Banquet (2)
“Phew….”
Somehow, I managed to finish getting ready before the banquet. A round of applause for the palace attendants who slaved away dressing up this clueless country bumpkin.
“Wonder if they’re still there.”
Figuring everyone would be waiting, I headed to the dressing room—only to find it empty. I climbed up to their rooms next. Nobody there either.
“…?”
Where the hell did they all go?
“Are you looking for your companions?”
Catherine, the palace interior manager, approached and spoke up. I must have looked pretty lost, wandering around like that.
“Yes. I stepped out for a bit to get ready, and now I can’t find any of them.”
“Hmm. They’ve probably already gone ahead to the banquet hall. Lady Erinn and the others never returned to this room.”
“Really?”
They left me behind and went to the banquet without me?
“Thank you. I’ll head straight there.”
“Of course. Enjoy yourself.”
Following Catherine’s advice, I set off for the banquet hall. I’d been told where it was, so finding it shouldn’t have been hard.
…Or so I thought.
“……Where am I?”
A royal palace turned out to be way more of a maze than I’d imagined. It wasn’t that I had a terrible sense of direction—honestly. If I did, I’d have gotten lost buying supplies in every new village we hit, but that had never once happened.
I was sure it was this way…
The banquet was being held in a place called Cheonjin Palace—basically a whole complex of event facilities: banquet halls, gardens, lounges, the works. I’d heard it was pretty close to Cheonrang Palace, where I’d been staying. So why did it feel like I was getting farther away with every step?
…Better to backtrack the way I came and start over.
“Oh my? Is that you, Lord Allen?”
“Huh?”
I turned around and saw a face that was vaguely familiar yet still awkward. Erwin, the white mage from Orlando’s party, stood there.
“Ah—hello.”
“What are you doing all the way out here? Judging by your clothes, you were heading to the banquet… but this is the complete opposite direction.”
“Ah, well…”
Opposite direction. Meaning I’d been wandering the wrong way the entire time.
Am I actually directionally challenged…?
Erwin studied me for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“Aha. You’ve gotten lost, haven’t you?”
“…Yes.”
Busted immediately…
“I happen to be on my way to the banquet myself. Shall we go together?”
“Uh, is that all right?”
“Of course. My own companions left me behind as well…”
Had her preparations run late too? Our situations were so similar I almost felt a weird sense of camaraderie.
“Then… if you wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all. This way.”
Thanks to Erwin, I finally found the proper path. I followed her with genuine gratitude—until she spoke again.
“Are you normally the quiet type, Lord Allen?”
“Sorry? Ah…”
I must have been too silent.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been trailing along without saying much.”
“Heh, not at all. I was simply curious. You always seem to chat so lively with Lady Erinn and the rest of your party.”
That was mostly because those maniacs forced me into conversation whether I wanted it or not. And of course it was easier with them. With Erwin I barely knew her face and name.
“I’ve come to see you in a new light, Lord Allen.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve always believed Orlando’s judgment was correct. He’s a Hero and our party leader, after all. His combat experience is far richer than most. And yet…”
Erwin continued with open praise.
“In the end, your judgment was the right one, wasn’t it? It might sound rude put this way, but the fact that a porter’s call turned out better than a Hero’s… well, that’s rather remarkable, don’t you think?”
…The sudden compliment caught me off guard.
It didn’t bother me the way she’d worried it might. She was basically saying my decision had looked that impressive. I never expected praise from another party’s member, and it actually felt pretty good. I managed an awkward smile.
“I appreciate you seeing it that way.”
“Even with Orlando’s orders, I still couldn’t bring myself to trust or follow the judgment of a commander who was just a porter. I apologize for that.”
“No, it’s… fine.”
Party members naturally follow their leader. Especially in a Hero’s party that had trained together for so long. If Erinn hadn’t backed my calls, our own group probably would have defaulted to hers too.
“Lord Allen, do you happen to have someone you’re interested in?”
“…Excuse me? Out of nowhere?”
“Ah, was that too forward? If so, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not that, just…”
Sudden, sure, but it didn’t feel outright rude.
“I was simply curious. You’re more capable than expected, and your looks are quite decent. Aren’t you the type women would find rather appealing?”
“Me…?”
Judging by how my own party treated me, I seriously doubted that.
When I looked puzzled, Erwin laughed lightly.
“Heh. So you don’t even realize your own charms.”
“Ah… haha.”
She was being extremely generous with the compliments. I gave an embarrassed little laugh. Then Erwin spoke again.
“In that case, it might be fun to show you a little of that charm myself.”
“What?”
“You’re saying there’s no one you’re currently seeing, correct? Then…”
Erwin suddenly fixed me with a strange look. The next instant she grabbed my arm and shoved me back against the wall.
“L-Lady Erwin?!”
What the hell was this all of a sudden?!
