Chapter 296: Takatsuki Makoto reunites with the Moon Oracle (2/2)

Stop it, Sa-san.

They will think I am an idiot.

Even Lucy was making slightly taken aback eyes there.

“So it seems, Furiae-sama.” (Havel)

“……are……idiot!” (Furiae)

Havel’s tone was indifferent, and Furiae-san’s shoulders were shaking.

Or more like, Havel is doing a messaging game here at each instance. It must be rough.

“How about speaking for yourself already?” (Havel)

Havel says what I was thinking.

At that time, Furiae-san turned sharply this way.

Her long hair made a big arc.

“Takatsuki Makoto!” (Furiae)

She pointed straight at me.

“Y-Yes?” (Makoto)

She glared straight at me, and I ended up straightening my back at this.

“I won’t allow you to be reinstated as a Hero! I will get in the way of you being reinstated as a Hero, on my name as the Queen of Laphroaig!” (Furiae)

“Hah?” (Makoto)

I don’t get it.

“Furiae-sama, it is outside your authority to get involved in the personal affairs of another country.” (Havel)

“Shut up! We are going back, Havel!” (Furiae)

Saying this, Furiae-san ran off.

What was that just now…?

Lucy, Sa-san, and I looked at each other in confusion.

“Sorry, Takatsuki Makoto-dono. My deepest apologies Lucy-sama, Aya-sama.” (Havel)

Havel spoke to us with proper manners making me question just what was that arrogant attitude the other day.

He then followed Furiae-san.

◇◇

We returned to the inn while still confused.

We returned with Lucy’s Teleport.

When our party was going to talk about the mysterious attitude of Furiae-san just now…

“An emergency request from the Adventurer Guild to the two of the Crimson Fangs!!”

A bright red bird suddenly flew in from the window.

It seems to be a bird made with magic and is speaking fluently.

There was a small paper tied up on its leg.

Sa-san untied it as if used to this, and read it.

“Again? Pass.” (Lucy)

“You can’t, Lu-chan. Apparently a group of wyverns is attacking a village in the Water Country.” (Aya)

“Argh, geez! Isn’t that something we have to go to?! Aya, we are finishing this before dinner!” (Lucy)

“Okay, Lu-chan! Takatsuki-kun, wait for us for a bit, okay?” (Aya)

Saying this, the two hurriedly leave with Teleport.

(I wanted them to bring me there too…) (Makoto)

I asked them, and it seems like Lucy still isn’t used to teleporting 3 people.

Because of that, I ended up getting Teleported close to Furiae-san just like now.

Since this time around, they are going to be saving people, being late isn’t allowed.

And so, I am staying back.

I am left in the room alone.

Shall I go meet Momo?

But the residence of Momo is inside the grounds of the Highland Castle.

I can’t get inside the Highland Castle by myself.

I am not a Hero anymore after all.

…*Knock knock*

Someone is knocking on the door.

“Come in.” (Makoto)

When I answered this…

“Oh my, are you alone?”

Princess Sofia entered the room as if finding it strange.

“Are you done with your work for today?” (Makoto)

“No, I still have work left to do, but I came here because I wanted to see you.” (Sofia)

“…How about resting?” (Makoto)

This princess is working too much.

“It is okay. There’s someone that has an even more difficult time than me after all… And so, the audience with Noel-sama has been decided. It seems like she will be making time tomorrow.” (Sofia)

“That’s sudden.” (Makoto)

I thought it would take several days.

“It seems Noel-sama wants to thank you quickly. The Sun Goddess-sama was the one who gave you the unreasonable request of going 1,000 years to the past, so she must be feeling indebted. She forced in the time.” (Sofia)

“I managed to safely come back, so it is fine though.” (Makoto)

When I said this, Princess Sofia giggled.

“I knew you would say that. But it seems like Noel-sama wouldn’t be satisfied with this.” (Sofia)

“Is that so.” (Makoto)

What a straightlaced girl.

As expected of Anna-san’s descendant.

After that, we exchanged information.

The 3rd Northern Expedition will apparently happen soon.

But there’s disputes about who will be the one holding the main leadership.

The Sun Country and the Moon Country don’t get along.

Considering the oppression of Highland towards devilkin, this is natural though.

Thanks to this, the expedition is not settling at all.

“It is said that the country that defeats the Great Demon Lord will become the next supreme ruler of the continent. If it were only that, that would be fine, but there’s even rumors about a war occurring for the hegemony of the West Continent… There’s no way Noel-sama and Furiae would begin a war…” (Sofia)

Princess Sofia muttered sadly.

There’s even rumors like that, huh.

Sounds like a whole lot of pain.

I told her about my meeting with Furiae-san.

When I told her about how we moved with Lucy’s teleport, she obviously was baffled by it.

By the way, Furiae-san apparently can’t raise her head to Princess Sofia.

The Water Country was the one that assisted the Moon Country to stand up after all.

It seems like Princess Sofia can’t think of a reason why Furiae-san is cold to me, and tilted her head.

◇◇

“Well then, see you again tomorrow.” (Sofia)

After talking for a while, Princess Sofia exited the room.

What a busy person.

I am back to being alone.

I space out watching the ceiling, and what bothered me was that attitude of Furiae-san.

Looks like she doesn’t want me to go back to being a Hero.

“What is she thinking…Princess?” (Makoto)

I muttered this in this empty room, and rolled around on the bed.

This was just me talking to myself, and I wasn’t expecting an answer.

That’s why that question should have disappeared into the air…

“I will answer, My Master.”

A clear and low voice responded to me.

“?!”

I spring out from my bed and hurriedly look around warily.

But there’s nothing around.

“Who is it…?” (Makoto)

I take a stance with my dagger and ask shortly.

“Why are you so nervous, *My Master*.”

“…Huh?” (Makoto)

When I listened properly, that voice was coming from my feet.

There were two small eyes shining…in my shadow.

And then, a black living being squirmed out from inside the shadow.

It was a familiar black cat.

“You are…Tsui?” (Makoto)

The demonic cat that became my familiar in the Water City of Makkaren.

But it is the black cat that was more attached to Furiae-san than me.

“Correct. To think you would forget about me… How sad.” (Tsui)

“…”

It sighed heavily and grooms itself.

I couldn’t say anything.

“What’s the matter, My Master? By the way, I am hungry. I demand fish.” (Tsui)

“Why are you talking normally?!!” (Makoto)

I couldn’t hold it in and ended up retorting.

Looks like the one who changed the most after coming to the present was the black cat.

———

■Comment Response:

>Wasn’t it supposed to be the cliche that the teleport misses and he would end up being teleported to Furiae-san naked in the middle of bathing?!

→Author: “That didn’t come to mind!”

(If the light novel reaches this point, I might take that idea as reference.)