The 4th day of the Light month. After being abruptly taken towards the
Hydra Kingdom and staying there for nearly 5 days and 4 nights… we
finally returned to the familiar mansion.
Fate-san, Shea-san and Heart-san had to report to the God Realm, or
more specifically, to Chronois-san, and that's why we parted ways at the
Hydra Kingdom.
Fate-san insisted on taking me back to the mansion, but no matter how
I look at it, she was just trying to escape because she had to report to
Chronois-san, so I refused her and returned with Teleportation Magic.
After returning to the mansion, the first thing I did was to go to the
office to report to Lilia-san and greet her, and when I went inside the
room, there were Lilia-san, Lunamaria-san and Sieg-san… the usual
trio.
[Welcome back, Kaito-san… How was the Hydra Kingdom?]
[Yes, I had lots of fun there. Ahh, here, I brought some souvenirs.]
It seemed that Heart-san had contacted them, so Lilia-san knew that I
wasn't caught up in something important, and she greeted me with a
gentle smile on her face.
As we lightly exchanged chit-chat while I was handing over the
souvenirs I had brought, Lilia-san's expression turned serious after a
moment and with a grave tone, she spoke.
[…So, you also encountered King Hydra, right?]
[Eh? No, I didn't though?]
[…Eh?]
Why is she assuming that I've encountered the King of another
country? N- No, as expected, after all the things that had happened, I
guess I can't complain huh… H- However, now that she mentioned it, I
think that I really didn't meet the King on this trip.
I've met Shea-san, a remarkable person of the God Realm, but not the
Hydra King, someone who's not a VIP human like the Hydra King… Ahh,
could it be… that grandpa is actually the King?
[…Lilia-san, is His Majesty, the King of Hydra Kingdom an elderly man?]
[Eh? No, she's a petite woman of the Mermaid race. But then, Mermaids
are long-lived species, so her actual age is quite a bit older than her
appearance…]
[…So, I guess I really didn't meet her then.]
Apparently, the King of Hydra Kingdom is a girl of the Mermaid race…
Unnn. For once, I really don't have a clue.
[R- Really?]
[Yes, I certainly saw some Mermaids often in the city… but I didn't talk
with any of them, and I don't think I've met any of them who feels like a
King.]
[...…]
When I honestly told her that I had no idea about it, Lilia-san's eyes
opened wide and she stiffened for some reason.
Then, she turned to me, looking as if she was thinking about something,
then slowly moved her gaze to the side.
[…Luna!]
[Yes…"His pulse rate is normal".]
[…Sieg!]
[Hmmm. He doesn't have any fever.]
[Hey…]
Along with Lilia-san's words, Lunamaria-san checks my pulse and Siegsan puts her hand on my forehead to check if I don't have any fever.
After hearing their words, Lilia-san turned pale, and looking as if she
was shuddering, she muttered.
[…No way, for that Kaito-san to not get to know anyone powerful when
he walked out on his own? T- That's… not possible!]
[My Lady, I agree with you… I think it would be better if we commission
the royal physician and have a look at him…]
[B- Both of you, please calm down. Even if he didn't encounter powerful
people there, you may just be exaggerating it. It may just be that Kaitosan was fatigued after being suddenly sent to an unfamiliar place, and it
might be best for us to let him get some rest first before seeing how
things go.]
…What the heck is with this situation? Why the heck are they acting like
it's an anomaly that I haven't met King Hydra?
Strange, no matter how I think about it, this is strange… I'd like to
spend an hour questioning what kind of person I am within Lilia-san
and the others' minds.
[…Kaito-san, how about you take some rest today? You may have been
gathering quite the fatigue… I will also have something nourishing
brought to your room so you can rest…]
[No, no, wait, Lilia-san? It's not like I'm feeling unwell… So, please don't
look so seriously worried about me…]
[H- However…]
Apparently, in Lilia-san and the others minds, the fact that I didn't meet
King Hydra means that I'm feeling unwell, especially Lilia-san, who was
nervously speaking to me with a worried expression on her face.
