The next morning.
　We left the commercial city of Renyadaw early in the morning roll call.

　Cheri had fallen asleep in tears as she was, and when we met up with her again this morning, for some reason she had turned red and averted her gaze, so we didn't talk to her. However, I've been talking to Ailey and the others, so I guess it's all settled down. I'm glad to hear that. But for me, the next time I see them is the scariest part. What in the world they will say is a mystery to me.

　Sherry said, "I'll definitely look at Firstest Manor," and instead of listening, he forced me to follow him. I made him promise to "go home after you see it," but this guy must be planning to stay for some reason or another.


　And so, the trip to gain experience and relax ended.

　As for the members of the first court witchcraft division, all of the experience value obtained from the circumference of Gultum was transferred to the Ichino type of the appropriate attribute, and although it was a little, it succeeded in raising the base of INT. You may say that you have finally taken the first step as "Maku Maku Squad" with this.

　The ideal to aim for is the Ichino Kata All Attributes 9-dan. There is still a long way to go.





"--Welcome home, Master.

　When I informed Yukari that I was going to take Sherry home with me, the servants were all there to greet me, even though it was already nightfall.

　Despite being a countess, Sherry's mouth is gaping open when she sees the extraordinary size of the First Test Manor.

''Sherry, where would you like to be?　I'd recommend the lakeside now, though.
Yeah, you're good to go.

　Once we enter the grounds through the gate, it's another short trip from there. It's a great deal larger than the Count's residence, and Sherry seems to be gobsmacked by our home, which is many times larger than the Count's residence, making her eyes black and white at the passing scenery. That's right, it's bigger than the royal palace. The nice reaction made me feel better, so I called Yukari to tell her that we would have a lavish dinner as well. However, it seems that our head chef, Sobra, is not feeling well and is absent today, so they can only prepare a meal of decent quality. That smelly bastard, at this crucial time, is .......

　When I arrived at the lakeside house, only Yukari and one maid were waiting for me. As I recall, it's called Es. It's the red-headed sister. It seems that she will be accompanying Sherry during her stay.


''Master. Another one of the granting equipment is complete.
Really?

　Silvia and Eco return to their room and while Sherry is led to the visitor's room, Yukari reports back to me on what happened while she was away.

　The completed equipment is the Anakuma Rock Armor - a hand armor that grants the wearer a 150% VIT to the "Anakuma".

It's fantastic!　Eco hard again.
I'll bring it to you later.
Yeah, okay.

Yes. And, you know, ...... that.

　Yukari leans in close to me and asks me shyly, looking up.

　No matter how unpredictable I am, I noticed the quicksilver. Not wanting to let her finish, I slowly stroke Yukari's head and neck to seal the deal for tonight. With a bash, she was still as bewitching, beautiful, and adorable as ever.


"I'm flirting with you, I'm sorry...

　And then Winfiled appears out of nowhere with a sultry expression on his face. It's not good for the heart. It's not just the fact that they're in your home, but also that they're not human beings.

It's just as I expected, the war situation is about to move, you know.

　She says something like that so matter-of-factly. Isn't that pretty important ......?

It's been a while since King Dowell ordered the documents to be released. He's finally going to release them.
Are you sure they've been tampered with?　In this short time?
Yeah. Not only the Second Order, but the Third Order as well, while they're saying there was a violation of the agreement, I think they did a good job.

　Winfiled claps his hands as if he were praising an elementary school student for finishing his summer homework in July. His relaxed attitude is very encouraging.

I'm going to get the original of the official document. Let's get the original official document, okay?

　OK. So I guess I'm ready for the big reveal.

So, get me out of here, Sylvia.

　...... Looks like it wasn't yet.




'Arrest record inquiry?'
Yes.

　Dinner time. In the middle of a reunion in the living room with Sherry, Winfiled gives instructions to Sylvia.

'You met Mr. Second, that's when Sylvia caught Second in the act, right?
'Mmmm, yes. I've missed it: ......
Stop, don't remind me. I was a mess, that's all.

　As a result of getting too excited and dancing maniacally in front of the store, he was subpoenaed for obstruction of business, which was nothing but shame. After all, I was also suspected of being a drug addict.

Please go check the document that was made at that time.
'That's fine, but ...... what the hell does it mean?'

　I was caught off guard by a ting. As I recall, Sylvia had been instructed by Winfild to respond to the Third Order's call, "That man might know something" before. The confirmation of her arrest record this time must have something to do with that.

''Sylvia-san had reported a lot about Second-san at the request of the Third Order, didn't she?
Hmm. As you said, I've been reporting a lot of lies to you to give you an advantage.
It's about time we knew the truth. The Third Order is keeping an eye out for Sylvia.
...... I see. So I guess that means I'm a decoy.
Exactly. They're skeptical. They'll think there's something in the arrest papers, Mr. Second.

　I see. It may indeed be inevitable that those who are falsifying official documents will think that the other party is falsifying too. It's an assumption similar to the obsession that "it's natural that the other party is doing what I'm doing".

'Whether we're tampering with it or not, after Sylvia-san checks it, they'll definitely come back to check it out. The person who comes to check is the one who is flexible with the official documents.
You can trace it back to the person responsible for tampering with the documents and then to the originals.
"Exactly.

　So you're going to make your move at this time. They've got it cornered pretty good, and now it's time to make a move.

