186. Summer Vacation
186. Summer Vacation
"Hngyaaah...! Ngh... Haa... Ugh, my back."
After stretching, I pounded my stiff lower back.
"...Ehehe, sorry."
"I-I can't sleep without a pillow to hug, so... that's why... sorry."
[I slept very well thanks to Eliarnes! Thank you!]
I glared hard at the girls who'd been sleeping in the same room as me all week.
If they'd just slept, there'd be no reason to glare. But their sleeping habits were so awful that whenever I felt suffocated in my sleep, all three of them were wrapped around me.
On my left, Eurasia was hugging my head. On my right, Stella was hugging my waist. And underneath, Pina was hugging my legs.
On top of that, it's midsummer right now.
Even with a cooling Artifact running, it's still summer. It's a season where it can't help but be hot.
And in a season like this, with Eurasia and Pina—whose bodies run especially hot—clinging to me... I ended up drenched in sweat again.
I kept enduring it until I got pissed and tried to shove them off, but then I'd see their faces getting brighter by the day and their peacefully sleeping expressions, and I couldn't bring myself to do it... tch.
In the end, I slept like that, so my whole body is stiff.
Moving my body hard would loosen it up a bit, but I'd promised not to train until vacation, so I couldn't do that either.
Of course, muscle loss... it's not like I have any muscle to lose, but I did do basic exercise because I was worried about muscle loss anyway... but the stiffness built up over a week wasn't going to be fixed by simple exercise alone.
"Enough. Hurry up and pack."
"You're not packing?"
"It's not like I'm never coming back. And I have stuff to use at home anyway."
In the first place, it doesn't matter if none of my things are at the main house. My subspace pouch contains enough essentials to survive for a month even if I were stranded on a deserted island.
[But is it really okay for me to come along?]
"Yeah. I already told them, so you can come without worrying."
"M-me too?"
"What, you think I'd leave you behind and only bring Pina?"
"Mm... that's true. We're friends... hehe..."
I fixed the stray hair sticking out on Stella, who was suddenly grinning to herself, and then straightened Eurasia's clothes...
"How are you still not tying your necktie properly?"
I retied Eurasia's crooked necktie, smoothed out her slightly wrinkled collar, and neatly arranged the folds of the cape draped over her shoulders.
"Hehe... thank you!"
"Honestly, I don't know why they made the knight order uniform so uncomfortable. Good clothes should be easy to put on and easy to move in. They just crammed in pointless flash."
Today, Eurasia wasn't wearing her academy uniform but the knight order's formal uniform.
The closing ceremony was over, so there was no need to wear the uniform, and from now on she was returning not as a student but as a knight of Eustetia.
Actually, since she's my personal guard knight, she doesn't need to wear the formal uniform, but our honest and upright Eurasia insisted on wearing it anyway.
"Still, I only wear it on special days, so isn't a little discomfort okay?"
"You've worn it for nearly ten years and still can't even tie your necktie properly. Doesn't that mean there are too many problems with the outfit? And can you respond to an emergency wearing such stuffy clothes? When it comes to clothes, ones that are easy to manage and easy to move in are the best."
These people clearly made such clothes because they've never lived in Ge Vihenum.
Tsk tsk. Clicking my tongue, I looked Eurasia over from head to toe.
Still, well, since she's all dressed up like this.
"She does look pretty. Maybe because she's a good clothes hanger."
"Hyat... euhit... heuheut! Hehe... do you think I'm pretty?"
"Nine out of ten people would say you're pretty."
"I don't need other people's opinions! What about you, my lady? Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Someone like Eurasia is pretty."
"Euhihit..."
Eurasia, who'd been squirming, smacked my shoulder lightly.
"You're pretty too, my lady..."
"I know."
I nodded indifferently, pinned a cherry blossom-shaped brooch onto Eurasia's left chest, and turned away.
Then I saw Stella's dumbfounded expression.
"What's with that look on your face now?"
"What about me?"
"What about you?"
"Am I pretty?"
"Is that even a question?"
"What?! You mean I'm pretty without even needing to ask?! Hahah! I know! I know too!"
"Wipe the sleep from your eyes first."
"Hah...!"
Stella hurriedly hid her face and rubbed her eyes vigorously. Beside her, Pina, who'd finished packing, was smiling brightly.
"Pina, you're... hmm... Pina is Pina."
I placed a baumkuchen in Pina's hand and started walking.
