190. Pajama Party
190. Pajama Party
In Dad's office, where silence had lingered for a while, the Flame Emperor's voice broke the stillness.
"Do you have any leads?"
"...I'm not sure. Do you have anything, Flame Emperor?"
"Hmm... The first revelation, if I force it a little, I can make some sense of it. But the second revelation... even I cannot say."
The Flame Emperor, who had spoken with a gloomy face, turned her gaze toward Dad.
"Does the Duke of Eustetia have any idea?"
"...From the words 'lovely cherry blossom,' I could think of my daughter, Eli."
"Hmm. Indeed, when one speaks of a lovely cherry blossom on this continent, one cannot help but think of my dear friend, that adorable girl. That is also why I came here in such haste."
"...Before she is the Flame Emperor's friend, she is my lovely and proud daughter."
"Hahaha! Indeed. She is someone who cannot help but be lovely and proud. That is why she could become my one and only friend."
What is this? Some new kind of harassment?
Why are they saying such embarrassing things right in front of me without batting an eye?
"...Let's talk about that later. Anyway... I don't have any leads."
No leads, she says.
I understood both of them.
The first revelation is a prophecy that I'm going to beat those bastards messing around in the Holy Kingdom to death, and the second revelation is... that bitch Luna making fun of me.
That demon-possessed, vicious tongue-wagging was one of Luna's signature talents.
So then.
Where did she see me? How did she recognize me? When did she find out? Did she know I would reincarnate in the future? Was my Reincarnation arranged by all of my comrades?
How is the seal doing that she can run her mouth like this? Is Paulo all right?
The questions keep piling up, one after another. Question marks pop-pop- up in my head without pause.
And among them, I grabbed the biggest question mark.
If Luna is in the Holy Kingdom, which is like her hometown.
Then what about Paulo?
The place where Paulo's master is buried. The Plain of Swords, Kalderin.
There's a high chance he's sealed in Kalderin.
Kalderin is east of the van Chaser territory.
It's not too far. It's close enough to stop by on the way to see the World Tree lady.
The corners of my mouth twitch without me realizing.
My heart pounds-pounds- fiercely. My clenched fist grows damp with excited sweat.
I don't think I'll be able to break the seal.
But even so, at the thought of seeing them. At the thought that, just maybe, by some one-in-a-million chance, I might be able to break the seal, I can't suppress my excitement.
"A remarkably vague revelation..."
The Flame Emperor let out a sigh with a gloomy expression.
Dad, sitting across from her, looked at me with a complicated expression.
"Eli."
"Yes?"
"Going to the Holy Kingdom... have you already made up your mind?"
"Uh... well, yes. Of course, I'm not going because of what the Executor said about the revelation. I just... have something to look into, so that's why I'm going."
"...I see."
With a small sigh, Dad turned his gaze toward the Flame Emperor.
"Flame Emperor."
"Hm, why do you call?"
"Let me ask one favor of you."
"A favor from a descendant of the Hero's bloodline is one I can grant as many times as needed."
"Can you protect my daughter, Eli? As you know, I am a duke. A duke who holds territory, subjects, and a knight order that only a grand duke is permitted to hold. Therefore, I cannot move 'openly.' Especially in the current political climate, it would be an even more sensitive matter. So I ask this of you."
"Even if it were a difficult request, I had intended to grant it, but this is not difficult at all."
Dad and the Flame Emperor conversed calmly, but I was not calm.
...Openly? Why does the phrase "cannot move openly" sound so unsettling...?
I haven't even been through anything yet... so he won't declare war on the Holy Kingdom.
All of Nameless is out in Ge Vihenum, so the only thing he can deploy is the Eustetia Knight Order.
Not to disparage them, but excluding the knights who can't move because they're defending the duchy, the knights available to move right now couldn't beat the Blood Heaven Knight Order.
And in the first place, if he led that many knights in one direction, the Empire wouldn't sit still either.
Is he planning to send word and apply pressure or something?
If so... that's a problem. Because I'm planning to enter the country with the forged ID I got from Leona.
"...Dad?"
"Why do you call?"
"Um... well, like... you're not going to put pressure on the Holy Kingdom or anything, right? I'm... you know, going with my master, right? So you don't need to worry."
"If you're worried I might apply pressure, you don't need to be. Dad has no intention of applying pressure."
Dad smiled kindly and stroked my head. I mumbled with my lips but nodded for now.
"...Then... well, okay. Anyway, you really don't need to worry too much. There's something I haven't told you yet—I just reached Tier 6. So now, most... what the."
Blink blink.
For a moment, Dad made a stupid face.
Then, just as quickly, he flinched! He pretended to be surprised.
"Oh! Is that so?"
"Dad. Did you already know I reached Tier 6?"
"Uh, uhh...? N-no, Dad didn't know?"
That's the face of someone who already knew.
How did he know? Well, of course he'd have an informant or two.
The fact that I reached Tier 6 was something even the academy professors didn't know. They would only have found out after the final exams, which means one of the professors has a connection to Dad.
Of course, it probably wasn't surveillance.
He probably just dug into it because he was worried I might be lying about being fine after getting badly hurt.
