CH 1000

1000 - The Encounter with the Rose Princess ③

【A Celebration, for the 1000th Chapter!】

※ There’s a notice in the afterword.

After exchanging light greetings…… we did exchange greetings, right? Anyhow, after being acquainted with Rosemary-san, Camellia-san explained to Rosemary-san about the situation.

[Eri, regarding that exhibition…… Prior reservations really are required, and there are already no slots left.]

[……………..]

Rosemary’s expression doesn’t seem to have changed. However, I’d like it if you don’t underestimate me. To be honest, I’m proud to say that I’m someone who can distinguish Shiro-san’s facial expressions more than any person in this world, and I noticed the slight change in Rosemary-san’s expression, even though it seemed like it didn’t change at all.

(Proclaiming you’re the one who knows me best…… I’d be embarrassed if you’d suddenly say such a passionate confession.)

No, I didn’t say that much though…… F- For the time being, the topic is about Rosemary-san.

Her eyebrows slightly lowered and her shoulders slumping down a bit, she must be quite downhearted…… Well, unlike in Shiro-san’s case, my Sympathy Magic is effective against Rosemary-san, so I can easily tell her emotions through Sympathy Magic……

[However, Kaito-san suggested that we go with him. If we are with Kaito-san, who has received Shallow Vernal-sama’s blessing, even if we aren’t registered, there’s a good chance that we will be able to enter.]

[………………!]

Rosemary-san’s glare turned towards me. Well, I could tell that she was happy from her emotions but…..

[However, Eri, listen carefully. Going together with Kaito-san means that we will also be going together with those people accompanying him. I heard he has about 10 people in his group…… Are you alright with that?]

[……………………..]

She’s troubled about this. She’s insanely worried about this. Apparently, for Rosemary-san, going along with ten people she’s never met before is more than just very hard difficulty.

Well, she’s so anxious around strangers that it takes her days to talk to someone she met for the first time, so I guess this isn’t surprising……

Just like that, Rosemary-san seemed to be pondering about this matter for a while, but as if she had made up her mind, she brought her face close to Camellia’s ear.

[……It seems like she’ll try to do her best.]

[Roger that. Please don’t push yourself.]

[Eri really loves flowers, so I’m sure she’d love to see the exhibition of Sanctuary’s flowers at any cost.]

I see, even if she had to endure the fear caused by her extreme social anxiety, she still wants to see Sanctuary’s flowers huh……. Rather than her just having an unusual emotional attachment to them, it feels like she really loves flowers.

For the time being, since this topic is already settled, we moved towards the place where Lilia-san and the others should be waiting. Rosemary-san seemed to be walking proudly with a stern expression on her face, her presence seemingly intimidating everyone around her, but feeling how she’s scared out of her mind with my Sympathy Magic feels rather strange.

When I returned to everyone and explained the situation, Lilia-san turned to look towards the skies, a hand covering her eyes.

[……I took my eyes off you for a minute and you came back with two of the Six Kings’ Executives……]

[Milady, please keep yourself composed…… It’s just the usual Miyama-sama.]

[My stomach hurts exactly because this is the usual……]

Seeing Lilia-san say that with a melancholic expression on her face, I just wryly smiled, unable to refute her. No, I really am surprised to meet so many different people I knew in this large venue.

Well, I think I also met quite a few people at the Six Kings Festival……

[I see, I understand the situation. There’s no problem with granting them entrance. I’ll go talk about this to them.]

[……Thank you. Also, for seriously punching you back then……]

[I’m not so shameless as to blame you for fighting with all your might in battle. We fought each other fair and square. Now that it’s over, I have no grudge against you.]

[I’m grateful to hear you say that.]

Sky-san and Camellia-san were having a conversation that I’m a little curious about. I later learned that the two apparently faced each other in that incident in the God Realm.

Well, both Sky-san and Camellia-san are good people, so there was no awkwardness at all, and a peaceful atmosphere drifted around them.

Thereupon, the conversation turned to Camellia-san’s companion, Rosemary-san. My two kouhais seemed to be a little frightened by the grim expression in Rosemary-san’s face, while the others seemed to be somewhat shrinking away from her.

[L- Lilia-san……]

[……I’ve heard about Rosemary-sama, known as the “Aloof Rose”, and about how she’s a moody person. Please be mindful of what you say.]

Hearing what the intimidated Hina-chan said, Lilia-san explained to her…… but perhaps, or rather, they’re definitely making a misunderstanding.

Indeed, her expression looked grim and her figure brimming with majesty feels intimidating…… but from the emotions conveyed by my Sympathy Magic, I could tell that she was already at her limits.

Thereupon, grabbing Camellia-san’s shoulder as she returned back to her side after she finished talking with Sky-san, Rosemary-san brought her mouth to Camellia-san’s ear.

This time, due to the proximity of our positions, I could hear what Rosemary-san whispered.

[……S- S- S- Strangers, one, two…… t- there’s lots of them…… S- Scary…… They’re looking at me, they’re looking at me…… H- H- Help me, Lia……]

That’s just amazing. Hearing her voice tremble, sounding like she was about to cry, I was strangely impressed by the fact that she still had that stern expression on her face.

【In commemoration of reaching 1000th Chapter, the second Popularity Contest will be held!】

Serious-senpai : [……So it has finally come…… The second war…… When was the last Popularity Contest held again?]

? ? ? : [It was held on the series’ first anniversary, so about 4 and a half years ago. Incidentally, Isis-san came in first last time.]

Serious-senpai : [……And now, the number of characters has increased quite a lot, hasn’t it?]

? ? ? : [Last time, there were “53 characters” that the readers had to choose who to vote for.]

Serious-senpai : [Character-wise, until what chapter does the First Popularity Contest encompass again?]

? ? ? : [It was held in the Six Kings Festival, around the introduction of Agni-san. Chapter-wise, that should be around Chapter 380.]

Serious-senpai : [……Feels like it would increase like crazy.]

? ? ? : [That’s why, it seems like Author-san’s going to borrow some voting site to do it. They’ll die if they had to count the votes by hand like they did last time. They’re currently looking for one right now, so wait a little longer for the details to be announced.]

Serious-senpai : [……The conditions are different from last time. MY TIME HAS FINALLY COME!!!]

? ? ? : [No, you’re the title-holder for the Afterword category, so you’re going to participate in the Afterword category again.]

Serious-senpai : [……Even though it’s just restricted to April Fool’s Day chapters, even those chapters weren’t counted huh (shudder).]