"Let's go."
Summer vacation had begun a whole month early.
*****
There were countless people at the academy's main gate.
Servants in various uniforms, parents in ordinary clothes, foreigners with different skin colors.
They'd all come to pick up the academy's students.
Since the whole world had learned about the incident from a while back, commoners, nobles, and foreigners alike had come to pick them up in person.
And among them, the most conspicuous presence was.
A procession of knights wearing armor engraved with cherry blossoms in full bloom, filling the entire field of vision.
The Eustetia Knight Order.
At their very front, I saw a familiar face.
"It's been a while, my lady."
"Yeah. It's been a while."
"Eurasia and Stella. And... it's a pleasure to meet you as well, though it's our first time."
"Ah, Miss Sara! Hello!"
"H-hello...!"
"Hii..."
Before coming to the academy, she was perhaps the person I'd spent the most time with.
She looked at me and smiled quietly.
I smiled brightly back at her.
"I missed you, Sara."
At my words, Sara's eyes went wide.
She opened and closed her mouth for a moment, then finally smiled brightly along with me.
"You seem to have... changed quite a bit. The academy must have been enjoyable."
"I don't know about changed, but it wasn't boring. So, didn't you miss me? Was I the only one who missed you?"
"Ahaha... not at all. I missed you too. The Red Cherry Palace without you felt terribly empty."
"That huge house feels empty even when it's bustling with people."
Giggling, I followed Sara's guidance and started walking.
Clack— clack— clack—
Every time I moved, countless knights straightened their posture. At that, the gazes of many other students gathered. Professors and imperial citizens alike couldn't tear their eyes away, too busy staring blankly.
It couldn't be helped.
Within the Empire, aside from the imperial family, the only ones who could field a knight order of this size were Eustetia and van Chaser.
However, since van Chaser doesn't move except to protect the north, Eustetia is effectively the only knight order you can see in the Imperial Capital.
Of course, today was a bit excessive.
Even to me, it was needlessly flashy.
Normally I'd have ground my teeth in disgust, but today I accepted it quietly.
Part of it was that Dad had agreed not to come in exchange for sending the knight order, and there was also a need to show as many people as possible.
"Everyone must be having a hard time in this heat."
Making eye contact with each person, I walked down the path the knight order had opened.
[Eliarnes looks far cooler than usual!]
"...You really are a ducal daughter, huh..."
"Isn't that something a marquis's daughter shouldn't be saying?"
Stella, deflated among the knights, clutched the hem of my clothes tightly.
Beside her, Pina munched on her baumkuchen with sparkling eyes as she looked around, and Eurasia followed one step behind me with the same expression as the other knights.
"E-Eurasia, you're cool too...!"
[Eurasia is like an adult... (an admiring squirrel)]
"Pfft... thanks."
Eurasia, who'd shown a proper smile rather than her usual loose, goofy grin, quickly composed her expression.
"W-wow, it's huge..."
[The carriage seems bigger than the house I lived in!]
Standing in front of a carriage that anyone could see belonged to Eustetia, we handed our luggage over to the knights.
"Ah, Eurasia, you're not riding with us?"
"Hii...?"
"Mm. I'll go separately alongside."
"Really...? Then it can't be help— wait. Eliarnes. Why aren't you riding with us?"
"I need to talk with Sara. You guys ride together for now. I'll switch over later."
Glancing around furtively, Stella whispered quietly.
"...Why? Are you riding somewhere else to take a different route and prepare for an ambush or something?"
[Gasp... if that's really the case, I'll act as bait! (a reliable squirrel)]
"What nonsense. Didn't I tell you not to show the kids weird books? What is it this time? Spy novels?"
"...N-no I didn't?! Wh-what are you talking about!"
"I'll be in the carriage right behind you, so stop worrying about pointless things and get in. If you need anything, tell the coachman."
"Mm... okay. Make sure you switch over later!"
Waving my hand, I closed the door of the carriage Stella had boarded, then climbed into the same carriage as Sara.
"I'd heard you were unharmed without a single scratch, but still, seeing your face like this puts me more at ease than before."
"I told you I'm fine. Here, look. Not a single scar."
I raised my arms above my head and showed even the inside of my clothes to prove I was fine.
"It's not just me—the head of the family is also extremely worried."
"...Can't be helped."
"I recommend going to see the head of the family as soon as you arrive at the Red Cherry Palace."
"Mm... got it."