And in the process... he would have asked about this and that.
So in the end, it was an act born from worrying about me.
...Then why do I feel so bad?
Hurt? I'm hurt? When I've lied to Dad so much, I'm hurt?
I know I'm a shameless hypocrite of a bastard. But isn't this a bit much?
I know. This is because of my period.
The disgraceful act of telling Eurasia to stay longer, and now getting angry like this—it's all because of that.
It's these damn hormones.
Looking at how I'm acting, it'll probably start within two days.
"No? Your face says everything. Why are you lying to me?"
So that's why I'm getting so vicious. When I meet Luna soon, I should ask her to put some miracle on me to stop my period, or whatever.
Then this won't happen.
"I-it's not a lie. This is... I mean... doesn't this dad have eyes to see? So..."
"Are you going to keep piling on lies?"
"Th-that's... I mean, that..."
"...I-it seems this is no place for me."
The Flame Emperor, who only gets perceptive at times like this, fidgeted and picked up the letter that had fallen to the floor.
"My friend, Eliarnes. I-I shall take my leave now. Please be sure to stop by the Catacombs before you go to the Holy Kingdom...!"
"Yes. Just come out to greet me."
"I shall do so. Then... Duke of Eustetia... lying to your precious daughter is not a good habit. It would be best to fix..."
"Flame Emperor."
"Hmm...! I shall be off!"
Whoosh! The letter the Flame Emperor was holding burned away, and her spirit body also crumbled to ash and vanished.
"Dad."
"...Huh?"
Dad didn't know what to do and kept darting his eyes away.
I smiled bitterly at him.
"I'm joking."
"A-a joke...?"
"Yes. You did it because you were worried about me, after all."
"That's... of course."
"I'm a little hurt that you didn't trust me, but I trust you, so it's fine."
"...I-I'm sorry..."
I patted Dad's broad back as he suddenly grew gloomy, and rummaged through my subspace pouch.
I planned to give him the gift I brought, discuss the false accusation the collateral branch would take, how to deal with it, the relationship between the Cartel and the collateral branch, and so on—I wanted to wrap up the remaining topics quickly.
I had intended to take my time, but I was too restless to manage it. Let's finish preparations as fast as possible and depart for the Holy Kingdom the moment my period ends.
*****
"Did something good happen?"
"I'm just excited to be home after so long."
After finishing my talk with Dad, I went straight into the room where the kids were waiting.
Because my conversation with Dad ran long, the kids ate among themselves, and I ate separately with Dad.
So I brought a ton of food to eat for dessert while chatting about this and that.
"But what's with you guys? Why are you all wearing similar pajamas?"
The kids are all wearing similar pajamas.
Eurasia is in brown puppy pajamas.
Stella is in black cat pajamas.
Pina is in gold lion pajamas... did she copy Leona?
"Similar? They're all different animals."
Stella wiggled her butt with a flushed face. Behind her, the cat tail attached to her pajamas swayed gently.
"So, how is it? Cute, right? You want to touch it, right?"
"...What is that? Why does it move on its own?"
"Hehe! These are from a really popular pajama brand these days. If you do this, like this, the ears perk up too."
Just as Stella said, every time she tilted her head, the ears perked up and moved around.
"Hii!"
Following suit, Pina raised both hands and made a very fearsome face. The fur on her tail bristled straight up as well.
"Hehe, do they suit me?"
Eurasia looks great, as if she'd been one with them from the start. And those ears and tail.
The ears flap like fans, and the tail wags so fast it leaves afterimages...!
"...Uh, they... do suit you, but pajamas should be comfortable to be pajamas. That thing—aren't you going to be uncomfortable sleeping in it?"
"Ugh, there she goes sounding like an old man again."
Stella grumbled, but she kept twitching the corners of her mouth as if she was enjoying this situation immensely.
"So, you're not going to wear them?"
"What do you mean, not going to wear them? Are you saying there's one for me too?"
"Of course!"
Giggling, Stella whipped out the pajamas she'd been sitting on.
"Ta-da! Eurasia told me—Eliarnes, you like crocodiles, right? Do you know how much me, her, and Pina wandered around looking for a crocodile?"
"...Well, I do. But what is this?"
The pajamas Stella spread out were pink crocodile pajamas.
A crocodile with sharp, pointy teeth.
A crocodile with cool claws at the ends of the sleeves.
A crocodile with a long, thick tail.
But with long eyelashes and very sparkly eyes... a pink female crocodile.
"A-are you telling me to wear that?"
"You're not going to? When we went out in this midsummer heat, sweating buckets to buy it?"
"Can't you wear it just once? I think it would really suit you..."
"Hii...!"
[Someone as cool as Eliarnes would become even cooler if she wore crocodile pajamas!]
I scanned the kids with my face all scrunched up.
They all had expressions of desperate hope.
Even Eurasia, who had been a bit subdued until a moment ago, was now smiling brightly...
"Just once...! Really, just once!"
Well... I did tell Eurasia to stay a little longer before going down to the main house...
"...Give it here."
Eurasia's face brightened beyond measure.
Stella also smiled without any pretense, and Pina was just her usual bright self.
