557 - - Episode 555: It tasted bad after all.

It took some effort, but I was able to make an appointment with the king. Now, if I can properly introduce Mel to the king, I will be able to fulfill my responsibilities as a teacher. Since I have abandoned Mel at the dressmaker's shop, I need to show him that I can rely on him in the audience with the king.

"......, so I'll give you this one and you can use it for everyday use."

"...... um, yes ...... thank you?"

My thanks are now in the form of a question.

The day of the audience with the king.

The butler we met for the appointment came to pick me and Mel up in a luxurious ......, no, a very luxurious carriage.

Well, the carriage that I thought was too luxurious is the most modest one among the carriages welcoming the King's guests, according to the butler, and the butler was taking care of it.

The world is literally so different from ours that even if he cared for us, it was too much. In our case, I think we are limited to walking or taking the horse-drawn carriage that Marie had prepared for us before.

Mel must have felt the same way as I did, because she froze when the carriage arrived.

When I managed to get Mel to restart and get into the carriage, the butler explained in a roundabout way how to use the dagger that the king had given me, and for some reason gave me a certificate of the highest rank.

I should have thanked him for the great gift he had given me, but when I understood the details of his indirectness, I felt that I should apologize to him on my knees instead of thanking him.

I was thinking that it might not be a good idea.　I had thought that the king's dagger was too much to go to the beryl jewelry. I guess it was a bad idea.

The explanation was indirect, perhaps because Mel was on board, but it was probably not wrong, and I appreciated the butler's concern.

What the butler does not realize is that the carriage is now overcrowded. The belles, who have been enjoying themselves in King's Landing for the past three days, must have gotten tired of it, and today they are following me around.

It would be a big embarrassment if they were to warn me about using a dagger in a bar in such a state.

Well, I guess Sylphy, who didn't get on the carriage because it was too cramped, must have heard what I just said, but it's almost impossible to hide anything from Sylphy, so I just have to give up.

Fortunately, she is not in a mood to talk about it or to scorn it as filthy, and I think she knew about it at least a little, so it's probably too late.

We are lucky that Mel and Belle and the others did not find out.

"I hear that it is difficult to get a certificate of medium rank issued by the royal court. You're a great master, aren't you?

Mel's respectful gaze pierces me.

No, Mel. This certificate is a product of shame, a product of the fact that if you're going to use it for a night out, you should use this certificate instead of the dagger.

"Yuta, wow!" "cue" "great!" "koo koo!" "I praise you!" ......"

I don't know if they know exactly what I'm talking about, but the belles who hear Mel's words praise me, too.

I guess that's what they mean when they say, "If there's a hole, I want to fill it.

When I looked at the butler in trouble, he smiled at me with kind eyes. It seems like the smile of a teacher who sees a troubled student, but I would like to believe that I am mistaken.

I would like to believe that I am mistaken.

We finally arrived at the castle, exhausted from what should have been a simple carriage ride.

When I got off the carriage, Sylphy gave me a meaningful look, but I pretended I didn't notice.

Even if she knew everything, I could keep it ambiguous if I didn't confirm it. There is no need to go out of your way to step on landmines.

"It's been a long time since I've been in a castle. Sis, I'm so excited!"

"Hmm. I'm a busy man, so let's just get this over with and get out of here.

Dine and Nomos are no different than usual. Sylphy, thank you for keeping this from me.

The butler leads us into the castle.

The curious Belle and her friends are flying around the castle, but is it OK?

I don't break anything, but I don't talk to spirits unless it's in a sanctuary with sensitive information or ...... oh, I'm just crazy, I'm not supposed to talk to spirits.

Then it's no wonder I'm less cautious about spirits. I guess the really important places are guarded by a spiritist in the service of the castle like Ms. Barotta.

If they can't be blamed, it doesn't matter.

The problem is Mel walking next to .......

He is getting nervous and tense again as his audience with the king is just around the corner. It is indeed difficult to relax Mel while walking. I don't know what to do.

Meral and Merryl Serio are trying to do something, but it seems that Mel is not even aware of the movements of his contracted spirits.

It was a wise decision for Mel to choose trouser-type children's clothes.

The store we were referred to is a store used only for emergencies and has a large selection of children's dresses.

The shopkeeper also recommended a dress for Mel, but she stubbornly refused.

She said that she was a blacksmith and a necromancer, so a dress was not appropriate for her, but she probably did not want to wear a pretty dress with a wide skirt for children.

But it turned out to be a good thing. If Mel had chosen a pretty dress, she would have surely fallen down.

If it had been in front of the king, she would have been traumatized for life, and it would have been awkward for me to take her to such a dress shop.

I would have traumatized my student without knowing it. Mel, nice call!

While I was relieved that the possibility of a pinch that had been created without my knowledge had been eliminated without my knowledge, the butler stopped at the door.

