Four people were seated together across a large table. In addition to the four of them, the hall was lined with soldiers lined up in a row along the wall, and men who looked like sorcerers, each dressed in robes, were tightly packed in the corners on all sides.

　Under the tense situation, Januar opened his mouth.

'The land of the sky, huh?'

　Then he grabs a cup that looks like a teacup lined up on the table. He takes the cup to his mouth and takes a sip of the liquid inside. Everyone watched that action by Januar in wonderment and silence.

　In the pause, Violette opens her mouth in frustration.



　When Violette asked that intimidatingly, the expressions of the soldiers around her changed to anger. Aifa raised her eyebrows at the angry gaze and let out a sigh.

''We are not officially visiting you as representatives of the Empire either. There's no need for any unnecessary pressure.''

　When Aifa says this, Januar raises the corners of his mouth to form a thin smile.

'Can I keep quiet then?'

　He said this with a mischievous look on his face, and Aifa turned her head to look blankly at him.

''It's not something I would personally approve of,''

Then they're all the same, aren't they?

　Januar pulled his chin back as he chuckled at Aifa's answer. Ditsen, who had been watching the situation with harassment, called out to him.

''This, if something happens with this, the empire and the empire will go to war...?

No. These two men are not here to make a decision on how to start a war. Well, if war must break out, we should kill these two men for sure.

　Violette's eyes narrowed sharply as Januar said this with a laugh.

''That was an interesting story. Especially the part about being able to kill us...''

　Violette's face was smiling, but there was a definite anger in her narrowed eyes.

　Perhaps in response to that anger, the ends of Violette's hair wavered and swayed by themselves.

　As the soldiers quietly put their hands on their respective gains, Ditsen spit and clenched his fists.

　Looking around the room, where tensions had increased all at once, Januar laughed under his breath.

''We won't be able to fight properly unless we bring in the imperial capital's court magicians and such. It's a good thing if you can kill one of them. It's no different than dealing with dragons.

　The soldiers are relieved when he tells them that they will not fight now without saying so.

　Violette looks at them with satisfaction and looks up.

''It's a good decision. I disapprove of the fact that they think they can manage one of us.'

　Januar nodded broadly as Violette said this as she carried the cup to her mouth.

'Mmm. So, if you're going to fight, you'll probably plant something in that drink. There are some substitutes that have been passed down through our family that we can't detoxify.'

　The moment Januar uttered that, Violette stopped moving with a snap and dropped her gaze to the cup. Her cheeks twitch at the sight of the liquid inside shaking.

　Violette, who had already taken a sip, had already taken a sip, and Aifa shook her head from side to side.

'I expected that much.

Say it!

　Violette kicks her seat and yells at him, and Ditsen clenches his fists and stands up.

'Unusually, your highness has a brainy hand! Okay, let's get this over with in one fell swoop...

Sit down, Ditsen.

　Januar sniffed, stopping Ditsen, who was about to activate the jutsu with great joy, with a single word.

'I didn't put anything in this thing,'

Why?

　Not only Ditsen but also the other soldiers made surprised faces at the unexpected words.

　Cowering his shoulders with the anxious Violette at his side, Aifa opened her mouth.

''We're in a situation where we don't know if there will be a war or not, but if you mess with us, there will certainly be a war. In that case, there is no future for the empire. Actually messing with us would be a last resort.''

　Januar tilts his head as Aifa utters her prediction.

'No, no. The tea today tasted pretty good. I just didn't want to mix it up or anything.

　With a serious look on her face, Aifa tied her mouth into a straight line and pushed it shut.

'You're not in? Isn't that true?

　In response to Violette's skepticism, Januar takes his cup to his mouth and pours the liquid inside down his throat.

'Yes, it's good,'

　Januar removed his mouth from the cup and said that somewhat happily. Aifa relaxed her body slightly and opened her mouth, as if her attitude had been drained of her venom.

''I understand that you are opposed to war with the Empire and have no desire to fight with us. In that case, can you also tell us the information about the castle in the sky?

　Januar tilts his head curiously as Aifa murmurs in confirmation.

'Why? If you don't even have a formal letter, your identity is not a messenger or anything else, you are just a traveler. Why should I disclose this information?

　He answered that flatly, and Aifa and Violette involuntarily rolled their eyes.

''........Are you going to be able to f*ck with us?''

　Aifa asks this in a low voice, and Ditsen gently turns his gaze outward.

　Then he raises his voice.

'Ah.'

Hmm?

　Januar, caught by the voice, looked out and saw a flying object in the view outside from the window.

　It was unmistakably a robot that was supposed to be up in the sky.