Chapter 137 - Invitation and Demonkind [1] (1/2)

137. Invitation and Demonkind [1]

After the tumultuous Christmas party, Thousand Blade Academy entered a short winter holiday period.

I immersed myself in training with Ria, Rose, and Claude-san on the days leading up to the end of the year.

And on December 31st, I spent time relaxing with Ria in the dorm… Or at least, I was supposed to.

On New Year’s Eve.

When we went out shopping, Ria said something ridiculous.

「If you eat as many New Year’s soba noodles equal to your age, you’ll be promised sound health next year!」

…Fifteen bowls was impossible in common sense.

Even if it’s a request from Ria, there are things I can and can’t do.

「Let’s eat together, Allen!」

To refuse an invitation from Ria, as she smiled innocently, was very difficult

After further repeated discussions, we somewhat settled on an idea which didn’t make much sense, where I have to eat 8 bowls of New Year’s soba noodles, and Ria 22 bowls.

A total of 30 bowls for two people, which originally should have been 15 bowls per person.

Does that really make sense? …To be honest, I don’t know.

But Ria looked happy at that time.

She said,「I hope we can be together next year too!」, laughing happily.

Therefore, the eight bowls of soba noodles which I ate to the point of passing out was definitely not pointless.

Which means, me majestically lying on my stomach and suffering from stomach pain, is also definitely not pointless… I hope.

And then, January 1st came.

Early into the new year, I ended up taking a stomach medicine.

Needless to say, the reason was the New Year’s soba noodles I ate last night.

(Fuu… Feels like the medicine has worked a little.)

I took a deep breath, calmed my stomach and intestines, and put on my ceremonial outfit I bought just the other day.

Black suit and striped pants. So-called『Director’s Suit』.

I and Ria bought it in a big hurry before the end of the year.

(Even so, I never imagined something like this would happen…)

It all started with a『written invitation』.

The day after the Christmas party, Ria and I received one copy each of a written invitation.

It was an invitation to『Keishinkai』held annually at Ringard Palace on January 1st every year. [1. TL Note:”Keishinkai” is “New Year’s Fortune Ceremony”.]

The Keishinkai is a large ceremony to celebrate the nation’s stepping into a new year, and the ruler of the Ringard Imperial Kingdom, Tenshi-sama will also be attending. [1. TL Note: “Tenshi” means “Heavenly Ruler”. “Heavenly Ruler-sama” sounds off, so it will remain “Tenshi-sama”.]

(But… Why am I invited to such a large ceremony?)

I checked the invitation many times over, thinking that there might be some sort of mistake, but my name was clearly written on it.

(…Ria is the princess of Vesteria Kingdom, so it’s nothing strange for her to be invited to attend the Keishinkai.)

But I’m an everyday ordinary civilian.

A ceremony which is attended by ambassadors from foreign countries and higher ups from the government, to put it bluntly, I am unsuitable to be there.

(Aaa… My stomach is getting sore again.)

Apparently, mental distress can also add to the pain.

(Haa… Why is this happening?)

As I sighed loudly, there was a knock on my door.

「Allen, have you finished changing yet?」

「Aa, just done.」

When I replied, the door slowly opened, and Ria, wearing a long-sleeved kimono, stepped in.

「Yes, that’s perfect. It looks great on you!」she laughed, looking at my ceremonial suit from top to bottom.

「……A-Aa, thank you.」

I was enamoured by Ria’s figure in the long-sleeved kimono, so I was a second late to reply.

An elegant red-kimono.

Golden sash tied around her slender waist.

Beautiful floral embroidery around the shoulders.

An ornate hairpin of a wine red flower pinned onto her braided, lustrous hair.

She was so captivating that my mind went blank.

「…Fufu, are you enchanted perhaps?」

When she jokingly said so,

「…Aa, you are very beautiful.」

I inadvertently put my thoughts into words.

「I-I, I see… T-Thank you.」

「W-Welcome…?」

The conversation became awkward, and our faces were flushed.

After that,

「……」

「……」

We fleetingly glanced at each other, and whenever our eyes met, we immediately looked away. It was an indescribable atmosphere.

Taking a look at the clock, the time was nine o’clock in the morning.

Because the start of the Keishinkai was at ten o’clock, there was no longer any room to dally.

「I-It’s about time, let’s go!」

「Y-Yes, let’s do that!」

Then, we went to the Ringard Palace with some fleeting tension.

■

After leaving the dormitory of Thousand Blade Academy, we walked for a while, and arrived at our destination surprisingly soon.

After a brief reception at the entrance, we stepped into Ringard Palace.

And there,

「A-Amazing!!」

A gorgeous ceremony hall spread before us. It almost looked like another world.

The venue was far larger than the gymnasium of Thousand Blade Academy.

A huge, state of the art LCD panel was attached to a pillar.

Huge statues that give off a remarkable presence in each of the four corners of the hall.

Paintings which give off a magnum opus atmosphere, decorated all over.