I tried to yank my arm free, but she was still a member of a Hero’s party. Even as a mage, her raw strength outclassed mine. Looking at our arm sizes alone, I should have been able to overpower her easily… yet I was the one pinned.
Goddamn stats are the real problem here!!
Erwin pressed me firmly against the wall and began whispering in a low voice.
“How about spending some time with me?”
“…Excuse me?”
“If you don’t have a woman you’re seeing, I’m asking whether I might do.”
“Where is this coming from all of a sudden…?”
“After everything that happened, I’ve started looking at you differently. I rather like what I see.”
What the hell was this woman even saying…?
Erwin smiled slyly.
“Conveniently, there are plenty of lounges around here.”
“L-Lounges are just for resting, though…?”
“Oh my, how innocent. Those lounges only fit one person—or two at most. Why would they design a simple resting space to be so private?”
I knew that. I was just making excuses.
But I still couldn’t figure out why she was doing this. How long had we even known each other for her to suggest the two of us slipping into a lounge for that? Even Freya never got this bold.
We’d barely met and she was already talking about a secret relationship?!
“If you truly dislike it, just push me away and leave. A frail woman like me is holding you—surely you can refuse easily enough?”
I wanted to! I just physically couldn’t!!
“Pfft. You’re not refusing. You’re shyer than you look, aren’t you?”
“That’s not it…!!”
Just how big was the strength gap that I couldn’t break free?
Name: Erwin
Class: Mage
Strength:88 Agility:114
Vitality:180 Intelligence:48
Mana:510 Divinity:0
White Magic Lv.6 | High-Speed Chanting Lv.3
Circuit Crafting Lv.7 | Sixth Sense Lv.3
Mana Circulation Lv.5 | Mana Recovery Lv.3
Physical Resistance Lv.3 | Mana Resistance Lv.4
Arms that thin, and her Strength was still eighteen points higher than mine. Fuck.
“L-Lady Erwin? Could you just let go…? I really have no intention of dating anyone right now…”
“You’re telling me to give up? I can’t do that. Prey like you… no, men like you are far too rare. I won’t let go so easily.”
P-prey? Did she just say prey?!
“Judging by your reaction… are you actually a virgin?”
“What…?!”
“Oh my, really?”
Erwin’s eyes turned even more predatory.
“What a prize. With a body like this, how have you never held a woman even once?”
She was completely unhinged. Worse than Freya. At least Freya just liked showing off—she didn’t go hunting for casual flings like this.
Fuck, look at those eyes!
This wasn’t the look of someone who’d only done this once or twice. At this rate I was about to get eaten alive.
What do I do? If this continues am I going to catch something?
“Hey there~ What are you two up to~?”
“……!”
“…Oh my.”
That sickeningly sweet, nasal voice mixed with pure venom…
Erwin released her grip and stepped back with a light laugh.
“Lady Erinn. How rude of me to be caught like this.”
It was Erinn.
She stood there exactly as beautiful as earlier, arms crossed, staring at the two of us. For some reason her expression looked far from pleased.
“So what exactly were the two of you doing just now~?”
“It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I was hoping to enjoy a pleasant moment with Lord Allen…”
“…Hmm?”
Erinn shot me a sidelong glance.
“This kind of woman is your type~? Your loser tastes are unique for once~♡”
“Unique…?”
This was my chance.
“…No! Save me, Erinn!”
“What~?”
“Th-this woman was trying to rape me!!”
It was a massively humiliating thing to say, but I had no choice. It was the only way I could see her getting me out of this.
“Wait, Lord Allen…?”
Erwin looked stunned, as if she never expected me to throw away my pride and say something like that. I knew how pathetic it sounded. But it was the only option I had.
And just as I’d hoped, the moment Erinn heard those words…
“…Ha.”
She let out a soft, terrifying little laugh.
A few hours before Erwin ran into Allen, she had been having a conversation with her party member Kael.
“So you want me to seduce that porter this time?”
As the only woman in the party, Erwin’s preparations had run late, so Orlando and the others had decided to go ahead to the banquet. Right before they left, Kael had suddenly shown up with this request.
“You like that sort of thing, don’t you?”
“That’s not entirely wrong… but I only do it with people who are on my level.”
Kael answered flatly.
“He’s pretty good-looking. Body’s solid too.”
“I never thought I’d hear you compliment another man’s appearance. I’m surprised, Kael.”
“…Shut up. Still not a bad deal, right? Especially since His Majesty and the royal family are going to personally commend them this time. You can’t just treat him like some ordinary porter anymore.”
“Hmm.”
Erwin smirked at Kael’s reasoning.
“That’s a decent argument. At that level, he’s worth sampling.”
“Then…”
“So what’s your real goal?”
“…Sharp bitch.”
Kael sighed quietly and looked at her. She clearly wasn’t going to take the job until he spelled it out.