　The Prime Ministers are still in a state of "burned-out". They have no way to move. So, we're going to lure them into a big fight by allowing them to make a move. That's great, there's no mercy in the way he does it. I'd never want to make an enemy of this guy: .......


'Hey, can I have a word?'
What's up?　Is the food not palatable?
No. Is the food good?　It's not that, you know?
What?　Oh, if it's a lavatory, it's right at the end of the hallway.
No.
If you're not a latrine, then what the hell is ......?
That's a horrible way to treat a single mistake!

　Sherry is starting to relax and regain her tsk tsk edge.
　With a single cough and a gohon, Sherry regained her composure and opened her mouth.

You can't talk like that in front of me?　I'm listening to the content, and that ...... is too bad anyway?
Well, you'll be fine.
Really?　They trust you.

　Yeah, I trust you. Specifically, because I don't see how anyone who was incontinent in front of me could possibly disobey me in the future. Don't tell me you've forgotten about that late night bother.

What's the deal with this house, anyway?　That's not a great deal. Isn't this bigger than the palace?　How was it built?　You seem to be getting involved in political disputes, and I wonder if you'll be the king as you go?
You didn't even ask for the king.
"I'm just kidding...." "I'm just kidding..." "You're going to be what?" ......
"World number one.
It's too sketchy and wacky, but it's needlessly convincing: ......

　The day ended with a dumbfounded Sherry laughing and chatting with everyone else.
　It was a very relaxing evening, not very political.




　............ No, I had forgotten about it.

A˚......

　The dawn of the morning. I sit on the sofa in the living room, dried up like a shell, spitting out a white blur of ectoplasm from my mouth as I gaze blankly at the lake in the morning.

　Yukari, who was busily preparing breakfast in the kitchen, looked sleek and healthy. Is that what all dark elves are like?　If that's the case, you should probably change your species name to Succubus already.

　I won the game. I've managed to win, but I feel like I've lost the game.

　What's more, the frightening thing is the fact that Yukari is still growing at an out-of-the-ordinary speed, like a common extraterrestrial. At this rate, I'll be invaded in the next "III" with aplomb. The box office receipts will only increase and the budget must have increased from the previous two films. I'm sure they will make you think that "III will also have a happy ending with a nice kiss with a divorced heroine after a meaningless car chase and a gun battle," and then they will make you think that "the human race was driven to the northern hemisphere and was invaded in vain after that, but we will still fight and live until the end --" kind of irredeemable storyline, of course. And IV is a reminiscence of the past, dammit. It's like, "Actually, this happened to me," and then it gets cold feet. That's not what I'm looking for. What I'm looking for is a simple, clear-cut "hilarious, painful action in which a stupidly strong dad goes around killing enemies like a fool for the sake of his kidnapped daughter", not "a dark, serious, opportunistic war game with lots of flashy CG that's needlessly convenient". A mass-produced movie that spends so much money on it that it forgets its original intentions is a blockbuster.


Master, master!
...... Oh. What's up?
Yeah, no, it's just that when I talk to him, he doesn't respond.
Sorry, I don't know.
Breakfast is ready, sir.
Hmm. I'm coming.

　And then, as if nothing had happened, another day begins.
　I must prepare some kind of secret weapon for extraterrestrials. With a firm resolve in my heart, I arrived at the dining table a step late.



　　* * * *



'Now that the contents of the official documents have finally been revealed, Your Highness, are you sure you want to keep this up?

　Minister Hai Lai had visited the Second Prince of Mein and was having a meeting with him to discuss his future standing.

'Yes, sir. The tampering is certain. All we have to do now is wait and see what happens.
However, if time goes on without evidence, it will put our camp in a bind.

　The current situation, where official documents were disclosed and it was revealed that "there was no mention of an agreement between R6 and the Second Third Order", is painful for the Second Prince's camp. The second prince's camp can't help but be criticized as having falsely accused him of subverting the political process.

'We will have the evidence. In a few days at the earliest.
...... His Highness seems to have a lot of faith in those people.
'You're my only friend, so of course ...... that person is out of the ordinary in many ways. There's no way to counteract that. Just as our common sense doesn't work, neither does theirs.
I almost feel sorry for Vizier Val.

　There can be a stage of deterioration before there is an upturn, as former British Prime Minister Churchill famously said, and these two men smiled triumphantly, as if they knew this.

'Your Highness has changed. He stands tall in the face of conflict.'
No. No, I have to stand up for him. Normally I am a soft, weak, cowardly person who is able to stand tall in front of a set meal.
You have been waiting for this moment with an eagle eye, don't you think? The reason why the Prime Minister has been cornered in this way is all due to the leadership of Your Highness. Even if Your Highness doesn't think so, we, his subjects, should think so.
I hope so: ......

　Mine muttered happily for some reason, "I'm going to get hit in the head if I say that.

　The next king is not going to be ...... this one, Hai Lai gave one bitter smile, lowered his bald head slightly, and then opened his mouth.

''Well then, I'll leave you with that. From now on, we shall move with them as our main axis.
Hi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hailey.
By the way, Your Highness, how will you introduce him to His Majesty when the succession to the throne is assured? By the way, Your Highness, how will you introduce him to His Majesty when your succession to the throne is assured? I beg you to consider how you will introduce him to His Majesty when the succession to the throne is assured.
............

　At Hai Lai's last word, Mine's previous smile suddenly crumbled into a reluctant face.

　How should I introduce that rude and dawn friend - the more I think about it, the more I feel sick to my stomach now, Mein.