[…Of course, I know that Kaito-san doesn't have any bad intentions.
However, how many times have you done this already? Kuromueinasama, God of Creation-sama, Death King-sama, and now World Kingsama… Even if you leave Chronois-sama out of that, you've already done
this four times.]
[…Yes.]
[I'm already at my wit's end, so aren't I allowed to scold Kaito-san at
least once!?]
[I- It's as you say.]
In front of Lilia-san who was standing in front of me with a sad
expression on her face… or rather, she's half-crying already, I was
sitting in a seiza while bowing my head.
The content of our conversation was, of course, about Lillywood-san,
and since she's already the third one among the Six Kings, it seems that
Lilia-san's patience reached its limit.
But even so, I'm not sure if it's because she understands that I didn't
intentionally do it, so she's not unnecessarily yelling at me… but it's
more like she's complaining at me.
[…Well, it's not that Kaito-san was hiding it this time, and fortunately, if
it's the World King-sama, she wasn't a troublesome one. So, let's end the
conversation here.]
[T- Thank you.]
It seems that this is the end of the sermon, or rather, the complaints, as
Lilia-san lets out a big sigh and her tense expression breaks down.
Well, I'm really feeling sorry for pushing Lilia-san to this point, and I
know that the people I got to know are so outrageous that the kind
Lilia-san has an expression that looks like a crisis is approaching.
No, I'm really sorry… but… If I could just complain about just one thing,
just one thing… Lilia-san, I would have been happy if you could have
reached that conclusion "30 minutes earlier".
My legs are already numb and I can't feel them anymore…
Finally free of Lilia-san's anger, I went back to meet up with everyone.
Everyone seems to have decided not to mention what happened with
Lilia-san just now, as they greeted me quite normally.
[Miyama-sama… Over here.]
[Lunamaria-san? What is this envelope?]
As soon as I came back, Lunamaria-san looked like she's somewhat in a
good mood as she held out an envelope to me, and when I received it, I
tilted my head and looked inside… And I found quite a bit of money in
there.
[Well~~ I've earned quite an amount from Miyama-sama. I'm already in
a state where I can't stop smiling. And so, this is just an expression of
what I'm feeling.]
[H- Huh…]
Apparently, Lunamaria-san, who bet all of her last month's salary on
me, won big, and that was why she already had that angelic smile on
her face.
Seriously, this useless maid is… If the dirt on Ein-san's nail would be
boiled and she was to drink it, would she get even a bit better?
But well, after responding to Lunamaria-san and moving my gaze away
from her… I found Fia-san sitting on a chair with her hanging down.
[Ummm, what's wrong with Fia-san?]
[Miyama-kun… Please leave her alone for now. Right now, Fia is facing
the twilight phase of her life.]
[Huh?]
[…2000… To have acquired 2000… A monster…]
With an expression that somehow looks like she burned out, Fia-san
muttered that I'm a monster. Confused from the sorrow on her face, I
tried calling out to her to comfort her.
[…Ah, no, I only acquired that many thanks to Lillywood-san's power,
and I didn't acquire that much.]
[Then… How many did you collect before you met World King-sama?]
[…300-something.]
[…Please accept me as your disciple.]
[Why!?]
It seems that her mind is quite weak, and for some reason, Fia-san
kneels into a dogeza and starts saying incomprehensible things.
Rei-san and I tried to console Fia-san as she's in that state… And after a
while, she finally looks up and returns to her earlier posture.
Yep, I may have done it too much, in all sorts of ways.
I knew I should have asked them properly beforehand about the scores
of the previous harvest festivals.
[Well, Kaito-san really just keeps surprising me in so many ways… As
expected, that would be the last one, right?]
[…Ah, no, that's…]
[…Do you still have…]
Taking a sip of the tea Lunamaria-san had brewed for me, when I heard
Lilia-san's words about how she's sincerely tired of the surprises, I
thought of what was in my magic box.
That I had now a Fruit of the World Tree in my possession… It's easy to
imagine what the situation would be like if I were to take it out here.
