No One Messes with My Dessert
Trees swayed gently in the warm sunlight and breeze. In the center of a garden where beautiful flowers were in full bloom stood a picturesque gazebo.
Inside, a luxurious table was laden with expensive-looking teacups and a mouthwatering spread of refreshments.
Today, as usual, I was enjoying tea time here with Marie.
"This tea is brewed from Mariabelle tea leaves. How do you like it, Fran?"
"Mmm~ What a lovely fragrance. And it is a name that suits my dear Marie perfectly."
"Fufu, perhaps that is why I find myself drawn to it even more."
I didn't know a single thing about tea etiquette, but my body seemed to remember it perfectly. I drank gracefully while chatting with Marie.
Ugh, I'm so moved. What a gorgeous sight. A tea party between beautiful noble girls... isn't this just the absolute best?
And today was the day a highly anticipated treat was scheduled to arrive.
Father Lucien had practically staked his pride on it, postponing our usual imported sweets to bring in a "secret confection."
Since Lucien had promised this with almost everything on the line, my expectations were sky-high.
As someone who wanted to taste every single sweet this fantasy world had to offer, the anticipation was pure bliss.
I picked up the adventurer license I had received last time.
When I had shown this license to Lucien, the sheer, faint-inducing shock on his face was still vivid in my mind.
Well, considering I had gone to another dangerous place and done something reckless, it was understandable. Still, after what happened before, he didn't try to restrict me too strictly anymore.
"With this, we are officially adventurers! Isn't it wonderful~"
"You really seem to love that card, Fran."
"Of course! Especially since becoming an adventurer alongside Marie is like a dream come true!"
"Oh, Fran. Just remember, this is strictly for the sake of the Academy!"
Looking at the shiny license made me feel like I had just earned some grand certification.
I do worry a bit if this license alone will be enough to pass the Academy's entrance exam... but it's definitely better than doing nothing and just praying!
So... now I just need to keep slaying monsters?
And are there really demons here?
According to my settings, they have to exist. I need to verify it, but I have no way of knowing right now.
Even the idea that monsters were created by the demon race is just a reasonable suspicion, not a certainty.
I've asked around, but everyone says they only exist in legends, just like Scarlet. But since Scarlet turned out to be real, does that mean the demon race is real too?
Hmm... I don't know. Personally, I'd prefer it if they didn't exist at all.
While I was lost in thought, Sally approached and delivered a message.
"My lady, do you happen to know a Miss Kailin?"
"Of course. We crossed paths at the Adventurer Guild recently."
"That very Miss Kailin has visited our mansion. She wishes to see you, so I wanted to ask if we may grant her entry."
Huh? Why is Kailin here? Did something from last time weigh on her mind?
"Very well. Bring her here."
"As you wish."
Seeing that Sally knew Kailin too, she really must be a famous S-class adventurer.
A moment later, Sally walked over to us, accompanied by Kailin.
"Hey."
"Greetings~"
Kailin offered a casual greeting.
Sally remained quiet. Wait, she's not going to stop her from using informal speech? Well, I suppose it doesn't matter.
Seeing how high-ranking adventurers didn't seem to care about noble status, it felt like this country was slowly trying to transition toward a meritocracy.
"I came to ask you a few things."
"Is that so? Please, have a seat~"
"H-hmph. Fine..."
Is this her first time in a setting like this? Her movements are incredibly awkward. This, my friend, is a noble tea party that commoners know nothing about.
As soon as Kailin sat down, she opened her mouth.
"I'll get straight to the point."
"Sebastian, please pour a cup of tea for our guest as well."
"Yes, my lady."
"C-cough."
Kailin cleared her throat awkwardly.
Trickle—
"...Straight to the point. Last time, what kind of magic did you..."
"This tea was imported from the Eastern Kingdoms, and its aroma is truly exquisite~"
"Oh, really? I must try that one after this cup!"
Our conversation flowed seamlessly. Kailin's words were completely ignored.
"No, I mean, that sword, what on earth is it made of..."
"Is that outfit custom-tailored? Or is it from a famous brand?"
"Indeed, your clothes are very lovely, Miss Kailin."
"Th-thanks... No, wait! You're not even listening to me!!!"
Kailin clutched her head. Look at that reaction. So satisfying. Maybe I should start talking to her properly now.
She probably had a lot of questions, but so did I.
If she was an S-class adventurer, she might know about the existence of the 'demon race.'
Since she had sought me out like this, it was the perfect opportunity to ask.
I gently set down my teacup and spoke.
"I shall not answer any questions regarding my sword, Scarlet. More importantly..."
"I believe you have another reason for coming to this territory?"
Kailin looked slightly taken aback, as if I had hit the nail on the head, but then she smirked with a hint of pride.
"Hmph, so you have some idea? Why I ended up in this territory."
