Me, Iris and Lumiere entered the royal capital.
　I was to drive the carriage as a coachman and take Iris back to the palace.

　Lumiere was dropped off in front of my quarters.
　Martha was waiting for me in front of my quarters.
　Lumia jumped down and hugged Martha as soon as the carriage stopped.
　It was a reunion of best friends. It's kind of nice to see.
　By the way, Remy was attached to Martha's back. It's like he's waiting to be introduced.

''........It's a nice thing. To be able to embrace openly like that with someone you can trust with your heart.

　Iris said after the carriage started to run.
　She looked envious. Somehow, I can understand the feeling.

　Iris has a best friend named Odette, but because of her position as a princess and duchess, she can't hug each other openly like Martha and Rumia.
　But now Iris is regaining the memory of her previous life - Alice, who was just a village girl.
　When she was a village girl, she was just running around with her friends and lounging in the grass as normal.
　Maybe she's thinking about those days.

　...I'd better let her de-stress here.
　Let's give Iris and Odette a chance to unwind and relax.

''Iris──No, Your Highness' wishes will be fulfilled by me.

　I called out to Iris in the carriage from the Gosha-dai.
　Just in case, there might be some publicity, you know. Let's go in escort knight and princess mode.

''I'll prepare you to do it like that with whomever your highness wants.
What?
Your Highness must return to the palace and ask for permission to stay overnight. If the place is the duchess Odette's quarters, you can ask her permission. As long as Your Highness is in the quarters, have a bat army guard the building. Then he can behave freely without being seen, don't you think?
Are you sure?　Milo ... no, Yuki-sama.
Of course. I don't mind.
Can I hug you like that?
I'll give Odette a proper talking to, you know, me.
"...Is that something I should ask Odette for permission to do?
Well, maybe Odette wouldn't mind. But we should talk about it.
Okay, okay.

　Iris, dressed in a dress, came close to the governor's seat and whispered...

As My Lord said, I will do my best to get permission to stay out.
Okay. By the way, Iris.
Yes?
It's Odette you're hugging, not me.
"...please don't read my mind.
Don't underestimate the guardian angel of the village.

　You can tell they're up to something by their tone of voice.
　Iris's line, she omitted the subject from the middle of the line.　

I'm sure you're not going to be able to get away with it. I'm going to have to say something like, 'I got a comment.
''That's My Lord. You understand the hearts of the villagers...
You can hug me if you want to sneak it in, though.

　When he said that, Iris's eyes widened.
　She was surprised.

'It's going to be a bit longer before I take Iris in. You should at least let the stress out.
Could you please say something a little more passionate?
I'll think about it when I marry Her Highness.
You promise?
Yeah.

　After a while, the carriage reached the royal palace.
　I decided to contact them later in the 'Bat Communication' and Iris and I parted ways.





''Oh. Isn't that Yuki-Grossaria-dono there?

　When I went to return the carriage, I was called out to him.
　I turned around and saw an old warrior with an axe on his back. "That's General Barnes," he said.

"I've come to return your carriage, sir. General Barnes.
Mm-hmm. Glad to see you're still on the case.
I'm always sorry. Her Royal Highness sends her regards.
No need to thank me. It's a hobby of mine to help the young ones.

　General Barnes smiled vigorously.

I'm proud to see you rise through the ranks. The C-class sorcerer Yuki Glossalia, who was the knight in shining armor of Princess Iris and was raised two levels in the rank of her family's knighthood, is rumored to be the existence of your presence even among the military officers.
A rumor I didn't know that.
I think of you as a reliable ally. I'm going to be leading my troops on a patrol of land close to the empire, all the more so as I'm going to be going on a patrol of land close to the empire.
Is the general himself going to be anywhere near the Empire?
Yeah. I hear there's some disturbing information out there.

　General Barnes, in his armor, struck the axe on his back.
　I see. It seems that the kingdom is also beginning to take measures against the empire.

I'm sure they'll be asking for help from the Magic Guild soon enough. I'd like to have a sorcerer like Yuki-dono to help me out.
''If the 'Magic Guild' gives me an order, of course I will cooperate.

　I'd like to know more about the Empire, too.
　I hear there's a First Priest over there.
　I need to find out what I can about him and where he's going.

Of course, if someone else is appointed, I'm not going to be a stickler.
You're pretty modest for a young man. No wonder His Royal Highness likes you so much.

　General Barnes nodded in satisfaction.

The best ones are easily envied. But I'm sure Yuki will be able to handle it.
Well I hope you can.

　In my previous life, people thought I was a demon king and killed me.
　I'll be careful not to have that happen in this life.

''Some noblemen may not be pleased with Yukidono's ascent up the career ladder. I don't think they would mess with someone who is His Highness Iris's guardian knight and a close friend of Duchess Odette-sama, but I'm sure there are people who would try to probe them. Be careful.
"Thank you for the advice. Mr. Barnes.
Tell me what you need to know. I'm in debt to you, Yuki.
Do I owe you...?
One of my lieutenants was once in Torrius. He was attacked by the Beast, the Lord of Beasts.
...What?
The second-in-command is aided by a servant of Ukidono and a mysterious black kingpin. He even said that he would love to have you as his accompanying magician when he leads his army. For this reason, I'm indebted to you," he said.

　I see.
　When Odette and I fought against the 'Beast King Rider', Mr. Barnes' men were over there.

''Thank you. ''General Barnes.''
Do what you have to do, but watch your back.
Yes, sir.

　With that, General Barnes and I parted ways.




　On the way back, I stopped by the Magic Guild.
I was curious about the situation in Elysian.
　I wondered if there had been any changes since Odette and I found the door to the fifth underground layer.



'I'm sorry. The stairs to the fifth level still don't seem to be in a condition to pass through...''



　In response to my question, the woman at the guild's reception desk said that.

　During Operation Flora-Zamel Rescue, I defeated the golem controlled by the ghost priest and obtained the key to the fifth layer.
　After that, I opened the door in the presence of the Magic Guild.

　However, the stairs to the fifth underground level were blocked off.
　The narrow staircase was crammed full of large rocks, molten metal and wood.
　We don't have any records of who did this, but it was probably the Sanctuary Church.

　They don't want anyone else to get any further than they are.
　They don't want to hide what's on the fifth level.
　They want to lock up something on the fifth level.

The Council of Wise Men of the Magic Guild is currently debating this, but has yet to reach a decision.
　In the end, the only thing that has been decided is that the senior magician will send a scouting messenger to the guild.
　Currently, they are in the process of selecting the type of messenger and the magician in charge.

　I can't blame them for this.
　My 'Black King (Lord-Of-)Rider (Noir)' might be able to destroy the barricade, but it's too conspicuous. Besides, we don't know what's in the fifth layer. It's dangerous to break through with the King's Horseman (Lord) in a haphazard manner.

　Lyle's note also says "Dangerous. You don't have to go anywhere else.
　Until we get more information, we'll just follow his words.

Thank you very much. Please let me know if you have any new information.

　I told the woman at the reception desk and left the 'Magic Guild'.
　At the same time, Neil the bat comes in. It's a message from Iris. It seems that she's been given permission to stay out overnight.
　So, Iris, Lumiere and Martha will be staying at Odette's house for the day.

I've got to get ready for it.

　A baronial boy can't stay at the duchess' house.
　I'm going to be the support for Iris and the others.
　Barnes also warned me about this. I'll keep an eye out for myself and Odette and her place.


　I called a meeting of the bat army.