"Still, if you use 'that' I told you about before, you won't get scolded too badly."
"...It really does work well."
"Have you used it on people other than the head of the family?"
"Well... not many. Just... a few?"
"That's excellent."
"Is it... really something to call excellent...?"
Seeing the same expressionless face as before, with a quiet smile contained within it, I felt glad after all.
And... now that I'd reached Tier 6, I could finally glimpse Sara's Realm.
I'd tried to gauge it before, but every attempt had failed.
That's how thoroughly Sara had been hiding it.
But now I can see it.
8th Circle.
The same Realm as Samaella, whom I'd encountered in the Labyrinth and beaten the shit out of.
Well, Adelia had said even her eyes couldn't pierce Sara's concealment, so it makes sense she'd be this high...
"But... why does Sara work for Eustetia anyway? Wouldn't it be better to go somewhere else?"
"If it were any other attendant, that tone would have them prostrating themselves and confessing to crimes they never committed."
"...You know that's not what I meant."
"Of course. I've watched over you for seventeen years, my lady, so I can joke like this. Hoo hoo hoo."
Sara, who'd caught the intent behind my question, smiled more deeply than before and shook her head.
"Attending you is my happiness and my joy. So please don't ask such questions."
"I... really... I can't understand the people of my house."
"Everything is an arrangement for your sake, my lady, but..."
Sara paused for a moment, then chuckled and continued.
"The arrangements made to protect you may soon become useless. To reach Tier 6 in less than half a year... If the head of the family saw this, he'd hold a banquet."
"A banquet, what... no, wait... Dad doesn't know I reached Tier 6, right?"
"...Did you just say 'Dad'?"
"Yeah. Ah..."
Blink blink. Sara blinked her eyes.
I blinked my eyes the same way, then shut my mouth.
"Hup... no, I mean... Fath... er..."
"So that's why the head of the family seemed to be in such a good mood before."
"...Don't tease me."
"I have never once teased you, my lady."
"...Anyway, um... Fath... er doesn't know I reached Tier 6 yet, right?"
"No. He does not."
"That's enough of a surprise gift."
Giggling, I patted the pouch hanging at my waist.
"You look forward to your gift too, Sara."
"...You have a gift for me as well?"
"Yeah. I'll give it to you this evening."
"It's an honor."
Sara bowed her head, and soon the carriage departed.
Clop— clop—
Clack— clack— clack—
The sound of horse hooves and the knight order's procession could be heard.
We stayed silent for five minutes.
"Shall I do it now?"
"Yeah."
Once we'd gotten some distance from the academy, snap— Sara flicked her fingers.
The sounds coming into the carriage vanished.
Likewise, any sound that could escape the carriage now circled within.
After confirming my ears felt muffled, I opened my mouth.
"I confirmed fourteen. What about you, Sara?"
"Three disguised as imperial citizens, two disguised as merchants, four disguised as beggars, and five who appear to be imperial knights. Fourteen in total, correct."
"Doesn't seem like we missed any."
Fourteen. That was the number of people watching us.
I couldn't confirm whether Anton's side or the collateral branch's side had sent them. Though the ones who were imperial knights were definitely sent by Anton.
If anything, this is good.
Because the knight order was called precisely to show them.
"Shall I clean them up?"
"...Why are you asking something like that?"
"If you give the order, my lady, I will clean them up immediately."
"Hah... Then Sara would be branded a terrorist and executed on the spot."
"If it is your order, I will follow."
"That will never happen."
"To be honest, I was a little scared too."
"Scared, my ass."
Chuckling, Sara handed me a pitch-black document envelope from inside her coat.
"This is the information you requested, my lady."
"You don't have to look at me like that. I'll tell you everything later, so don't worry."
"If you cannot trust me, my lady, you need not tell me. However, before you read, allow me to briefly summarize the key points."
I opened the envelope. About a dozen sheets of paper were visible.
I'd separately commissioned Ophelia, but since one side's information alone wasn't certain, I'd also asked Sara.
The Holy Kingdom's movements.
As I pulled out the papers, Sara began to speak.
"I found records showing that the twelve cardinals, excluding the Patriarch, headed to the Demon World around February 28th, seven years ago. I've also completed cross-verification through witness testimony, so the reliability is sufficient."
"The date they returned?"
"August 10th of the same year."
Two days after the cardinals who'd gone to the Demon World returned to the Holy Kingdom, the Sacred returned to the holy land.