Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. They say that under the cherry blossom trees lie the dead, but I don’t even know the original story’s name, let alone whether it’s a novel or a fable.
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“Looking up from below, it’s spectacular.”
“Absolutely. It’s so beautiful it’s almost scary.”
I murmured while gazing up at the cherry blossoms.
I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve. It was Mia.
Since the beast girls had moved as escorts in the mule cart we borrowed to replace the broken carriage earlier, Mia and Lulu had taken the now-empty seats.
“One more time.”
“—‘So beautiful it’s almost scary,’ huh?”
“Yes.”
Mia closed her eyes dreamily and puckered up her lips. When I looked away and turned to the other side, Arisa was striking the same pose.
I sighed and looked to Lulu, who was sitting across from us, seeking agreement. Lulu blinked, blushed a rosy pink, then quietly closed her eyes.
—You guys didn’t plan this in advance, did you?
Anyway, regardless of such trivial matters inside the carriage, we arrived in front of the reception hall where Baron Muno was staying.
One carriage was missing.
It seemed the mule cart carrying the beast girls was directed to the back entrance.
“Welcome to the Royal Capital.”
Led by maids lined up at the entrance, we entered the mansion.
The maids standing in line weren’t from Baron Muno’s Domain but appeared to be attached to the mansion itself.
Proof of that was their matching, elegant one-piece dresses, rather than maid outfits.
Pina, dressed in a maid outfit, was waiting in the entrance hall.
“We’ve been waiting for you, Sir Noble, Miss Karina.”
“Long time no see. Glad to see you well.”
“Your distinguished achievements have even reached Muno Territory.”
We didn’t linger too long for conversation, so as not to disrupt the maids’ duties greeting us, and cut it short at an appropriate point.
Unlike the combat maid attire we saw in Muno Territory and the Duke’s Capital, Pina’s gentle and refined gestures seemed to say, “I’ve been a maid from long ago.” She led me to the sitting room.
I checked the map; it seemed the baron and Administrator Nina were stationed in the northern conference room of the Royal Castle. It looked like a tense meeting, as the baron’s stamina was dangerously low.
It was the first time I’d seen someone with the status ailment “overwork.”
“The baron and the administrator have gone out for preliminary negotiations. Please relax here until they return.”
The maids arranged tea sets and snacks for the number of people present on the table. The snacks included warm baked goods on plates and small bowls of white candy-like sweets.
A bell placed on the table was probably for summoning a maid. The maids waiting near the entrance stepped back.
A little later, the beast girls who had entered through the back door joined us.
“Hmm~? Illegal occupation~?”
“First come, first served.”
Mia, who had taken my lap, was being targeted by Tama, trying to reclaim it.
Today, those two had switched roles from usual. But honestly, it’s not like it’s something worth fighting over. Pochi climbs up and sits beside me but seems uninterested in sitting on my lap.
Pochi, sitting beside me, caught my eye and gave a cheeky grin.
It was so cute that I couldn’t help but pet her head.
Now, I wanted to discuss our future plans, but of course, it was hard with Miss Karina present.
I decided to talk after returning to my mansion prepared in the Royal Capital.
When we previously stopped by to deliver the airship and Magic Sword, I had arranged a mansion through a merchant for Baron Pendragon. The merchant was known as a purveyor to the Pendragon family, so it was quite convenient.
In contrast, Echigoya was used for large deals like weapons and airships as Nameless or Kuro, so for matters as Satou, I used the merchant.
“Still, I always thought she was strong, but I never imagined she’d even defeat Lord Juleburg of the Eight Swords of Shiga.”
“Indeed, it was quite splendid.”
“Thank you.”