Yeah, it looks good on you.
Yeah, I know.

　Renee lightly picks up the skirt of her newly worn maid's uniform and spins around. The pendant around your neck swings wildly in time with it.

''That pendant will get in the way of your work, so you should keep it inside your clothes.
Oh, I see. Fine, Brother Fuyao.

　It's true that it would interfere with my work, but it's best to avoid doing anything that could be seen by people, just in case it's stolen.
　Lime, who was standing beside me, looks straight at Rene.

''Rene. From now on you are a servant of this house. In front of the guests, you will call me 'Master' instead of 'Brother Fuyao'.
'Oh, um, yes. Mr. Lime.
Good. Your job is to support the servants who work here. In the meantime, you will learn from Claire before breakfast, lunch and dinner, and otherwise follow Lapidus and the others as they learn.
Okay, okay...

　Rene responds firmly. I don't know if I'm going to be okay... I'm a little worried though.

Then, Renee-chan, shall we go?
Yeah. I'm off, Brother Wintery Night, Master.
Hang in there.

　Rene leaves the dining room with Cecil-san. Well, you'll just have to get used to it a little at a time.

''I don't think you'll have to worry about it.
I think so, too.

　Over tea after breakfast, the twin sisters beat the drum. I explained to everyone yesterday how they decided to hire Renee.

She seems to have a strong core, that she does, and is the type to think for herself, don't you think?

　Yae is still eating her breakfast while saying that. You still eat a lot, don't you! How many, that croissants.
　The door opened with a bang and Yumina walked into the cafeteria. She was holding a piece of paper in her hand, fluttering.

'It's from your father. He wants Fuyu-san to show up at the royal palace if he's free today.''

　There is a gate mirror in Yumina's room for letters to and from the Royal Palace. That letter must have been sent using it. It's only a half-hour walk to the royal palace, but it's convenient.

'The king? What do you want?
'Isn't that what you said your uncle was proud of your bicycle recently?

　Yumina replies with a bitter smile. Oh, you wanted one yourself.........
　In that case, I'll make one and take it with me. And while I'm at it, I also want to talk to you about Renee.
　I go out into the garden and use the 'storage' function to call up the materials for the bike. I've already made a bunch of bicycles, so in about 10 minutes I've got one ready to go. Then I used "storage" to store it again. It's so convenient, this magic.

Well, let's get going.
I'll go with you.

　Then Yumina comes out to the garden. Well, I can't walk freely in the castle without her, so I hope.

'Oh, wait. I'll come with you. I want you to meet with the general.

　Else came running in with an asymmetrical gauntlet hanging from her waist. She and General Leon, the general of the kingdom's army, had been hand in hand so many times that they were now becoming like disciples.
　Well, this country has two organizations, the 'army' and the 'knights', right? I wonder how they are different. Is it the security of domestic and foreign countries? Or are the king's guards or the guard of the king's guard the Knights of the Order? I haven't met the head of the Order yet.
　I opened the 'gate' while thinking about that.



''No, I mean, what is it, Al...no, Duke Ortlinde showed me an unusual vehicle, and I heard that it was made by Fuyu-dono. Well, I was wondering if you could spare one for me as well...

　The king breaks off the conversation in a suspicious manner. I knew it.
　We were talking in a small room in the royal palace. Else headed to the general's place and Yumina headed to the queen's place, so it was one-on-one.

''I thought so, so I made one and brought it to you.
'Oh! Thank God for that! And then, where!

　Use Storage to create a magic circle in the room. I call up the bicycle I made.

'As usual, Fuyoru-dono is out of standard. Is this not the same as 'Gate'?
This one is a storage spell. I can store a lot of stuff in here, so it's really useful.

　The king let out a sound of dismay, but his eyes were glued to the bike that came out. He looked at it from various angles, touching it to see how it felt.

''Did the Duke give you a ride?''
'Mm, but I can't get on. Al said you need to practice, how long does it take?
'The Duke took a day, but my maid rode in three hours. Well, I can ride it in three days at the most.

　Even the king doesn't have time for this. He can't be practicing bicycles all day long. But if he keeps practicing, he'll eventually learn to ride a bike.
　Now, let's have the king, who is happily straddling the saddle, listen to what I have to say.

I'd like to ask him to listen to my story. I'd like to ask you for a favor, or rather, I have something to discuss with you....
What? It's unusual for you to come from Fuyu-dono.

　He proceeded to tell the king, who looked a little surprised, about Rene. The king listened in silence, but eventually he opened his mouth gravely.

