With the exit of the Frontier Count and the Viscount, the assembly hall became buzzing again as Ryze-san announced that the party had finally commenced.
Chronois-san also told them that she won’t participate in the party, but she will stay here until it’s over, making the people within the assembly hall very excited.
It’s rare for the Supreme God, Chronois-san, to visit the Human Realm outside of the Festival of Heroes…… Unnn, rare…… is what it should have been.
Because of the fact that we’ve met so many times, I don’t really get that impression at all, but for the rest of the people here, it’s as if a tremendous celebrity showed up at a country-sponsored party. It would make it seem like the future of this country is in safe hands now.
As the party begins, we hear a beautiful performance, and at that moment, Lilia-san grabs my hand and hurriedly pulls me away.
[Kaito-san! Please “dance” with me.]
[Eh? Eeehhh!? Wait, Lilia-san? I don’t know anything about dancing at all……]
[It’s alright. I’ll be taking the lead.]
For some reason, Lilia-san seemed to be in a hurry, as she vigorously pushed me to move and start dancing with her.
Of course, since I have no experience in ballroom dancing at all, it isn’t a surprise that I can’t dance at all, but Lilia-san seems to be a good dancer, slowly dancing for me, who isn’t used to dancing, so even though I was dancing awkwardly, I still somehow managed to follow her lead.
With Lilia-san’s instruction, my hand was placed over Lilia-san’s waist, conveyed how slender and soft it is, and the fact that they were almost close together made Lilia-san look awfully clear.
Her glittering golden hair, her sapphire eyes…… The blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty who looks like a princess out of the story…… No, well, she’s actually a former princess…… Anyway, there’s no reason not to be nervous about being in close contact with such a beautiful woman.
However, why did she suddenly decide to dance with me? It’s true that there would be ballroom dances in noble parties but……
It seems like Lilia-san is dancing on the same steps as mine, so since I think we would have enough composure to talk for a bit, so I nervously called out to her.
[U- Ummm, Lilia-san?]
[……T- That was close. Thank goodness Kaito-san was close by.]
[……Eh?]
[We were almost surrounded by the nobles all over the assembly hall.]
[……Ahh.]
Hearing Lilia-san’s murmur, the questions I had earlier are resolved.
Lilia-san is someone who received the True Blessing from the Supreme God, Chronois-san…… She is someone who can be said to have accomplished something that is first ever in the history of the Humans, making her truly the woman of the hour.
That being the case, the other nobles would naturally rush to Lilia-san’s side. If they were to interact with Lilia-san, it would lead to having some sort of connection to the Supreme God as well……
I see, that’s why Lilia-san was in a hurry to start dancing with me…… Since the person she’s dancing with can’t be approached by the other nobles, so she can somehow adjust her situation.
[……Kaito-san, I’m sorry. I’m going to have to ask you to keep dancing for a few more songs…… Near the exit of the assembly hall…… I want to tell Luna and Sieg as soon as possible, so I’ll leave for a bit.]
[I understand.]
[I’ll be back after about half an hour or so, and then, let’s go talk with Amalie. So, it would be helpful if you would stay near the entrance of the assembly hall.]
[Roger that.]
We couldn’t just come to Amalie’s birthday party and leave without congratulating her.
There was an option to leave the assembly hall with Lilia-san but…… I guess that wouldn’t be a good idea.
If it’s just Lilia-san, she can play nice and spread it around as such, but I can’t do that kind of thing.
Well, I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the idea of being left here…… If push comes to shove, I can hang out with her Majesty, the Emperor who has been waving at me out of the corner of my eye……
I continued dancing with Lilia-san for a few songs, walking a bit and after we reached the entrance, the song that was currently playing was coming to an end right at that moment.
Thereupon, Lilia-san spoke to me with a gentle smile on her face.
[……Kaito-san, Thank you so much.]
[Eh?]
[Since you came to this world, since you let me meet Chronois-sama…… I’ve finally been able to settle my past.]
[No, that is……]
I’m not saying I personally didn’t do anything. but if the burden on Lilia-san’s shoulders has been lifted a bit, I’m really glad.
Then, at the end of the song, the sound of the instruments echoed loudly in the finale, and the moment the other participants and my eyes moved to the orchestra…… I felt something soft touch my cheek.