"More importantly, your tea is getting cold, Miss Kailin."
Marie gently pushed the teacup toward Kailin.
"Oh, u-uh, right..."
Kailin took a sip of the tea, and her eyes widened.
"It's delicious...!"
"Isn't it? Fufu."
"...Wait, no! We're in the middle of a conversation here!"
Kailin cleared her throat and continued.
"Ahem. Lately, the number of monsters has been surging."
"Because of that, the Adventurer Guild is in dire need of more talented individuals."
I threw in a question.
"And do these monsters have anything to do with the existence of the demon race?"
"You even know about that? Well, that makes things easier."
Oh boy, so the demon race really does exist...
"You probably know that any living creature corrupted and mutated by the demonic energy of the demon race, or turned hostile toward humans, is classified as a monster, right?"
"It's becoming increasingly obvious that the demon race is slowly eating away at this world, claiming it as their own."
"According to a certain researcher..."
"A 'Gate' will open before long, allowing the demon race to directly interfere with this world."
"A Gate...!"
"I-Is that really true?"
Marie and I were visibly shaken.
"Yes, but no one knows exactly when it will open."
"That's why S-class adventurers like me are being deployed all over the country. I'm one of them, and my assignment happens to be this territory."
"I see~"
I picked up my teacup and took a sip.
"Do you have any more information on the demon race?"
"Hmm... For starters, they are definitely a threat to us humans."
"Also, there's a hypothesis that arose from studying monsters: they possess a form of magic with a completely different formula than human magic."
"!"
"But the good news is, they aren't completely immune to human magic."
"Though the methods differ, attacks and effects can still clash and affect each other."
Mmh~ So that's how it works. But if there's a magic nullification spell, wouldn't it be impossible to dispel? That sounds like it could get incredibly annoying in many ways. Well, I can just slice through it anyway!
For now, it aligned perfectly with the settings I created.
It felt like the settings my friend and I came up with that day were taking concrete shape.
If this was the case, the opening of the demon gate was the route where Marie would end up joining hands with the demon race.
I had to be extremely careful when that moment came. No matter what it took, I had to stand against the demons threatening her.
"Anyway, I'll admit that you guys are pretty capable."
Oh, was that a compliment?
"Oh my, thank you~"
"We're not that amazing, but thank you. Fufu."
Marie blushing is so cute.
Embarrassed by our warm response, Kailin looked at my Scarlet and continued.
"Ahem, but it's still highly suspicious... I've never seen anyone unleash that kind of power with just a single sword."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, it was practically at the level of an enchantment. I've never seen magic channeled directly through an object to attack like that."
Of course she hasn't. In a world where magic is everything.
"But aren't there things like magic carriages that have magic infused into them?"
"That's different. Those require constant mana recharging to function. Besides, no matter how I look at you, you don't have any magical aptitude."
I guess she can tell just by looking. An S-class adventurer really is on another level.
"Ahem, could you leave it at that?"
"Exactly. As long as she's strong, isn't that enough?"
Marie chimed in. Kailin stood up with an awkward expression.
"Well, I suppose... Hmph... fine."
Kailin's face flushed slightly.
"?"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Kailin looked away and spoke.
"I-If a quest comes in, I'll let you know, so just wait around."
Her voice trailed off. What, is she being shy?
I stood up, pointing a finger at Kailin.
"Very well, commoner! Be sure to watch my heroic saga unfold to the very end~! Ohoho!"
"I'm not a commoner!!"
"Are you leaving already, Miss Kailin?"
"Yeah, I've got a few minor requests to take care of today. Better get them over with."
Just as Kailin was about to leave, a maid suddenly rushed over and whispered something to Sebastian.
"...I see. Understood. You may return."
Sebastian, looking visibly shocked, sent the maid back and approached me, speaking in a hushed tone.
"My lady, I deeply apologize for the intrusion, but..."
"Hmm? What is it, Sebastian?"
"It appears the carriages transporting our supplies have been attacked."
"?!"
"What!"
What? Suddenly?
Kailin, startled, spun back around to face us.
Marie gasped in shock.
"An attack?"
"Yes. Since they were carrying highly valuable goods, guards had been dispatched to accompany them..."
"However, it is reported that the escorting guards suffered near-total annihilation, unable to mount any proper defense."
"How could this be...!"
Marie covered her mouth with both hands in horror.
"What was the nature of the attacker?"
I asked calmly.
"Let us discuss the details inside the mansion. I shall gather more information and brief you shortly."
"I'm coming too."
Kailin, seemingly sensing something amiss, adjusted her gloves and spoke.
"Very well. I do not care what kind of lowlife is responsible, but I shall absolutely never forgive them!"
To think they dared attack the carriage carrying my new sweets! This is a matter of grave importance. I need to head inside and get more details immediately.