The first day of the festival.
　The flashy opening ceremony, a mock battle between frame gears, ended without a hitch, and the castle town was even more crowded than usual with people out on the streets.
　The streets are lined with various stalls, and the smell of good food wafts out from everywhere. Maybe I'll try to buy something later.
　In order to enjoy the festival, knights of the guard are patrolling the streets with people who have come from other countries.
　In addition, Nyantaro's cats are in the back alleys and on the walls, and Kohyama's birds are on rooftops and in the treetops of trees, and if there's an emergency, they're ready to call the nearest knight.
　So there is no need for me to patrol the area.

Well, I want to have a little fun too.
It's okay. At least a little. The other kings have knights to guard them, too, and the example badge will keep them safe, right?

　Leanne replied as she walked beside him in the same black gothic dress and parasol as usual.
　Everyone else had gone out to keep up with their respective families who had come. Sakura, though, seemed to be annoyed with the Demon King who was talking to her. She didn't want to take him to her mother, Fiana-san.
　Lean also offered to show me to the Beast King of Mismid, but it seems that the Beast King decided to go around on his own as a no-brainer, so he followed me.
　Lean seemed to be calling for friends and acquaintances from Mismid in Lean, but they were not coming today.
　Naturally, Paula the bear trotted along behind us. I almost got tangled up with the kids from time to time, though I was struggling to resist.

"Huh?

　Out of the corner of my eye, on the stage built in front of the clock tower, I saw Kanasuke's brother playing the piano and a crowd of women who were listening to him, enraptured. A concert? I don't know what I'm doing....
　The music played by God is divine music. The piece he is playing is a representative piece by a French pianist who comes to Japan every May to perform, and is known as the 'piano nobleman'.
　It's not surprising, but Kanosuke's piano skills are far superior to mine. I'd like to listen to it all the time, but that's not going to happen, so we pass by the clock tower and head to the first ballpark.
　There are four games today, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, at the first and second stadiums.
　The pairings for the games are.

The first stadium
Morning ■ Brunhild vs. Restia
Afternoon ■Mismid v. Leafs

second stadium
Morning ■ Belfast vs. Lord Mare
Afternoon ■ Regulus vs. Linier

　And so on.
　This was the result of a lottery draw by the captains of each team after the mock Flame Gear battle ended earlier.
　Our Brunhild's opponent was the Knight Kingdom Restia. In terms of the team's characteristics, it is a team that focuses more on attack. It's not that they have a lot of hard hitters, but they have an excellent on base percentage, and they are a team that steadily scores runs.
　Most of the players are very selective and don't take kindly to being shaken up by poor pitching, according to Logan, our team captain.
　The game was already underway in the first stadium. It was still 0-0 in the top of the second inning, and Lestia's offense was just about over.
　As I headed to the bleachers, His Majesty the Beast King of Mismid and the players, and the Emperor of Leafs and this one, too, were watching the game play out.
　Once this match was over, it was time for the match between Mismid and Liefries in the afternoon. The team that won this game might play the team that won this game tomorrow, so it was only natural to watch the game.
　As I headed to the bleachers on the first base side, I could see Restia Knight King on the other side, on the third base side of the bleachers. Hilda was seated to my right, and old Galen, the previous king of Lestia, was seated to my left.
　On Brunhild's side, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Naito's old man, accompanied by several of his men, was watching the match with a beer in hand.
　The knights and castle workers were given one day off out of the four days of this festival. I want them to enjoy it too. We wanted to give them as many days off as possible, but we don't want them to be biased, so we let them decide on that part.
　Today is the first day of the event, and there are only baseball qualifying rounds, so those who won't get a day off on this day are missing out. Still, I'm relieved to see that they're enjoying themselves in their own way.

''Oh, Your Majesty. Are you on patrol?
We'll see how it goes. How's everyone doing?
That's right. It's a festival in a town we made up. It's great.