[……Eh?]
Understanding that it was Lilia-san’s lips, I looked back at her, stunned…… But while I was surprised, Lilia-san took her hand away and headed towards the door, and just before she opened it, she turned around and smiled at me.
[I’m really happy to have met you…… If we have the chance, let’s dance together again.]
[……Huh? Eh?]
And so, Lilia-san walked out of the hall, leaving me not completely caught up in my thoughts, and I, who was left behind, put my hand on my cheek as if to check the feeling that was lingering on my cheek, staring at the direction where Lilia-san had left, dumbfounded.
Dear Mom, Dad——- The first ballroom dance in my life was somewhat new to me, and I was terribly nervous because my dancing partner was Lilia-san. However, a shocking development was waiting for me at the end. My thoughts haven’t really caught up with the situation yet, but just now, I’m sure——- Did I just got kissed by Lilia-san?
Lilia comes to Lunamaria and Sieglinde, who were waiting outside the venue, a little further away from the entrance, with her face down.
[Lili, great job in there.]
[We saw those nobles being taken away…… You finally did it, My Lady!]
When they see Lilia, they both ran up to her, happy that she has accomplished her long-cherished dream, but for some reason, Lilia still held her head down and doesn’t respond.
[……Lili?]
[……My Lady?]
In front of the two people who tilt their heads at the situation, Lilia wordlessly stepped forward…… and immediately hit her head on a nearby wall.
[M- My Lady?]
[…… (Ahh… Aaaahhhhh…… W- What did I j- just do!? W- W- W- Why did I just……)]
Not replying to Lunamaria-san’s words of concern, she put her hand to lean against the wall she just hit her head on to.
[……(Something that’s been bothering me for a long time has been resolved, and that’s thanks to Kaito-san, and when I was dancing with Kaito-san, I felt so happy and blessed…… Aaaahhhhhh!? W- What should I do!?)]
[E- Errr, Lili? Are you alright?]
Sieglined tried calling out to her with the same concern, but Lilia still doesn’t seem to have heard her and just held her head in her hands.
[…… (H- He must have thought I’m a strange woman…… O- Or rather, for me to do such a thing…… What kind of face could I even have when I meet him later?)]
[Wait!? My Lady!?]
[Lili!?]
Immediately after, Lilia started banging her head against the wall repeatedly, and Lunamaria and Sieglinde were slightly frightened by the situation, so they hurriedly called out to her.
[…… (There’s no way I can meet him again now!? I mean, I can’t even look at Kaito-san’s face anymore!!! Aaaahhhh, I’m an idiot!!!)]
[……M- My Lady…… I- If you keep doing that…… It’s going to break, “the wall is”……]
Lunamaria called out in fear, worried about the wall where Lilia had hit her head so many times…… Before Lilia-san finally turns to her, her face bright red and a tearful expression on her face.
[Luna…… Sieg…… I feel…… so embarrassed…… that I want to die. What on earth am I going to do!?]
[I’m very sorry, but I have no idea what’s going on at all.]
[Same here……]
After drawing near to Lilia, who looked completely confused, Lunamaria and Sieglinde exchanged glances for a moment and tilted their heads, and began trying to somehow calm Lilia down.
The Frontier Count and the Viscount whose former crimes had been exposed to the public, had been immediately taken into custody by King Ryze’s instructions and taken away by the knights.
They will be left in prison temporarily to wait for judgment…… Is how it should have been, but for some reason, the knights didn’t bring the two men to the prison, but moved to the courtyard of the royal palace.
[……W- Why are we led here……]
[W- What the heck are you planning?]
There wasn’t even a single soul in the courtyard where they arrived, and the moon in the night sky gave them an unusually quiet and eerie feeling, so they felt agitated and asked the knights…… but the reply came back from elsewhere.
[I made them bring you here, you know…… It’s written in the scenario after all.
[ [ ! ? ] ]
In the darkness of the night, a high-pitched voice rang out, and a being dressed in jet-black robes appeared in front of them.
[……P- Phantasmal King……]
[……No Face-sama?]
At the appearance of the Phantasmal King, No Face, the faces of the Frontier Count and the Viscount are colored with despair.
