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A few days after I shared some of my secrets with Mr. Marta, a ceremony to celebrate the adulthood of Arch Kurtomerga, the third prince of the Kingdom of Kurtomerga, was held in the royal castle in a rare manner.

Only nobles with titles could participate in the ceremony, and all this day the Zeppernel Eternal Honorary Chancellor also entered the royal castle, not the mansion, and participated in the ceremony.

And - at the end of the ceremony, Ashley Zepernell was specifically called to the venue, and Prime Minister Zepernell told the current king and royal nobles that she had been chosen as the next Lord.

On that evening, a feast was held to celebrate the birth and adulthood of Prince Ark everywhere by the people of the King's Capital, and the Great Ball Hall built in the First District - the Flyheight - had gathered successively the kingdom's leading men, as well as the royal nobility.

"The Counts of Betten have arrived!

"Turn people around! The carriage is jammed."

"Keep the celebration and take it to the holding room, don't misplace your name tag!

'Come on, this isn't a venue, is it?

"I just received an extra shahoo wine from the Marida Chamber of Commerce!

"Leader! All I'm here for are employees!

"Let the maids carry it as an aperitif, don't make them drink too much!

'So come on! We got into the venue early and ate some food. Come on!

"Keep the large pieces of furniture brought to you by the Yamigasa Chamber of Commerce in the back, and open them at the venue anyway!

"Ooh! Let's go, you guys!

I'm inside the back of Flyheit, with Marta, delivering Shahoo wine, Prince Ark's gifts, and working on the inspection.

Shahoo Wine was delivered once a few days ago, but it was decided that it would be served at dinner tonight. No, a large number of inquiries were gathered from leading figures and nobles coming from the region to Wang Capital, and more deliveries were requested, even for souvenirs.

"I'm done confirming the fruit liquor. This is followed by the gift of Lord 'Big Black House' Schwartz, what's in it?

"The contents are exotic cakes specially picked up from outside the continent of Orlando. I've already spoken to the chef, so I'll put it in the ingredients store."

"Just in case, may I take a look inside?

"Yeah, sure. But look at the poison later, please."

In addition to Flyheit's employees, the inspection became work while being monitored by the Central Knights.

The delivery of the cake itself is likely not to lag behind, but the sound captured by the sound collecting sensors, the movement of the light points on the map floating in sight, is truly war.

I am well aware of the guidance of the nobles who keep coming in and how they are being followed before the dinner party begins. Is there such a thing as respect that even strays into that battlefield?

After finishing his job as a merchant, he joined Ashley for dinner as an escort. Marta went back to the mall to pick up Marida, and I decided to rent a space in the dressing room in Flyheit to change my costume.

This is my first time attending a party where I need to dress up as Schwartz, but I choose a white vest for my tailcoat from avatar customization as I did when I was shafting and get ready.

The design of the tailcoat has changed slightly from that of the shaft. It may not make much sense because it is only a minor difference, but I did not have the courage to stand in the exact same clothes before Lapitilica, who has seen it many times.

Check the time shown in the sight - we decided it was time for a good time and started moving to Flyheit's guest lobby.

I must greet Prime Minister Zeppernel Eternal Honorary and pick up Ashley. Plus to Mr. Shall, who is here as an escort to the Chancellor.

Anyone in the Central Knights who can stop at anything on several occasions seems to have spoken beforehand, and was able to move on to the back simply by presenting the name of the big black house and the guild card of the merchant guild.

Weaponry, dark utensils and other checks have been received at the time of the first delivery, and a large magic formation is laid in the basement of this fly height, and by the time the dinner party starts, a junction will be erected within the venue to obstruct the activation of magic and skills.

They say the same magic formations are also laid in parts of the royal castle and are not always activated to consume large amounts of magic and demonic stones, but in emergencies and large parties, they are activated to keep the venue safe.

However, it is often assumed that magic and skills will not be available on the side that guards the venue either, but the official armor of the Central Knights is finely crafted to nullify this junction, meaning that the venue and the defenses in the royal castle are complete.