　Usually I am an old man who is like a day-lamp, but I think that my cheerfulness has increased today because of the alcohol.
　The Naito-gumi is in charge of construction and farmland development in this country, so they must be very happy.
　I built the foundation of this stadium, but it was they who made it bigger by modifying it. Without them, the town wouldn't have developed as much as it has.
　Anyway, we decided to watch the game for a bit and buy some popcorn and drinks from a saleswoman.





'That was close,'
'Yeah. If only I'd gotten a shot in there.

　The match against Restia was won by Restia 2 to 3, and unfortunately our Brunhild was eliminated. It's not that we were inferior to them, but that's just the way it is. They say that victory is a matter of luck. Later, I'll give my players a tip for their hard work.
　In the second stadium, the morning game between Belfast and Lord Mair seemed to go Belfast's way.
　This is followed in the afternoon by Missumid v Leafs and Regulus v Linier. The four winning teams will go into tomorrow's championship game.
　As I was walking around the city looking for somewhere to have lunch, I saw the Paloofs having a meal at an open cafe on the corner. The boy king of Paloof, his sister, his uncle, the duke and his daughter, and his guards were having a light meal.
　When I took off my badge to try it out, they look like some friendly family. It seems to be functioning properly. By the way, Leanne next to me also has a badge. We don't care if they find out about us, though, so we've turned it off completely.

'Hi, are you having dinner?'
'Oh, Your Majesty! Yes, we went around in circles once, so...

　When I call out to him, the Boy King offers me a seat next to him, so I sit down without hesitation. Rachel, the duchess who was sitting across from the boy king, looks away from me, holding the Snoraulf child I left in her arms. Ummm, I guess she hates me after all.

''What are you all going to do this afternoon?''
'We're going to go to the Regnier game. We haven't seen proper baseball yet so...

　Her sister, Princess Lucienne, replied happily. I wonder if she was invited by King Linie. I'm glad that they seem to be enjoying themselves as well.

''No, there are so many unusual things, the morning was over in the blink of an eye. There are many things we want to bring to our country. It's really a wonderful town.

　The Duke of Rembrandt, the Regent, looks out over the view from the café and gives his impressions of the city. It's still nice to be praised by people from other countries.

The only bad thing about it is that you spend a little too much money.
I agree....

　The boy king is dazed by the Duke's small smile. Hmm? What happened?

"Elle, she took the capsules from a store in the shopping district and turned them over and over again. I don't mind the money, but your father was angry with me for bothering other people who want them.
It wasn't easy to get the White Knight's "Shine Count" out, so I just...

　When I looked out of Rachel's gaze as she explained, I saw that the paper bag on the chair was filled with capsules of capsail toys. I had to turn it again.
　Huh? Did Rachel just talk to me? Doesn't he hate you that much?
　When I glanced at him, he still looked away awkwardly. Hmm?

So, do you have everything you need?
Uh, this Grimgelde thing is still...
Oh, is that for me?
What?

　The boy king, who was looking at the small piece of paper《Lineup》in the capsule, looked up at Lean's voice.
　When I explained that the pilot of that plane, Grimgelde, was Lean, everyone else was surprised, including the rest of us.
　They couldn't imagine that the girl in front of them (who was actually 612 years old) would be flying that frame gear that had shown intense combat at the opening ceremony.
　It is known that Lean's position is that she is a court sorcerer of Brunhild, a former chief of the fairy tribe, and one of my fiancé, the Lord King. But there are many people in other countries who don't even know that he is the pilot of a frame gear.
　Leanne pokes me with her elbow.

"Don't you have at least one?
No, I have, but.... Well, okay.

　Normally I'd want you to guess properly, but since you bought all this, I'll give you a service.
　From the 'storage', he took out a figure of the black heavy armed frame gear, Grimgelde, on the table. Lean received it and handed it to King Paloof.