“That bastard keeps hitting on the thief.”
“Ahh, Kael. You’ve had your eye on her, haven’t you?”
“It’s good for both of us. So just do me this favor.”
“Even so, empty-handed?”
“…Tch.”
Kael dug through his pocket, flicked a glittering gold coin toward her. Erwin caught it with a soft laugh.
“You’re loaded, Kael.”
“Just do the job right. I’m counting on you.”
With that, Kael left. Erwin toyed with the gleaming coin for a moment, then finished getting ready.
Once she stepped out, she started thinking. How exactly was she supposed to reel Allen in? Easy to say, but he was surrounded by far too many beautiful women… he might not even glance her way.
Is that…
And then, of all things, she spotted Allen wandering alone and lost. Perfect opportunity. Approaching him without anyone nearby was far more convenient.
So she deliberately closed in and engineered the situation. Helping the lost man lowered his guard, making it easy to steer things her way. On top of that, Allen’s resistance had been weaker than expected—she’d thought she could take it all the way…
Until Erinn barged in at the worst possible moment. And Allen’s behavior afterward was pure spectacle.
“…No! Save me, Erinn!”
“What~?”
“Th-this woman was trying to rape me!!”
What nonsense. He hadn’t even resisted that hard—he’d clearly been half-willing.
With those arms and that build, claiming he was being raped by her? Was that even possible? Erwin let out a disbelieving laugh.
But then—
“…Ha.”
Erinn’s reaction was anything but ordinary. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Erwin.
Erwin forced a light smile.
“Lady Erinn, how exactly am I supposed to rape him? Looking at us, there’s no way I could overpower Lord Allen with strength. He’s just trying to shift the blame onto me with that story…”
“You’re stronger than him.”
“…What?”
“Our porter’s weaker than he looks.”
Erwin froze.
Erinn’s voice had gone ice-cold. The polite speech she’d used the entire time with Orlando and his party had dropped into casual, almost contemptuous language—as if she were genuinely furious.
“Setting everything else aside, who taught you the habit of putting your hands on someone else’s party member? Ah.”
Erinn’s tone turned glacial.
“Is that it? Just a whore who spreads her legs for anyone?”
“A whore? That’s going too far…! Yes, I approached him, but only after hearing he wasn’t seeing anyone! What’s the problem with that?”
Erwin raised her voice slightly.
“You’re the one who’s overstepping, Lady Hero. What happened to basic courtesy between parties? Dropping formal speech, even calling me a whore…!”
“Want me to phrase it more elegantly? Prostitute? Courtesan?”
“…What did you just say?!”
But Erinn didn’t flinch. She spun toward Allen instead.
“You. Did you actually want this?”
“…I was trying to get free. Look.”
Allen held up his arm. Clear handprints from Erwin’s grip stood out on his skin—proof she’d been holding him down hard enough that he couldn’t escape.
“Her strength’s just higher than mine…”
“Then actually train your strength for once.”
“….”
“I can’t even leave you alone without worrying…”
Erinn muttered that under her breath, then stomped forward, yanked Allen behind her, and strode straight up to Erwin.
“I’m warning you.”
Erwin panicked. The moment their eyes met, she couldn’t get a single word out.
Just seconds ago she’d been seething with rage at Erinn’s insults. Now that Erinn stood right in front of her, her mouth refused to open.
“If you try this again, courtesy goes out the window. Whether you’re a Hero’s party member or not, whether the Empire and the Kingdom’s relationship is at stake or not…”
Her entire body was seized by instinctive terror. It felt like staring at a monster.
“I won’t let it slide.”
Erwin was deeply unsettled by her own reaction. Erinn had simply walked up and issued a warning, yet every instinct screamed danger. Do not fight this.
“Know your place while I’m still being polite. If you cross the line like this again…”
And with Erinn’s next words, all the strength drained from Erwin’s body.
“I’ll kill you.”
Erinn casually tapped Erwin’s shoulder. Erwin’s legs gave out; she staggered and slumped against the wall.
My whole body just…
Erwin couldn’t understand what was happening to her. It wasn’t simple fear—something more was at work.
Erinn looked down at her and spoke.
“The only reason I’m letting this go is because you’re Orlando’s party member.”
She turned around as if nothing had happened and lightly smacked the dazed Allen on the forehead.
“Ow!”
Allen only reacted after the hit, staring at her with a “what was that for” look. Erinn just giggled.
“Let’s go, loser~♡”
“…Yeah.”
The two of them left. Erwin let out a hollow laugh.
Her body was trembling. Anyone else might never have understood what just happened, but as a mage, Erwin realized it a beat too late.
Mana.
An overwhelming wave of mana had crushed her entire body for an instant, then vanished.
Her own mana had automatically surged to resist being crushed, and the uncontrolled power had tangled chaotically inside her, leaving her internal circuits a mess.
“She’s a… monster……”