CH 142

“It’s been a while, Charil.”

Roa says to one of the Hipopo Brothers while tickling it behind the ear.

She gave it this name back when we were exploring the ruins near the ocean.

Charil sounds happy too, responding to Roa by going ‘buhbuh’.

After coming to the royal castle with Roa, I show the letter sent by Princess Lily, and we are shown the way to the courtyard right away,

We wait along with Hipopo and Charil, until Princess Lily shows up with her riding beast. She has a few attendants with her, but fewer than I would expect considering she’s royalty.

Roa kneels and lowers her head, and I copy her.

“Thank you for coming here after my sudden invitation. Please stand up.”

“Ah, excuse us.”

Back in the white mask party, there was a casual feeling of sorts, but this time I received an official invitation from Princess Lily. I have to be at least a little careful with how I act and respond. I don’t want my blood to end up staining a sword for being rude to a member of royalty.

There are two knights standing behind Princess Lily. Both women.

I can feel they’re both strong enough to rival Princess Lily, and there’s a thick concentration of magic elements surrounding them.

“Ah, these two are knights of my chivalric order, Zoroa and Lismist. This is Master Rust, the hero who saved our country, commander of a dragon, and chief of the Kagero Institute of the Admiral dominion.”

Princess Lily graciously introduces me. Looks like she’s been doing some research about me. As wonder how much of her friendly attitude and tone are simply calculated, I bow to the two knights behind her.

I’m sure Zoroa and Lismist are the princess’ trusted retainers, so I’m sure the princess has already shared the information she has about me before coming here.

I introduce Roa too, and thank the princess for inviting me.

“Hou, so you are Roa Sard. You are one of the knight Kalin’s blue twin spears, correct?”

Says the knight Zoroa with a grin, while looking at Roa.

Roa looks a little upset. It looks like this Zoroa rubbed her the wrong way somehow.

“How about it? I would most definitely like to cross spears with you.”

Zoroa says while shaking the spear on her back, challenging Roa. So that’s why she’s provoking her.

“Zoroa, you’re being rude. You can’t do this to a guest who hasn’t come prepared.”

The other knight, Lismist, stops her, but there’s something not quite right about the way she said it.

It doesn’t really look like she’s trying to stop her. I get the feeling that she’s implying Roa can’t handle a sudden battle.

Roa looks like she’s about to accept Zoroa’s challenge at any moment.

The problem is that I really don’t know what they’re after. I can’t imagine they predicted I would bring Roa, so did they work this out while we were waiting here in the courtyard?

If that’s the case, letting Roa fight might be playing right into their hands.

I try proposing something.

“Since we are here for a long ride, how about we have a race?”