It was the same room as the one I had been led to before. Maybe the trap is the same as before, and the king is waiting for us inside.

"Thank you very much!"

As expected, we were greeted by the king.

I'm not surprised since it was the same last time, but I guess it's normal for a king to appear only after we've been shown around and everything is ready, right?

I glance at Sylphy, but he seems unconcerned, as if nothing is wrong. She seems to be out of danger for the time being.

"Sorry for the sudden visit."

"No problem. That's why I gave you the dagger."

Is it my imagination or did it sound strangely powerful in the part about ......<>?

That can't be right.

"Hyah."

Mel seemed to realize that it was the king who was in front of him when he said that he had given him the dagger, and he made a strange noise and froze.

I bowed deeply next to him.

I am sorry. I will not say it out loud, but I will put my feelings into it as best I can. Maybe they'll understand.

"Oh, my God. It's the spirit of the earth.

Dineh started to get excited beside me as I was bowing my head. If Dine is happy with the spirit of the soil, there must be a contracted spirit of Ms. Barotta.

I'm sure of it, since she says it's about love.

"Good, lift up your head. And the girl who is standing next to you is your apprentice, the blacksmith who created the new Damascus, even though it is deteriorating?　

"Ah, yes. I'm Mel. Mel, can you say hello to the king?

Hi, hi. My name is Meryu!

I chewed it big time.

"Uh-huh. You must be Mel. We are proud to have a blacksmith of your caliber in our country."

The king is kind.

In my image of royalty and nobility, it's a template to make a big joke out of a subordinate's failure, but I wonder if I've developed a strange stereotype through manga and novels.

"Koko koko uei desu!"

Well, it seems that even that kindness is not getting through to Mel, who is in a maximum nervous state, shaking and chewing down like a lamb.

He is shaking like a lamb and chewing down. Mel's tongue is getting shredded, and the king seems to be troubled.

"The tea is ready."

"Oh, yeah. Well, I don't want to stand around talking. Sit down first.

For some reason, the butler, who was supposed to be with us, started to put the tea on the table. When did this happen?　Is that it?　Is this what is commonly known as a super butler?

...... I guess my brain has been brainwashed by subcultures after all.

But thank God. I'll sit down and regroup. I'm sure the king won't be so eager to talk to Mel now, so we should be able to work something out.

"So, what's this Damascus of yours like?"

I thanked him, took a seat above the pit, took a sip of the tea offered, and took a breath.

I was worried about Mel, but I was nervous too, I guess.

After taking a break from the tea, I could get a better view of the room.

The earth spirits of Dine and Ms. Barotta's place were making a lot of noise, and Belle and the others were joining in with them, looking very happy.

If only Mel could see such a scene, her nervousness would be gone in an instant.

While I was relaxing at the sight of Belle and the others, the king looked straight at me and started talking to me.

As expected, he chose to talk to me so as not to burden Mel. He's a king, but he seems to be a rather gentle man.

"Do you mind if I serve it here?"

"Mm."

The king nodded.

As was the case last time, there was no physical examination of any kind this time either.

It is not that we are unguarded, since a knight-like person, a magician-like person, and Ms. Barotta are standing guard by the wall.

I understand that they are relieved because the traps and the people lurking in the shadows are probably still there, but I still think they are loose. If Sylphy wanted to, he could kill everyone in this room in a blink of an eye, right?

...... If Sylphy is so inclined, it would be pointless to siege the castle, let alone the room, with everything at full readiness.

I guess Mr. Barotta understands the power of Sylphy and the others, so he saved us a lot of trouble.

Well, I'm glad to know that it's less hassle for me, and it's not my place to complain. It would be great if there were no traps, but I guess there are.

Deciding not to worry about the little things, I take out the degraded Damascus ingot that Mel has created from my magic bag and place it on the table.

I regretted that I brought the bare fruit of the spirit tree last time, and this time I wrapped it in an expensive looking cloth from the dungeon.

Moreover, I have chosen a cloth of a moderate rank so that it will not attract attention, so that the degraded version of Damascus will not be obscured.

Nomos scolded me for reversing the value of the first cloth I chose, but I don't tell my apprentices that.

The cloth is removed from its wrapping, attracting attention.

Out comes, of course, a degraded version of the Damascus ingot that Mel had made.

The room is filled with a stir, perhaps surprised by the brilliance of the Damascus ingot.

"Is this a degraded version of the Damascus ingot? ......"

The king's voice leaks out in disbelief. I know, I think so too.

I was relaxed because I heard it was a degraded version, but the moment I saw this, even I knew it was a bad idea and decided to make some arrangements.

That's how much this metal has a sparkle that fascinates people.

Hmm?　One dwarf is staring at a degraded version of Damascus with bloodshot eyes. Is he all right?