'A sin is a sin. It must be atoned for. However, considering the girl's circumstances, it seems that there are extenuating circumstances. If Fuyao-dono is responsible for monitoring and rehabilitating that girl, then this time I will only give her a hefty fine and a warning. But there will be no second time. Just make sure you tell him well.

　I was relieved by the king's words. I was afraid that maybe, but at the time I was thinking that I had to protect Rene at all costs. I'm really glad to be a king who understands what he's talking about.
　But for some reason, the king was in deep thought. What was wrong with him?

Well, I'm not sure I understand.
Excuse me?
''The fact that there are so many vagrants. I'm sure they've given enough money to the orphanage in King's Landing to support them. This could possibly be.........

　With a pang, the king clapped his hands, and a black-clad person wearing a white mask descended from the ceiling without a sound. Whoa, that startled me!
　For a moment, I thought it was our maid Lapis-san or Cecile-san, but the crest on the mask's forehead was different. Lapis-san is a hexagon and Cecil-san is an oval. This person is a pentagon. He is probably one of the members of the Espion, the secret service directly under His Majesty the King, to which the two of them belong.

''Who was in charge of managing the fund for the orphanage?''
Baron Sebek, I think. Rumor has it he's been acting strangely for the last few years.
If there was any evidence of embezzlement, take him into custody immediately.
"Ha.

　Just like when it appeared, it disappears into the ceiling again in an instant. A ninja, really.

"I'm sorry. Perhaps the circumstances of the child that Fuyah-dono protected was also our fault. I hope you'll forgive me.

　Saying that, the king bows his head. I see, the money that was supposed to go to the orphanage might have been intercepted by the guy who managed it. Maybe that's why the orphanage couldn't do enough to accept vagrants.
　I guess they're still out there. There are people like this who are lining their pockets.

It's hard on His Majesty, isn't it?
Absolutely. I can't wait for someone to take over and retire.

　His Majesty the King with a grin. This implies that you're going to marry Yumina. Even if they do marry, I won't become the king. I have to hand the castle's chief cook a recipe for energizing food and have the king work hard on the second one. We need to find garlic, yams, spuds, etc. over here. We need to get that done as soon as possible.



I'm home.

　He and Yumina go out through the "gate" to the front door of the house. Else is going to walk home when she's done training.
　I opened the door and entered the front hall and was greeted by Lime.

'Welcome home, sir.'
'I'm back, Lime. I managed to get Rene out of there.
Good evening, sir. Oh, the Master has a visitor.
Customer?

　When I casually look through Lime, I see something creeping towards me.
　Fifty centimeters long. Gray fur and a red ribbon around its neck. A stuffed bear with dull eyes.

''Paula!''

　When his name is called, the bear shuts up and raises his right hand in greeting. He catches Paula as she walks up to him and picks her up.

"You didn't tell me you walked all the way from Mismid by yourself, did you?
'How could it be? He followed me around.

　The door to the parlor opened and a girl with twin-tailed white hair and a black gothic costume appeared.

'Lean! Why are you here!

　No, as long as Paula is there, it's no wonder that her master, Leanne, is there too.

'I'm just doing some research. Also, I guess I'm just here to punish Charlotte. I've already slapped her.

　You have a lot of roots........you are over 600 years old and not very popular.......
　As I looked at Lean with dumbfounded eyes, with a squeak, Yumina pulled my sleeve.

''Fuyao-san? Who is this?
''Ah, was Yumina the first time? This is the chief of the Mismid fairy tribe, and his name is Lean. Even though he looks like this, he's much older than we are.
'Fairy folk...? But....

　Yumina looked at Lean with quizzical eyes. Huh? Come to think of it, there are no fairy wings that should be growing out of my back. You didn't cut them off, did you?

'Oh, the feathers are hidden from view by light magic. They stand out over here.

　The magic was lifted, and gradually a translucent feather became visible on my back. They glisten in the sunshine that streams in through the window. Regardless, I wonder if fairy folk and winged folk don't have feathers and wings that get in the way when they sleep.

'But why are they in our home? How do you know this place?
Charlotte told me about it. And I wanted to ask you something. About that crystal creature they say you defeated a few months ago.
...what?

　A crystal demon. If you ask me, she's the only one. A mysterious monster that emerged from the underground ruins of the old royal capital, unable to communicate with swords, absorbing magic, and having the ability to regenerate.

It's also appeared in Mismid. That crystal demon.

　Leanne's words gave me a chill of surprise and an indescribable chill.