On the road from Indor back to Cyclo.
　An empty wilderness, an apologetic city street.

　In this world where dungeons drop (produce) everything, if you leave the dungeon for even a short while, the city and its people are almost gone, giving it a lonely, fin-de-siècle atmosphere.

　I was walking along such an empty road with Margaret.
　Unlike my adventurer-like outfit, Margaret is conversely dressed as the princess.

　She is neat and elegant, full of grace.
　It's a mismatch with this wilderness.

"So you're the chief of that Indore?
I'm not the village chief, I'm the head of the dungeon society, and I'm a hired gun.
''The head of the association is in a much higher position than the head of the village and so on. No town or village can do without dungeons.
...... Yeah, that's right.

　Unlike Cliff, Margaret, who knows the common sense of this world very well, has a point.
　No town or village can do without dungeons, hence the head of the dungeon association has a far higher position than the head of a village and so on.

　I understand that, but I'm not used to the position of "chief" myself.

　I've never been in a company in my former world, I was a flat person who didn't have a job title, and I haven't even had a junior colleague in the company for years because the company was too black to retain new employees.
　I was not familiar with the position of a chief, a position above others.

''So those people are also the ones who were saved by Lyota, aren't they?
'That's what it comes down to. I did the rescue and the first of the dungeons for you.

　That and the doubling of dungeon drops - I'm not going to tell you this.
　I don't know if it's a dungeon spirit or a god, but I decided to keep quiet about Aulum's presence.

''It's as good as Lyota,''
I'd rather not.

　I looked around to make sure no one was around before I asked her.

'Those four didn't follow you?'
Are you talking about Lat, Socha, Play, and Builder?
Yeah.

　That's what his name was.

He's here.
'What?　Where?
Lat.
Ha!
Wow!

　Margaret called out, and one of the knights suddenly appeared diagonally to the side.
　He appeared like a ghost without a sound and dexterously followed in the position of a 'squire following the princess' in a step back position.

'Dude, where were you?'
......

　Rut did not answer my question.

'Well, where is it?'

　Margaret tilted her head slightly, she didn't seem to understand.
　Lat, who showed no sign of answering my question, did answer Margaret's soliloquy.

'We will be at all times at the place where we can do what Lady Margaret tells us to do, and when we are not needed, we will be out of the way.
So that's what I'm saying.
Hey, that's not a good explanation at all.
Good night, Lat, that's all.
Ha!

　Rato bowed his head lightly and then he just disappeared.
　I'd been watching him for a long time, and then he blinked and was gone.
　It was as if he had never been there in the first place.

"...... Hey, hey, you've covered your tracks too.

　The only footprints left in the wilderness were mine and Margaret's, and I couldn't see Lat's footprints anywhere, even though we must have walked side by side for a few dozen meters.

'It's like a summoning technique or something like that, or worse.
Really?
"And that attitude. I haven't seen anything like that since the last time I saw you work for Senpai.
What does it mean to be an errand boy?

　Don't you get it, Pacifica? You're a princess.

I mean the little guy who gets ordered to get a loaf of bread and juice and all that stuff.
Then you must all be his errand boys.
"Huh?
Sosha, can I get you some cold tea?
Here.
Oh!

　I was startled to the point of slumping.
　A different man now appeared diagonally behind Margaret.
　The man held out a glass of ice to Margaret from where he had brought it from.
　It looked delicious, knowing that it was cool with the water droplets condensing on the glass.

'Thank you, sir.'
"Fearful.

　The moment Margaret received it, Socha disappeared again without a sound.
　The outfit is knightly, but ...... aren't these people ninjas inside?

'That's really great. I'm curious to see where you're going with this.
Hello?
Yeah, yeah.
If Lyota says so.

　Margaret paused.

'Lat, socha, play, builder.'

　When he called the four names, he stopped, perhaps because he had stopped, but this time all four of them appeared in front of Margaret, not diagonally behind her, but all four of them were down on one knee and hanging their heads.

　The appearance was ninja and the gesture was knightly.

　The imbalance was a bit odd.

'How far are you willing to go with me?

　When Margaret asked the question, the four of them hardly paused, let alone rushed.
　He said in a tone of voice that was not at all lost.

'I'll live for Lady Margaret.
I would die for Lady Margaret.
"Lady Margaret's pleasure is everything.
It's all for Lady Margaret.

Believers!　I'm a total believer now!
Thank you.

　Margaret said, and the four of them disappeared again without a sound.

'So that's why. 'I'm sure you're convinced?'
I mean, I was just amazed.

'Huh?　But you did accept the gold from Margaret earlier. I thought you'd be too afraid to accept such a move.
"It would be punishable by death to refuse the gift of Lady Margaret.
Wow!
How are you doing?

　I was startled to the point of jumping out of my skin, but Margaret was awake.
　I'm sure someone whispered in my ear right now, but I looked around and there was no one there.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you.
　It's kind of amazing, just amazing.

　The surprise subsided and I calmed down, but I also understood.

'You're a real believer, aren't you? Well, Margaret was like an idol to me from the moment I met her. She sold air boxes and stuff.
What's an idol?
Yeah?　Oh, ...... the race that everyone likes.

　I answered her with my own interpretation.

'Is this ...... from everyone?'
Yeah.
...... Lyota too?
What?
Does Lyota like you as well ......?

　Boom.

　Margaret turns to me and asks me, looking straight up.
　Moist eyes, flushed cheeks.
　This is like - wait, wait, wait.
　Idols aren't allowed to fall in love or get married--.

"I like Ryota, I like ...... Ryota likes you ......?

　A stiff ball was thrown into the air with no tricks.
　Critically, it hit me directly in the chest.

　Pounding, my heart rate jumped all at once.

'......'

　Margaret stares at me with her wet eyes.
　As I'm thrilled and fumbling, she gets progressively more and more troubled, saddened, and on the verge of bursting into tears.

'I knew it was a bad idea ......?'
No, it's not!
Are you sure?
'Oh!　I think I like it, but--

　It's the Elsa thing, and I've hardly ever experienced anything like that before to begin with.
　I don't know what to do.

　And I'm lost.
　My vision darkens unexpectedly, and I feel a soft touch on my lips.

　A 0.1 second contact, just a small, birdlike peck.

　A kiss.

　My mind went even more blank.

''--!　I, I don't know what I'm doing!

　Margaret, on the other hand, turned even redder. She turned bright red like this boiled one.

'Lat, socha, play, builder!　Hide my face.
「「「「 ha! 」」」」

　Four ninja knights appeared without a sound and surrounded Margaret from all sides.

'Ugh, ...... I'm sorry!

　Still embarrassed, Margaret was escorted away by the four of us and ran away, covering her face with her hands.

　The rest of me, though, was puzzled, too.

'Lord Satou,'
Wow!

　One of the knights who escorted Margaret away was right next to her.
　I think it was ...... Lat?

　No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
　Why are you with me?

　I panicked, such as I was, but Lat was completely unconcerned.
　He looked straight at me and said quietly, with a face that was as serious and ...... rigid and honest itself.

'I have never seen Lady Margaret look so happy before, sir.
'What?　Oh, .......

　I thought it was, "What are you doing to the princess, you insolent little tramp! But what was said was the opposite.

'Keep up the good work,'

　With that, Lat bowed and disappeared again.

'By all means: ......'

　Rut told me, and I remembered the feel of a kiss.
　My heart rate jumped more and more as I imagined "a lot" of things to come with Margaret.