Looking at the armor of the knights of the different Central Knights, I was remembering that story that Marta had told me.

I see the Zepernell family's VIP room. I spoke to the men who were supposed to be members of the two escorts built in front of the door - "You Shadow Grass (Suzuran)".

"It's" Big Black House "Schwartz, I'm here to pick up Ashley Zepernell."

"Just a moment."

I can hear one of the escorts entering the VIP room and telling them I'm here. There was only one voice to answer, Ashley's voice, and I knew even the number of light points on the map that Chancellor Zeppernel and Mr. Charles were not in the VIP room.

"Please, Master Ashley is waiting for you"

"Thanks"

The escort prompts me to enter the VIP room. Inside it was a qualitative room with a white tone, but the round table and chairs placed in the centre were seen with delicate and beautiful finishes.

And Ashley sits in a pair of chairs placed opposite each other.

She wore a thin blue toned evening dress. Brilliant hair on red gold, and a ruby choker necklace on the neck that I presented.

It's always more beautiful - holding the teacup placed on the table with both hands wrapped around it, staring into it and a face that was leaning up.

It suits me... or it's beautiful... or just before I uttered my voice to say what I thought, I saw her expression - my eyes.

Oh, what an eye... you're about to cry now...

"Hey, Ashley... you look terrible even though it's going to be dinner"

No response from Ashley. My mouth moves a little - but I don't have a voice.

Sit in the chair opposite each other and wait for her to say the words she leaned over again.

A long lasting silence - the meaning of which is imagined. I guess I heard a lot from Prime Minister Zepernell about his selection as the official next head of the Zepernell family. For example... the truth about 'exorcism' or something...

"You asked Chancellor Zepernell about me."

To that one word, Ashley's shoulders tremble.

"At that time...... are you?

The voice I finally heard lay down the question of what it was pointing to. I'm not going to ask back to Manuke about what?

"Yes... I fell on a meadow close to that goblin nest"

I fell into this world and woke up for the first time in a meadow. Maybe you can say where I was born into this world.

"Come to this world and the first thing you do will make me..."

"That's what happens."

"Ever since - Schwartz just needs help..."

My gaze rises from the cup that is empty, and Ashley's eyes capture me straight -.

I wonder what you care......

"You know what I made the first decision when I fell into this world? Strange landscapes, places I don't know where, and the first time I've seen goblins -"

"Huh?... to the original world... to go home?

"No, I'm not."

"So... knowing why you've come to this world?

"That's not the same"

"Running away from goblins...?

"The other way around - saving you, Ashley. That's the first thing I ever made up my mind when I fell into this world."

"Oh no..."

Ashley gives a surprise look to my answer, and the shoulder tremor propagates from arm to hand to finger grabbing the cup.

"I just need your help."

"That's not true..."

Reach out to cover Ashley's hand and wrap her trembling hand around it.

"How much I've been helped by your presence."

That day - ever since I woke up in a strange meadow, only Ashley kept seeing the essence of what I call being.

He knew it was me at a glance, no matter what I looked like, at Schwartz's time - at Shaft's time - at Yona's time.

The presence of those who understand themselves, I think, is above all honorable. Worth protecting, the most important person...

"Yeah - I'm going to help you. Daiji -"

So Ashley's words ran out, and his hands stopped trembling. And it went from a sad look to a slight smile -.

"'That's it... dude... dude, dude...'"

That word - “Japanese" I hung on Ashley in that goblin's nest hole. You don't even know what that right means, but her heartfelt words make me catch and smile, too -.

"Ashley Zepernell, the next head of the Zepernell family, swears here. I will protect you from all the nobles, merchants, and clans who seek to use you for their own personal gain."

"Then I swear, too. Schwartz Powder is the one - no, my real name...... Len Saitou swears here. Let's protect you from all threats, violence and catastrophe."

"Ren......? Pleasure to meet you."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you - it's dinner tonight first. I'll make sure your escort is well served."