A few moments after Mr. Lime announced his visitor, the Duke and Sue came to the terrace from the garden.

''Hey, thanks for moving in. We'll be neighbors from now on, so take care of us.''

　The duke smiles cheerfully. Even though we are neighbors, the duke's house is in the inner district of the royal capital and this one is in the outer district, though they are quite far apart. Well, it's true that we may be neighbors compared to the royal capital and riffle.

''It's been a long time, Sue.
Hello, Sister Yumina.

　Yumina greets Sue. I see, these two are cousins. When I see them standing side by side again, they both have the same blonde hair, and they are still very similar. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what to expect.

You can't tell me that Yumina-sama is engaged to Fuyuuya. I was surprised.
I'm the one who surprised me the most...

　That is non-negotiable. It is an area I still don't understand. As they took their places at the table on the terrace, Mr. Lime arrived with tea for two. As expected of a first-class butler.

''I was thinking of Fuyao-dono as Su's son-in-law, but...'' He beat me to it. Both Yumina and your brother are shrewd.''
'Have you been thinking about that, father? But if it's a winter's night, you're welcome to join us. I think they'd enjoy being together.
'Oh, I see. Well then, would you get Su along with Yumina, Mister Wintery Night?
Yes, that's enough. Don't get too carried away, please, already.

　The Duke may be joking, but the fact that Sue is looking at me with some kind of twinkle in her eye is slightly disturbing. I don't want to make things any more complicated than they already are.

Well, let's back off for now. So, I have a favor to ask of you guys today.

　What do you mean, for today? Ignoring me, who stared at him with jaded eyes, the duke proceeded to speak.

I have decided to form an alliance with the Kingdom of Mismid. Consequently, I hope to be able to set up a meeting between the kings...''

　The land of sub-humans, the southern kingdom of Mismid, ruled by the King of Beastmen. It's the land of the fox beastmen, Origa-san and the Alma sisters. Oh, I see, we're going to form an alliance. I'm glad to hear it.

''It is best for either king to go to the royal capital of one of them for talks, but that will always be fraught with danger. There's no guarantee that opposing forces won't interfere or that they won't be attacked by magical beasts during their journey. So, there.
"...Fuyao-san's 'gate', right?
You're a very quick study, Miss Linse.

　Grinning, the Duke laughed and drank his tea. Well, it's true, using the 'gate' will allow us to move around safely. However..........

''That magic can only move you to places you've been once, right? No way....

　I had a bad feeling...or rather, a bad conviction.

'Yes. I need you to go to Mismid.

　I knew it. I know, but... I totally understand. It's very convenient. I'd like to wake up the courier company, if they don't have a limited number of places to go once.

"How long does it take to get to Mismid?
Well, six days in the wagon...

　Huh? Is it shorter than you thought it would be?

So, we'll be at the Great River of Gau, and from there it's just another four days across the river to the capital of Mismid, if all goes well. If all goes well.

　It's going to take me 10 days.... That's a tough one..... I just got a house and you can't live here because you're going on a trip, what does that mean?

I'm going to ask you directly through the guild to make this request. Naturally, you will receive a reward and your guild rank will increase. I suppose it's not a bad deal.

　You are very quick to work with. Well, it's an easy part of the job, isn't it? It's like a short trip to another country. It's certainly not a bad deal. And I want to see what the Kingdom of Mismid is like.

I'll take care of it. I'll take care of it. Is everyone OK?

　Everyone nodded. There didn't seem to be any objections.

'Thank goodness. I'm just returning home and the ambassador is going to take us to the royal capital of Mismid.'
'Mr. Olga returned? So your sister Alma is leaving with you then?
Yes. You will join the ambassador, his sister, and a band of guarded knights, and you will go to Mismid.

　I see. That's reassuring. From what I've heard, Mismid has more nature than Belfast, and there are more jungle areas and so on, so there are more magical beasts. Is it a place like South America or Southeast Asia?
　What kind of place is it? What kind of place is the Kingdom of Misguided, the land of the sub-humans that we have not yet seen? We are going there.

But...will it be all right...that it is?
What? Yahtzee?
They'll know I can use the Gate, that I can, that I can. A spell that allows you to break into your place without anyone knowing about it, that it is. Not only is there a danger of being assassinated as a dangerous person, not to mention a warning...

　Come on, man, don't be a scaredy-cat.
　But it's definitely a threat. That's not something I want to be associated with.

No, I think that's a good thing. I checked with Charlotte-dono, but there are places in the "gate" where you can't jump, and you can't jump in the magic defense... the so-called warding area, right? Then I don't think I'd be that alarmed.

　The duke easily overruled Yae's fears.

'Really? Winter night?
I haven't heard of it before.

　Else gave me a dumbfounded look at my answer. No, because when I learned The Gate, I didn't know the effects in detail from a book!

''I heard that even the smallest magical wards can be used to prevent it. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it. By the way, other than Yumina's room in the castle, Charlotte's wards are already in place, right?

　Oh, it's already been taken care of. Even though he looks like that (excuse me), he is indeed a court magician. Smart.

''...But I can send Fuyao-san to some country and 'gate' a large army with a surprise attack... so I still think it's better to do it so they don't know about it.''
''Mm...indeed. Then, like the glasses I gave to Charlotte-dono, let's have something grant the magic of the 'gate' to something.

　I see. For example, if you grant it to a full-length mirror, use it at a meeting, and then have it broken, the other person's anxiety will disappear.
　If you give them a reason why the magic that allows you to go back and forth between the mirror called "A" and the mirror called "B" has been granted to them, they might be fine. You'll have to make one of the mirrors after you arrive there, though.

'Then let's go with that. When will you be leaving?
Well let's call it three days.
I understand.

　Well, it's going to be a busy time for a lot of things. I must prepare for a long journey.

'Very well, I wish I could have visited the royal city of Mismid.

　Sue sucks her fingers in her mouth in envy. You don't want to say you want to follow me, do you? I don't want any more trouble for you.

''I'll be able to go whenever I get back from my trip, and I'll take Suu with me next time.
Really? I knew I could count on you in the winter night!

　Soo leans over the table and gives me a big smile. Since you're so happy for me, I have to keep my promise.
　We were then scheduled to discuss the details of the trip to Mismid with the Duke until the evening.