"Here! Want me to put it on you?"
"I'll put it on you!"
"Put it on me, my ass... forget it, stay seated. I'll go... go change and come back."
I took the crocodile pajamas Stella handed over.
Soft and fluffy and...
"You don't have to worry about it being hot. They're very expensive pajamas with a temperature-maintaining enchantment!"
"...Since I'm always buying you guys food, you're really out here throwing money around."
Grumbling, I moved toward the dressing room. The kids are looking forward to it that much... and didn't they pick out a crocodile, which I like?
For the sake of those little girls' effort... I should wear them. Yeah, it's repayment for telling Eurasia to stay a little longer.
Yeah. That's all it is.
It's not that I wanted to put them on and wag the tail.
*****
"Hah... haah... hck... k-heh..."
"What's with you...? Why, why does it suit you so... well?"
"Hii! Hii! Hii! Hii!"
"...A-all of you, lower your eyes."
I pulled the hood of the crocodile pajamas... the head part, way down and plopped- down into my seat.
Then, thump- thump- the thick, squishy tail tapped against the floor.
"Apparently that's the reaction when you're embarrassed."
"Wh-what?!"
"Here's the manual. Want to read it too?"
Stella, wearing a lewd smile, handed me the manual. I snatched it and skimmed through it at high speed. Then the tail tingled- and rose upward.
"Ah, my lady, that one means you're angry!"
"B-be quiet."
Just as Eurasia said, when you're angry, the tail apparently sticks up like this...
What kind of pajamas are these...? How do they work this well?
Are all kids' toys at this level these days?
"But... how does she pull off such weird pajamas so well? Is the face really the key to fashion?"
The tail's movements softened. Following it, thump- thump- it tapped the floor.
"Ohh? My lady, that one means you're happy? You always said you didn't like it when people called you pretty and cute, but did you actually like hearing it?!"
"Sh-shut it!"
I tore the manual in my hands to shreds and rummaged through my bosom.
The dessert to feed the kids.
It's time to bring out what I secretly took from Dad and Sara.
I need to bring this out fast to shut their mouths.
Just then, Stella tilted her head.
"But why a crocodile, of all things? There are plenty of other cool animals."
"I can just like them."
The reason I like crocodiles?
Honestly, it's nothing special.
They're cool, they're tough survivors, and above all, they're highly adaptable.
How adaptable? Crocodiles even live in Ge Vihenum.
They're a bit more ferocious and massive than the crocodiles on the continent, but they exist in the Demon World all the same.
Without being eroded by Demonic Energy, without becoming Monsters, they simply exist as crocodiles.
Therefore, they can be eaten.
Among the things you can eat in Ge Vihenum without purifying them, they're the tastiest and most excellent food source.
Good grilled, good boiled, good dried into jerky.
And besides.
"Do you know what it's called when I wear crocodile pajamas?"
"...What?"
"Hii?"
"M-my lady. That... it might be better not to say..."
Ignoring Eurasia's words, I opened my mouth.
"Eli-gator."
Good heavens. Eli-gator.
Eli wearing crocodile pajamas is Eli/gator.
Eli-gator!
Kyahaha- I burst out laughing without holding back.
At the same time, Eurasia's tail, which had been wagging constantly, stopped. Stella's tail bristled fiercely, and the mane around Pina's neck shot up sharply.
"You guys are going to think of this when you lie down to sleep... what. It's not funny? Did you not get it?"
Without stopping the giggles that kept spilling out, I spread both index fingers.
Pointing at myself on the left, and the crocodile on the right.
"Eli, gator. Eli-gator. Not funny?"
I explained it once more, but the kids' expressions soured even further. Even Pina wore a cold expression...
"...M-my lady. That's... um..."
"Hi?"
"Eliarnes. Don't tell me... the one spouting weird nonsense and boomer talk on the Community... was you?"
"...No?"
How did she know?
"...Now that I think about it, it does sound similar. What? Is it really you?"
[ThatttcannnotbeetrueEliarneswouldneverbethhatkindofweirdperssonnooway!@!!!@]
"...Hm."
Stella's eyes trembled mercilessly.
Pina, sitting next to her, looked at me with her hands and feet trembling, and Eurasia squeezed her eyes shut.
...This isn't how it was supposed to go.
Feeling cold sweat running down my spine, I quickly pulled out the dessert I had secretly taken from Dad and Sara.
Thunk!
"Ahem! Kids. Today's dessert is this."
Alcohol. Very, very expensive alcohol.
Alcohol steeped in the sad history of Dad buying it behind Mom's back, only to get caught and have it confiscated.
I secretly brought it.
You might ask why alcohol all of a sudden.
The reason is... there are many.
I'm in a good mood, I thought too much about the old days and started craving a drink, and back then, on the night before a big battle, I used to drink the alcohol I'd saved up, so the thought stuck with me stubbornly.
So in the end, I stole it.
"Wh-what. Alcohol...? It's alcohol?"
"Hii...?!"
"M-my lady. This is, perhaps..."
The kids' attention instantly gathered on the alcohol.
...Thank goodness.
But is it really not funny? Am I the only one who finds it funny?