"Here you are. Take good care of it.
'Thank you! Wow, now it's all there!
'Oops, next month we'll be joined by Lou's Valtraute and Sakura's Rosweisse, so all of that is still to come.
'Well....'

　In response to my statement, everyone laughed at the pathetic voice that the Boy King let out.
　By the way, Lou's Valtraute is a conversion type, so there are four types: A "Attacker", B "Booster", C "Caster" and D "Defender". It's hard to get them all together.
　I heard that Olba's workshop will be opening a shop in Paloof soon, so I'm sure you'll be able to get them there as well, so please be patient and collect them.
　In addition to the frame gear, though, other monster breeds will also be added, such as Heavy Kong, Grand Boar, Power Bison and Needle Rat.
　However, if the hobby type products will sell this well, are soft vinyl dolls of giant beasts and plastic models of frame gear also possible...?
　I feel like it takes a certain amount of skill to make a product that can be assembled without adhesives... hmmm. There's no plastic in itself.
　If it works, I'll be able to magically create a system that will allow me to move the plastic model simply like in the anime...
　As I was pondering this, Lean poked me with her elbow again. Oh no, we'll think about the business later.
　After we all had dinner, we left the Paloof guys who were going to watch Linier's game.
　We were about to step out to see where we should go this time, too.

Oh, um.

　When I turned around at the sound of the voice calling me back, Rachel was there. She was still hugging the Snorlauf child. What is it?

I'm sorry about the other day.... I know how weak I am, and I understand...

　I was surprised. That arrogant young lady would apologize. As expected, I had my doubts. That means that, after all, her attitude earlier was not so much that she disliked me as it was that she was just awkward.

I'm sure you're right. If you think you are the strongest, that's the end of it. There are much stronger people in the world. By the way, there are people who can't win at all either. I'm losing every day.
'What? I don't know, there are people like that!

　I'm not a person, I'm a god. I wonder if he'll win one day.... I have a feeling it won't be more than a thousand years or so.

I have to protect Elle, so......... I said I couldn't lose to anyone.......but after losing to His Majesty the Duke, I wondered what my power was.......

　The tone of her voice gradually sinks and Rachel looks down. Oh, now I've lost my confidence. What is to be done now........
　As I was wondering what to say to her, Leanne next to me opened her mouth first.

''If you are strong, you will certainly be able to protect King Paloof from foreign enemies. But only knights and guards can do that. But there are some things only you can do.
I'm the only one who can...?

　Rachel, who had been looking down at Leanne's words, looked up.

'Be that person's emotional support. Be by your loved one's side, be with them, worry about them, think about them, laugh with them, be happy with them.... Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to help that person? That's something only you, his companion, can do. Be a shield to protect his heart. As I did.

　Then Leanne takes my arm. Wait, I'm kind of embarrassed. Paula, underneath my feet, hides her face with a squeak and a wince. That's why you're such a good actor for nothing, you know.

I'm not sure if I can be.... I'll be Elle's shield........
A good woman makes a man stand up for himself. A good woman makes a man stand up for himself. You have what it takes to be a good woman. I'll make sure of that. You're the only one who can support the king's heart and walk with him. Get a grip.
...Yes!

　She bowed one head to us happily, and Rachel ran towards everyone in Paloof with great vigor.
　I mean, she was recovering too quickly. Oh, I hugged the boy's arm.

''Well that's pretty funny advice.
Well, you know, she's got a point. Your sister.

　Hanakoi's sister.... No wonder. However, it looks like other things have been blown into her. It's kind of scary.

Well, where should we go from here?
No, you see, my arm...

　It's been taken away from me for a while now. I'm a little embarrassed to say this.

What? You don't want to work with me? I'm not one to get too sticky like the other kids, so I'm still trying to work up the courage to do this?
Uh ... my bad. ...Well, there's a puppet show going on, so do you want to go see it?
"As you wish, my dear.

　We started to walk away, laughing with her as she returned the antics.