to abide by the rules of a frontier city, an oath to fulfill my tax obligations as a lord, and many other documents.
　It took me about an hour to read through all the documents and finish signing them.
　When I left the room after I finished signing all the documents, there was a line of people waiting to get in line in the hallway.
　I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when I saw that Riknas and Gaboz were safely among them.

　In the end, there were a total of four people who had failed after today's exam.
　They will all have two weeks of additional remedial work next week to take the supplementary exam.
　I hope that they will be able to pass the test next time, as they are the ones I trained with this past month.

◇ ◇.

"Since we're here, why don't we have dinner at Sanryu-Tei and go home?
　Melanesia invited me to do so.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a good deal more information on this.

　I've been wondering about the dark charmers, but since this is the last time I'll be seeing them in the capital after training, I decided to hang out with them for a bit.

　I've heard that Melanesia also approached Riknas and Gabozh, but both of them went home to do some business.
　I don't know about Gaboz, but I could easily imagine that Riknas was probably about Urinakombe.
　However, I didn't tell the two of them about this case that came to mind, as it would have been unnecessary for everyone to worry.


　At the Sanryu-Tei, we toasted each other with tea and congratulated each other on our success.
''So this makes the two of you lords of the frontier cities?''
　Melanesia asked me that.
''Hmm... In my case, I have to go through this and that in the small frontier city of Liberty, where I'm currently the lord, so it'll be a little while longer.
　That's how he answered.


　In fact, in order for Liberty to be upgraded from its current frontier small city to a frontier city, the city and town hall must be developed, inspected by the Central Frontier Agency, and approved as a frontier city as a result of that inspection.
　I've already been handed a mountain of documents for this, and they're in a magic bag on my hip, but honestly, I'm feeling a bit heavy because I have to take them home and work on this and that while consulting with the town hall.


　And Kiristic, too.
''My father is still in office, and although you might be able to offer me stories of other frontier city lords, I'm only interested in following in his footsteps...''
　That's what he said.

　Melanesia hummed and nodded as she listened to us.
''I'm still in school, but I'm a so-called graduate student, so if I could get a story about a city lord from some city, I'd love to do it, but... it's not the first time I'd get a story about a lord from such a young person.
　He laughed as he said that.

　Nevertheless, Melanesia has done well, and I hope that she will gain experience and become a good lord.

　Afterwards we had a dinner while chatting.
　I didn't talk about the winning voice in the dark because I was worried about the plainclothes guards, but while I was in the restroom, I quietly asked the proprietress if she had any information about the
It's nothing to that.
　I made an apologetic expression while saying that.
　When I saw that expression, it made me feel sorry for him.

　So I changed the subject.
'My training ended today and I'll be back at Liberty tomorrow.
　It's been a short time, but I've enjoyed being here again.
　I smiled and told the landlady so.
　Then my husband came out of the kitchen and
I'm too dumb to know what that training is like, but congratulations anyway.
　I hope you will continue to be a lord loved by everyone.
　They said that and shook hands with me repeatedly.
　I returned the handshake with a smile.

◇ ◇ ◇.
　
'I'll see you again, since the cities are so close to each other. Melanesia, feel free to come visit us in Liberty.
　I smiled at them as I left the shop.
'Well, keep up the good work.'
　And Kyristick, who replied.
Yes, thanks for everything.
　Melanesia bowed her head repeatedly as she said this.

　We shook hands a few times and parted in front of the store.

　I walked back to Quinn's shop.
　Then Quinn came out to the front of the store and
'Congratulations. I already heard you were accepted.
　He squeezes my hand as he says this.
　I squeezed his hand back with a smile.
"Congratulations, Botchan, on your birthday.
　From the side of him, Wunya also came out and congratulated me with a smile.

　We had been instructed not to bring our personal guards with us because of various meetings at the Central Frontier Station that day, so Unja, who had always accompanied us to the Central Frontier Station these days, had been waiting for us here.

