Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. Sometimes when work gets busy, I wish I could go back to my student days. But actually returning to those times would probably have me overwhelmed by the restrictions and lack of money within days.
◇
“Welcome home, Master.”
“Welcome home, sir.”
After finishing the kingdom council meeting and getting off the carriage at the front door, the butler and maids lined up to greet me.
It’s almost like I was some kind of noble lord—well, I guess I am a viscount.
“Master, Marienthal-sama and her friends have arrived.”
“Understood. Are Ms. Zena and the others in the reception room?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, before changing, I’ll at least greet them.”
I said this, and one of the maids went ahead as a messenger to the reception room.
The live-in servants here are all oddly competent. Maybe I should call some of the loli maids from the labyrinth city and have them trained here.
Passing through the door opened by the butler, I headed toward the reception room where Ms. Zena and everyone were waiting.
With about fifteen people, it felt rather cramped.
I briefly responded “I’m home” to my girls’ welcoming words.
Everyone’s faces were glowing, probably because they had fun at the Royal Academy.
“Excuse us for intruding, Satou-san… uh, I suppose I should call you Viscount now.”
“If it’s not in public, please keep calling me Satou as before.”
I said this to a slightly sad-looking Ms. Zena.
While it’s natural to keep public and private separate, I don’t really like it when friends become distant in private.
“—Is that alright?”
“Yes, please, just as before.”
“Alright!”
Ms. Zena responded with a smile as bright as the sun.
As always, Ms. Zena’s expression is great in moments like this.
“I’ll change quickly, so let’s eat together. Will you ladies be eating with us?”
“Well, about that…”
I had naturally assumed we would dine together, but apparently Ms. Zena and her party were invited to Count Seryu’s dinner.
They were also supposed to report on the progress in the labyrinth city.
“That’s unfortunate. You’ll be in the Royal Capital for a while, right? Then there will be other chances. Tomorrow, I’ll treat you to a wonderful court cuisine made with a whole cherry salmon.”
“C-Court cuisine?! Definitely! We’re looking forward to it.”
While having that conversation, I saw Ms. Zena and the others off as they returned to the Count’s Domain.
Lirio was receiving some kind of wrapped package from Lulu. It seemed to be a set of osechi ryori dishes they liked.
◇
That evening’s dinner was a lavish spread of court cuisine Lulu had learned at the Royal Castle.
Quite a luxurious meal. It was a waste with osechi ryori still remaining, but that can be breakfast.
“—I was super active, tearing it up and throwing it!”
“Did you do well, Tama?”
I listened to Pochi and Tama report how they dominated kids at the knight academy.
I glanced at Arisa, silently asking, “You didn’t let anyone get hurt, right?”
“Don’t look at me like that. I told them to only attack the weapons, so it’s fine. Fewer kids will challenge them starting tomorrow, and since they’ve been practicing on Pandora, they’re learning to hold back.”
“That’s right (・)~”
“Yes. Sensei taught us to hold back from the weak.”
Oops, that’s a problematic statement.
“Pochi, you can’t call your friends ‘weak’.”
“Is that bad? Sensei said that often.”
Hmm, the elf masters naturally look down on the weaker in martial arts, after all.
“Then, imagine this.”
“Sure~?”
“Really?”
I nodded at the two with puzzled looks.
“How would you feel if a warrior you didn’t know before the fight called you ‘weak’ and said you weren’t even worth fighting?”
“I’m not weak!”
“Tama is strong, too~!”
The two, imagining my words, got angry and started fuming.
“But what if that warrior said, ‘Hmph, the weak always bark the loudest,’ and didn’t listen to you? What would you do?”
“Fight~?”
“I’d challenge them.”