Published: September 10, 2025
Satou here. I heard from an acquaintance that even poison used in suspense dramas has trends and fashions, and by the type of poison used, one can determine the era when the original work was written. Although, these days, suspense stories involving poison themselves are quite rare.
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"Alright, I'm heading out."
"Okay! We're going to the labyrinth, so call us if anything happens."
On the bridge of the airship circling over Kiwalk Royal Castle, I exchanged such words with Arisa.
Below, in the plaza turned temporary airfield, many nobles and servants had gathered.
There were quite a lot of people for a simple welcome.
Probably because Princess Sistina was accompanying us.
Seeing off the Pendragon team waving their hands, I replaced them to welcome the tourism ministry team that had just arrived from the Isolated Island Palace.
The princess wore a gold-themed dress, and Sera wore a silver-themed one.
Ms. Zena and Miss Karina were dressed in an SP-style fashion with braided hair and sunglasses.
Both were equipped with decorative rapiers, looking quite impressive.
That’s the result of me and Arisa having a bit of fun.
"Sorry for the wait, Your Excellency Vice Minister."
I smiled in response to Sera's slightly playful tone and lowered the airship's altitude.
"That's an impressive number of people to welcome us."
"We seem to be well received!"
Reacting to Miss Karina's curious words, Ms. Zena innocently commented.
"Airships are unusual, so security should be tight."
"Oh? If anything happens to the airship, it would be like declaring war on the Shiga Kingdom, wouldn’t it?"
"Never let your guard down, Tina. Foolish people who don't understand the obvious exist in every country."
Responding to the conversation between Sera and the princess, I summoned security golems from the Isolated Island Palace.
Three winged gargoyle-type golems on the observation deck, one defense-specialist guardian with a full perimeter "Barrier," and eight knight-type living armors guarding the gangway.
Each golem was around level 30, which should be enough to stop pranks or stowaways.
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A quick glance at the crowd revealed that Her Majesty the Queen was at the center.
The Kiwalk Queen was a busty beauty who didn’t look her mid-forties, wearing a black dress with a high collar that emphasized her chest.
It was customary to approach her from a lower position, but stepping forward too quickly could be seen as disrespectful, so you had to wait a few beats.
What a hassle.
"That's Viscount Pendragon—quite young, isn’t he?"
"Your voice is too loud, Your Excellency."
Amid those bowing, I heard such whispers.
Probably only I could hear them thanks to my "Eavesdropping" skill.
"Really, why must I, the eldest son of a duke, kneel to a mere viscount, even if he is a noble of a great country?"
"Viscount Pendragon is a direct vassal of Count Muno, and having permission to use a valuable airship and marrying a Shiga Kingdom princess certainly gives him immense influence in the capital. His power rivals or even surpasses Her Majesty the Queen."
Huh, so vice ministers and prefects have that much power...
"That young man?"
"Yes. Should we incur his anger and have troops sent against us, our country would soon fall, and our heads would be displayed at the city gates."
Hey, what is this, some tale from the Warring States period?
"But our country has the 'Winter Defense.' No matter how much the army attacks—"
"Never underestimate the great country. There are supernatural beings like the 'Crimson Lotus Demon' who guards the west of the kingdom, and the Shiga Eight Swords."
"We also have generals and Princess Light Snow, don’t we?"
"Unfortunately, they wouldn't stand a chance. They are one-man armies, able to hold their own even against the demon race."
Well, whatever demon race means...
I don't know who this Crimson Lotus Demon is, but being able to match the demon race seems to be a high compliment.
Not only our people, but now Ms. Zena and Miss Karina would easily handle low-rank demon race.
—Well, I guess it's time.