However, that doesn't mean that I'm going to hide it now… It's just that
I'm afraid of the consequences, mainly from Lilia-san…
I think about it for a moment and then, rather than put it off, I take the
Fruit of the World Tree out of the magic box and place it on the table.
[What's this?]
[It's beautiful.]
Looking at the Fruit of the World Tree that looked like a transparent
crystal, Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san tilted their heads in curiosity.
However, not only them, Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san also tilted their
heads when they saw it.
Ah, come to think of it, Lilia-san also said she had never seen the real
thing before…
[Mi- Miyama-kun!? Don't tell me… This is!?]
Apparently, Rei-san seems to have guessed what this is and looks at me
with an expression of disbelief on his face, as if to say he can't believe
he's seeing it.
[Yes… This is the Fruit of the World Tree. I received it from Lillywoodsan.]
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ ! ? ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
In my words, everyone's faces were filled with astonishment.
It's no wonder since the Fruit of the World Tree rarely appears on the
public and they were even surprised just to hear that it was going to be
a prize at the hunting tournament, so it's only natural that they would
have this reaction if the real thing appeared in front of them.
Everyone stared at the Fruit of the World Tree for a while, and then…
the expression on Lilia-san's face disappeared.
[...…]
[Ummm, My Lady?]
Lilia-san then stood up with a blank expression on her face and walked
to the corner of the room… and sat down with her knees held in her
embrace.
[My Lady!?]
[…Why… Why… I couldn't even get my hands on it after years of
searching… So why the heck that after getting out for a few hours, as if
you just went outside to buy it, you quickly got your hands on it…]
[My Lady, keep a hold on yourself!]
[Uuuhhhh… Uwwaaaahhhh! Geez, Kaito-san, I hate yoooouuuuu!!!]]
…She started crying.
It seems that it was quite a shock for her when I easily obtained the
Fruit of the World Tree, which she couldn't obtain even though she had
been desperately searching it for years, and Lilia-san began crying like a
child.
As emotions began bubbling up from within me seeing such a scene, I
took the Fruit of the World Tree in my hand and held it out to Sieg-san.
[Sieg-san, here…]
[ ! ? ]
[I heard from Sieg-san yesterday that you don't plan to heal that wound,
but maybe someday, you'll change your mind… and you can use it then.]
[…!?!?]
Looking at the Fruit of the World Tree I held out to her, Sieg-san
vigorously shook her head.
I've already somewhat predicted this from happening, as Sieg-san is
probably refraining from receiving something that expensive.
But as for me, I want Sieg-san to receive this at all costs, so I decide to
give it to her a little too forcefully.
Quickly grabbing Sieg-san's hand, I let her hold the Fruit of the World
Tree.
[Even if you won't use it, that's still fine with me. It's just that I wanted
to do something for Sieg-san who has always been a great help for me
so…]
[ ~ ~ ! ? ! ? ]
Is she really that flustered? When I grabbed her hand, Sieg-san's face
turned red and a bewildered expression appeared on her face, but she
could still tell that I wouldn't give up, as after a little while, she accepted
the Fruit of the World Tree.
Sieg-san holds the Fruit of the World Tree with both of her hands as if it
were important, and after a little while, she puts it away in her own
magic box before taking out a piece of paper and pen.
"Thank you very much. Kaito-san."
[Ah, no, I didn't mean to be intrusive… but I think it's better if you have
more options.]
"Yes, I suppose. Right now, I still don't have an answer as to whether I'll
use it or not but… I'll take good care of it."
[Yes. I think it's best for you to do what you want, Sieg-san.]
"You… really are…"
Sieg-san puts down her pen and paper just as she had written that
much and quickly reached out her arms to me and hugged me——- Eh?
[Wait!? Sieg-san!?]
[...…]
Sieg-san, who is almost as tall as I am, hugged the surprised me for a
few moments, before she removed her arms and brought her mouth
close to my ears.
——-Thank you.
Maybe it was my imagination, but when I heard such a voice, I felt like
something soft touched my earlobe.
Dear Mom, Dad——- I gave the Fruit of the World Tree to Sieg-san. She
still doesn't seem to have the answer of whether she'll use it or not, but
even for just a bit—— I think I helped Sieg-san.