…Moreover, they aren't being sarcastic or were just doing this to tease
me, they're seriously worried that I'm feeling unwell!? If they're like
this, I can't complain about their strangeness… W- What should I do, is
there something that could derail their thoughts… wait, that's right!
[Ummm, Lilia-san. I haven't met King Hydra… but I met a High-ranking
God, God of Disasters-sama, you know?]
[…Eh?]
[No, like I said, I became acquaintances with God of Disasters-sama.]
[...]
Yes, I certainly didn't meet King Hydra this time, but I did get to know
Shea-san, the No. 5 of the God Realm.
If I were asked if we get along well, I think that would be quite
complicated… But we certainly became acquaintances.
When I told that to Lilia-san, she was silent for a while and then let out
a sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart.
[…T- Thank goodness… It seems that Kaito-san is the same as usual.]
[...…]
[Yes, he certainly is Miyama-sama, I thought that we were talking with a
fake in disguise.]
[Oi, stop right there, you useless maid…]
[Errr, anyway, I'm glad to hear that Kaito-san seems to be doing well.
Also, Luna, you're being rude to Kaito-san, you know?]
[…Thank you for that. Sieg-san.]
The only person on my side is Sieg-san. Unnn, Sieg-san really has been
the only one who has been consistently concerned about my health all
along, and being around the tremendously different atmosphere
around her feels refreshing.
[Well~~ Seriously, I'm glad that Miyama-sama is as usual. This
Lunamaria is truly happy for you. I thought you had some sort of
disease… Whoa there, in a way, you can say that the usual you was the
one with a disease, right? My Lady?]
[N- No, I wouldn't go that far…]
[Good gracious, as expected of Miyama-sama! Demons, Gods, Humans,
the ability to seduce all kinds of beings without betraying everyone's
expectations is quite marvelous. You're unlike a normal popular guy. I
wonder where you'll get the next one? I guess it's about time you snag
someone from another world?]
[...]
This sh*tty maid! She has a happy expression on her face, as if she's a
fish in the waters! Would it be alright if I punch her at least once? Well,
even if I tried punching her, she would probably just evade it huh…
Glaring at Lunamaria-san, who had a mocking smile on her face, I was
about to complain but… Before I could do that, a sharp fist slammed
towards Lunamaria-san's stomach.
[Gafuu!?]
[Cut that out, Luna… I won't allow you to tease Kaito-san any further.]
[S- Sieg-san!]
Quickly hammering down the devil towards the ground, Sieg-san is
definitely an angel. She's making me feel in love all over again.
[N- No, it's not like I'm teasing Miyama-sama, I'm just being a little
mischievous… Ah, no, that's a lie! My apologies! I apologized, I have
already apologized, so please stop holding your sword!?]
[…Lili, can I borrow Luna for a bit? I'm just going to scold her for a bit.]
[Yes, you don't have to scold her for a bit, please thoroughly scold her.]
[My Lady!?]
Seeing Lunamaria-san, who still hasn't learned her lesson and was
about to mess around again, Sieg-san seriously got angry at her… And
after asking Lilia-san's permission, she grabbed Lunamaria-san by the
scruff of her neck and dragged her away.
I wonder why… I felt like Lunamaria-san looked like a cattle that was
about to be sent to the butcher for a moment… Well, Lunamaria-san
had it coming.
[…Kaito-san, I'm sorry. I also lost my composure.]
[Ah, no, I certainly did put you in lots of worries before…]
[Fufu, but I agree with Sieg. Most of all, I'm glad to see Kaito-san come
back healthy and safe… Once again, welcome home, Kaito-san.]
[Yes. I'm home.]
After apologizing for what she just said, with a kind smile on her face,
Lilia-san said she was happy to see me return.
Her smile is really warm and inexplicably reassuring me… And seeing
that smile, I somehow felt comfortable around her.
Dear Mom, Dad—— There was quite the commotion when I returned,
but I still think it's nice to be back here. When Lilia-san told me
"Welcome home" with a gentle smile, it felt really natural of me——
that I was able to say "I'm home".