　Quinn and I got into the carriage and the three of us headed back to Quinn's private residence.

　When we returned to the mansion, I told everyone in the house that I had passed the training.
　I'm not going to be the only one to have to deal with this.
"We're treating you to a feast today!
　Menoko, the meal attendant, said that with a big smile and went back to the kitchen.

　Just as he said, the dinner that day was quite opulent.
　It's not an exaggeration to say that the food is comparable to that of the young elf master of the best hot spring inn in Liberty.
　When I tell him that, Menoko turns bright red as he tells me that.
No, it's not.
　I was getting smaller as I said that.

　Perhaps because the main topic of conversation that day was my passing the training, Quinn didn't seem to dare to talk about any of the topics related to the dark winning voice.
　
　It's a good thing that I'm not the only one who's been in this situation.

◇ ◇ ◇.
　I finished my meal and went back to my room.
　While I was taking a shower, Unja had cleaned up everything in my room, and the room I had used for the past month was a bit garrulous.

　I sat down on the chair I had been allowed to use for the past month to study and closed my eyes.

　The past month ... so many things have happened.

　Meeting new friends.
　The New Guard.
　Checking out the current status of King's Landing

　And then there's the dark charm and the Greed family case.

　To be honest, this last matter still seems to be dragging on, but now that the training is over, I have to do what I have to do.

　As I was thinking about this, Unja came over with a cup of tea.
"Happy new year, Botchan.
　Unya said that to me again.
　I thanked her and smiled back.
"You've really helped me a lot this past month, Anya.
　When I tell her that, she smiles at me.
No, no, no, I'm just doing my duty as a little maid, little girl.
　That's what she told me, and then Wunya put her mouth to my ear.
I thank you for agreeing to be my mistress... nya.
　Then he smiled somewhat lustily.

　I had no choice but to return the smile.

◇ ◇.

　The next morning, I left Quinn's private residence in Dengo's carriage as everyone in the mansion saw me off.
""Thank you for your help,"
　They all bowed their heads as they said this, and then waved to the departing carriage.

"We'll miss you, Master Gossage, a bit.
　Dengo told me this as he steered the carriage.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time in the city.
I'm sure you'll be happy to hear from me personally when you come to the capital.
　Dengo laughed at that.

◇ ◇ ◇.

I'll be at Liberty the day after tomorrow, so I'll see you there.
　Quinn laughed at me.
　I thanked Quinn and the Chamber of Commerce again for everyone and shook hands with everyone who was there.
　Later, as I was buying souvenirs for everyone in Liberty at the Quinn Chamber of Commerce, a regular magic ship docked at the boarding tower next to the Quinn Chamber of Commerce.
　I climbed up the embarkation and disembarkation tower and boarded the magic ship.

　In the vicinity of the embarkation tower, the king's guards from the royal capital were standing at the entrance of the embarkation tower and the entrance to the magic ship.
　As I thought, the response to the one incident of the dark charmers was still going on.


　Thus, although there were still some lingering effects of the incident, my exercise was successfully completed.
　Not long after, the regular grimoire with me and Unja on board left the boarding tower and took off into the sky.

　Just when I thought we could go home now, I was hit by intense sleepiness.
　I'm sure the fatigue of living in the unaccustomed royal capital was beginning to set in.
　I'm sure you're not the only one who's noticed this, but Unja came over to me with a blanket in hand.
I'd like to ask you to take a little rest until we arrive, my dear.
　
　In a private room.
　We were sitting across from each other, me and Unya, and she put the blanket over me and sat down beside me.
　I closed my eyes, asking Unja to wake me up just before she arrived.
'Thank you for your help, Bocchan.'
　Unja's, that voice was the last thing I heard, and I fell into a deep sleep.

　At that time, I felt something soft touch my lips, maybe it was my imagination, but what was that?

　Maybe it was my imagination, or maybe it smelled like Unja...