The reason for this is simple…… The Phantasmal King is someone who doesn’t allow the existence of someone she deems as an obstacle to the world…… and will mercilessly erase them. That is to say, the fact that the Phantasmal King appeared in front of them makes it frighteningly clear what will happen to their future.
[……Whether it’s Kaito-san and Duchess Lilia, they are both kind, aren’t they~~ They just exposed your crime and left the rest for the country to judge…… Well, if you ask me, that’s quite naive of them…… I also like Kaito-san’s naiveness and simplicity, so that’s exactly why I wrote them such a scenario…… However, I added some details in the ending.]
[……Ahhh, ahhh……]
[Resenting Kaito-san and getting revenge on him…… Thinking about that, wouldn’t that be troublesome…… That’s why, you know, wouldn’t it be quicker if I just kill you both here?]
Saying that with a chillingly cold voice, No Face pulls out a dagger, reflecting the moonlight.
Just a little swing, just a gentle brush, and their lives would have been over…… but the dagger was never waved at them.
Because before she could do that, a new shadow appeared and stood in between the Phantasmal King and the two of them.
[……What do you mean by that? Kuro-san?]
[You can’t do that…… Kaito-kun doesn’t want such a thing.]
[I know that…… However, even if there’s just a measly 1% chance that they would harm Kaito-san, I will never overlook it. Even if they say that they won’t deal him any harm…… I don’t care.]
[I’m not saying that you have to overlook them. However, you can’t kill them…… If that happens, I’m sure Kaito-kun will feel responsible.]
[………………]
Suddenly appearing and glaring at each other, the Phantasmal King and the Underworld King…… The Frontier Count and the Viscount are so confused by the situation that they can’t even say a word.
Hearing Kuromueina’s words, No Face was silent for a while…… before she slowly lowered her dagger.
[……I understand. However, so that they wouldn’t even think of opposing us, I will show them hell. Is that alright?]
[………………]
[ [ ! ? ] ]
As soon as she muttered that, a glowing purple magic orb floated above No Face’s hand and she moved it in front of the two nobles.
[……Nightmare Fortune.]
[ [ ! ? ! ? ] ]
In the next moment, the magic orb shot out an intense light several times and instantly reaped the consciousness of the two men.
What No Face used is magic that shows nightmares…… From this, every time they sleep, the two nobles will continue to have nightmares just as if they were before a bottomless darkness.
As she watched the Frontier Count and the Viscount tumbled down, the knights who had been waiting by the side carried them and started bringing them to the prison, No Face coldly muttered.
[What you’ll face if you turn your resentment to Kaito-san and Duchess Lilia…… Please study carefully in your dreams. For the time being, I’ve prepared about 1000 different ways for you to enjoy your destruction in a thousand ways……]
[You’re really relentless….. Wouldn’t they be afraid of sleeping and have a mental breakdown?]
[I dunno? When it happens, it happens…… Also, I’ve always said this, but Kuro-san, you’re just being naive. Well, I like that kind of naivety in you too but…… I have no intention of being naive myself.]
After answering Kuromueina’s words, No Face turns away and starts walking towards the exit of the courtyard.
[I will not allow the possibility of harm to come to my most beloved. If I just leave them alone and wait for something to happen, such thoughts would be too late by then. I will deal with them before such a thing happens. If it’s necessary, I will kill then, not overlooking even the single thorn…… It’s that simple.]
[……Shalltear…… You’re getting back to your old tone, you know?]
[……Arya? Excuse me…… It looks like I got unusually passionate~~]
Jokingly saying that, the Phantasmal King, clothed in deep darkness, melted away in the darkness of the night, before quietly muttering a whisper that didn’t reach anyone’s ears.
[……I don’t want that to happen anymore…… For my loved ones to die and I’m the only one left again…… I won’t let go of Kaito-san…… If needs be…… Even this world…… I will destroy it.]
<Author’s Notes>
? ? ? : [Alice is a beautiful girl, wrapped in a lot of mystery. Her popularity is skyrocketing and everyone couldn’t wait to see her! I’m also looking forward to Alice-chan’s arc! I mean, what the heck happened to the fancy dinner date with m— Alice-chan? There’s no way that he had forgotten, right?]
T/N: 77/237