145 Episode 145: "Unhappy Call and Rejection Method. And Forcible Solicitation".txt (2/2)

The butler, who was sandwiched between the regular soldiers on either side, raised his voice.

''The 'stone gargoyles' that attacked the town have all been defeated through the work of the regular soldiers and the help of Your Highness Claudia, the Princess of Charity. Everyone should return home in peace!

Oh!” he cheered.

'We are currently doing our best to find out why the Stone Gargoyle invaded the town. We will make an announcement as soon as we know. We are also planning to increase security to prevent this from happening again in the future...

Anyway, the chaos in town is over, I guess.

Let's go to ....... Iris can give you more information.

I blinked at Letitia and Cutlass and began to move.

We were about to pass through the waves of people with Letitia in the lead and enter an alley - when

Also, to the noblemen who will be participating in the 'Unpacking Party', the Irgapha Domain House will send a messenger of apology later on.

Also──Princess Claudia, who has defeated the demon, has requested to speak with us about this matter!

This is a great honor. We have sent an errand to the innkeepers, but there are some people who cannot be contacted at .......

If there are any noblemen here, would you be willing to come forward!

What?

The words of the lord's house steward stopped us in our tracks.

We turned around and saw a young man raise his hand in the midst of a wave of people. He was surrounded by men dressed in black. Is that man also a nobleman? Maybe it's because it's an emergency, but it looks like they were evacuated among the general public.

I immediately send a message to Iris. The reply──Iris hasn't received any information about it yet. I'll look into it right away.

”...... You're in for some trouble,

Laetitia has a difficult look on her face.

”I'm here in this town on behalf of the Viscount's - father. If I am summoned to the city in public, I will have no choice but to go. The other party is the royal princess, and moreover, the person who just saved the town ......

And since it makes sense to call them up: ......

The princess who fought off the demon's attack has told us about it at .......

You'd be a bad person if you turned this down: ......

Letitia sighed and nodded.

When she was about to say something, she received information from Iris. She said that the place where Princess Claudia is trying to call out the noblemen is the quarters provided by the Ilgafa lord family. The message has a map and a floor plan. Attached to the message is a map and floor plan, along with image data of the escape route in case of emergency. ''Iris, you work too fast.

''Do you think Letitia doesn't want to see the 'Princess of Charity'?

...... though no decent nobleman would miss out on the chance to meet a royal princess.

Leticia shook her head in annoyance.

The reason I came to this town is to see my friends. I don't want to cause you any extra trouble. Besides, if I were to meet with the princess and discuss it with her, it's obvious that my father would blurt it out at a nobleman's social gathering.

Frankly, it's annoying, and it would be a burden to me, as I plan to leave the baronial family at some point.

Okay.

Letitia didn't like that kind of thing, I remember.

Originally, Princess Claudia and Letitia had only sat together at the party. If it was a direct call to them, that's a lot of pressure.

Even more so when the person you're dealing with is a princess leading an unknowable 'Golden Corps'. I still don't even know the true identity of that stone gargoyle. Maybe he's related to the princess or maybe not.

But in Letitia's position, she can't refuse the call.

In other words──the best option in this case is...

How about a sick day?

”............ yes?

Letitia and Cutlass looked at me with a plop on their faces.

Huh?　Did I say something funny?

”A 'sick day' is the most powerful thing in my world, a trump card for refusing calls - for taking time off work. No matter how black the person is, this 'sick leave' is hard to resist. I don't care if it's someone who's already there, the 'Princess of Charity' can't call out someone who says they're not feeling well, right?

'...... is, haha. That may well be true, though.

'Leticia-Milfe was lightly engaged and injured when she met the 'stone gargoyle'; she'll heal in a day or two, but as she's currently undergoing treatment, I don't want to expose her to it. A letter like that - I'll deliver it.

I said.

Of course, I'll have to take sufficient precautions.

I won't be able to meet the 'Princess of Charity' in person, but I think I can get a vague idea of what kind of group they are. To be honest, I don't want to make contact with the royal family. But if I do, there's no better place than this town, our home turf, to make contact with them.

It's a good idea to decide whether or not you want to attend the New Lord's Unveiling Party afterwards.

I explained to Letitia and Cutlass.

“Okay, I understand. I'll ask you then.''

Leticia put her hood back on and said.

''The situation right now is quite chaotic. Until we find out the identity of the 'Stone Gargoyle' and what the 'Golden Corps' is like ...... it seems like we'd better try to gather information until we know a lot of things.

I agree with you, sir.

Cutlass replied as he walked diagonally behind Letitia.

'I feel a deep darkness in the royal family, including my ...... no, my mother. They consider it dangerous to approach them unless it is safe to do so.

'Yes. I agree with both of you.

With the plan in place, we were quietly making our way down the alley.

I'm taking the long way around for about ten minutes, because if I head straight for the house, I'll stand out. Once we got through this street, we should be in the woods behind the house.

Just as we thought that, we noticed a figure standing in the alley.

Oh, well, well. What a surprise.

The figure said.

Leticia, who was walking in the lead, stops.

She whispers to me and Cutlass in a whisper. 'It's the Barons,' she said.

I remember the list that Iris sent me. Except for Leticia, there are three nobles participating in the 'New Lord's Unveiling Party'. One of them was the name of a baronial family. As I recall, it was 'Baroness Lalambell-Erngea (Danshakurei)'.

''Well, well, well, Letitia-Milfe-sama. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.''

The brown curly-haired girl ── Laramber-Erngea picks up her skirt and bows.

At the same time, the small girl who was waiting on her left and right - who is probably a guard - also bows.

''Thank you very much for being so polite. Lalambell-Erngea-sama. For you to participate in the 'Orokui Party' too?

'Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you here, Lady Letitia.

It's been a tough day for you. ......

There is no thorn in Letitia's voice.

Lalambell-Erngea isn't a confrontation partner, I guess. The other side is also looking at Leticia with a normal glint in its eye.

''I was curious when I heard about the 'stone gargoyle' and came to the lord's house. ''And Lalambell-sama?''

No, Princess Claudia sent me.

She said.

'It must be awkward to raise your voice in that place, isn't it?　I was wondering what to do, and then Princess Claudia's messenger arrived. She told me to wait for her here and that she would send for me later.

What...?

We couldn't help but look around.

We and the baronesses were the only ones here.

The commotion in the main street was still going on. There was no sign of anyone heading our way.

'So that's that. But I'm on sick leave. I'm not feeling well, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Leticia looked at the Baroness and coughed.

It was totally deliberate, though.

''I'm sorry, but I'll have to say hello again. Good day to you. ......''

She looks at me and chuckles. I'm going to pass through this place with my Manners Gears.

But--

Just before Leticia activated her skill, the walls of the alley and the ground shone with light.

''I'm here to welcome you. Noblemen.''

I heard voices.

The light on the walls and the ground drew an intricate pattern. This is - a magic circle?

In a time of crisis like this, I have a recommendation for you. This is a limited edition, recommended only to noblemen. You're in luck, then. Please follow me. You will be able to select to your heart's content...

What's that?

No, it's not a solicitation scheme!

”Sent by: Nagi

Recipient: Cecil and Iris.

Body: Stand by until we know what's going on!　”We are now...

When we sent out the message of the mind linkage, our field of vision went completely blank and we could not see a thing...

The next thing I knew, Leticia, Cutlass and I - we were standing in an unknown place.