Aftermath of separation (8)
The Imperial Hero Medal, the best decoration on the continent.
The honorable conferment ceremony ended without incident.
Leonard was recorded as the first person to receive the Imperial Citation and the Imperial Hero Medal at the same time, and to celebrate the achievement that will go down in history, a small banquet was held in the garden next to Glory Square.
It was a banquet that only nobles could enter, and in fact, the celebration was only in name. The main purpose was to promote friendship among nobles.
Beautiful melodies flowed in the garden prepared with the finest wine, simple finger food, and a small orchestra. Well-dressed aristocrats gathered in groups of twos and threes to enjoy rakugo.
There were people who secretly peeked at their elegant social scene from the grass.
“Do I really have to go this far?”
Narsha looked around with trembling eyes. Yerina watched the banquet with bright eyes, and the Ministry of Magic agents were awkwardly hiding behind her.
Those guys are a very tough job.
“sure! I came this far, but I have to pick mulberries.”
Yerina nodded resolutely.
Originally, I planned to go back after only seeing Leonard.
However, I found Jeniel in the guest seat and witnessed her heading to the banquet hall. It’s a rare Jeniel at the academy, so can we see her private life?
I couldn’t stand this at all.
“What the hell kind of mulberry is this to pick out…”
Narsha shook her head.
Then, I felt a sharp gaze from somewhere.
The Ministry of Magic reacted sensitively to the word Pong.
“It’s not like that.”
“Please be mindful.”
The agent gently raised his index finger above his lips.
It was then. Yerina, who had rabbit eyes, said as if tossing it.
“Oh, it’s Leonard-sama.”
“Where are you?”
Narsha lowered her posture as if she had never done that. He stayed close to Yerina and followed her gaze.
Next to the table with finger food.
As Yerina said, Leonard was seen. Maybe because he was wearing a uniform, he looked more manly.
Yerina subtly leaned her shoulder.
“Oh~ There is no pictorial. right?”
“yes? Ah, what……”
It was the moment when Narsha delayed answering Eoyoung and Booyoung.
Someone rushed to Leonard’s side. It was Jeniel in a white dress. Suddenly, Jeniel appeared and grabbed Leonard’s arm and led him somewhere.
“!!!”
In an instant, sparks flew in Narsha and Yerina’s eyes.
The objects were different, but the emotions felt were the same. It was jealousy comparable to rage.
Jeniel took Leonard to the couple who were supposed to be his parents, and Leonard greeted them politely.
Uniform and white dress.
Anyone who sees you will know that you are married.
Narsha burst out laughing.
“under!”
You haven’t said a word to me about where you’re going, so are you filming a romance drama here?
I don’t know why, but anger welled up inside me.
His blood pressure soared and his neck tightened.
Whether they knew what they were thinking or not, Leonard and Jeniel’s families all left the banquet hall.
Narsha grabbed Yerina’s wrist.
“Follow me.”
“Obviously.”
Yerina nodded with a solemn expression.
The two of them had become a team.
＊＊＊
The original plan was to find the crystal ball and contact Narsha. But when I thought about it, it wasn’t everything with a crystal ball.
In order to contact Narsha, I needed a ‘gms (unique magic system)’ to synchronize my contacts, but there was no way I was carrying something like that when I was suddenly kidnapped.
However, there was not enough time to go to the academy.
I was wondering what to do with this, but luckily I met Jeniel at the banquet. You can ask me to tell you my current situation.
To have a bite to eat, I went to a nearby high-end restaurant. Jeniel sat in the seat next to me, and Oscar and Cecil sat across from me.
Oscar put his hand on the table.
“It is an honor for the family to have a meal with the Imperial Hero Award winners. haha.”
“no. It is too much praise.”
I got up and held my hand. Jeniel hurriedly sat me down.
“Father too! Why are you making people uncomfortable?”
“It was just a joke. And where is it easy to have a meal with an Imperial Hero award recipient? Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
“It will be inconvenient, though. If you suddenly become formal to someone who treats you like family.”
Cecile covered her mouth and gave a small smile.
Oscar and Cecil.
I’m new to this, but these two have known each other since Leonard was little. There is a setting that Jeniel and Leonard were close at first, and that he took good care of the young Leonard like his own son.
That’s why he treated me comfortably.
“haha. It was all a joke, so forgive me, Leonard.”
“it’s okay. It was a pleasant joke.”
While talking about this and that, the food we ordered came out. Stone steak with sizzling sound, lobster the size of a rugby ball, and pasta topped with cheese like snowflakes.
It was a delicacy that could not even be seen in Kataracha. Just looking at it made my mouth water.
“Everyone must be hungry, so let’s eat quickly.”
Oscar lifted the fork first.
I also rolled up the pasta and ate a bite. Suddenly, a flash of lightning flashed in my brain.
It tasted amazingly fantastic. It was only then that I realized that I had come out of the world.
This time, I ate a sliced steak.
The gravy burst out like a tsunami and wet my dry mouth. I was extremely happy.
With a satisfied smile, Jeniel handed me a piece of pickle with a fork. I needed something to take my breath away, but as expected, Jeniel was a sensible person.
“It’s a place I’ve decided after careful consideration, so how is it? Does it suit your taste?”
“yes. tasty.”
I answered briefly and took the pickle.
Oscar, who was watching the scene with a dissatisfied face, spoke quietly.
“Daughter. This father wants to eat pickles too.”
Jeniel responded with a bright smile.
“Hehe, pick it up with a fork, Dad.”
“Kuhmm…”
Oscar cleared his throat as if he was sad.
I noticed that for no reason, so I picked up a pickle and handed it to Oscar.
“Here it is.”
“haha. After all, you are the only one, Leonard.”
His complexion brightened even more.
He asked while chewing on pickles.
“I heard that you don’t come to the academy at all, but where are you and what are you doing these days?”
“I am currently staying in Kataracha.”
“Kataracha…?”
Oscar asked, frowning.
Also, it seemed like he didn’t know.
“It is a kind of monastery. It is an institution that studies pure magic.”
“A monastery? ah! Did you leave training?”
“you’re right.”
I answered honestly.
Well… they were taken by force, but training is still training.
Oscar, who did not know the exact cause, applauded and praised it.
“To work hard on magic polishing without resting even during vacation is truly worthy of being awarded the Imperial Hero Medal. Isn’t that great, ma’am?”
“Iknow, right. You grew up really well.”
Cecile also gave a look of admiration.
Among them, the one I was most proud of was Jeniel. Jeniel looked up at me with a pale face.
“I didn’t grow up well, I was proud from birth.”
The compliments pouring in front of my face were very burdensome. I took a glass of water and took a sip. Even so, I tried to ignore the embarrassment.
Then, out of nowhere, Jeniel crossed his arms.
“So, how is this proud son-in-law?”
“Keuheum- Suck-!”
I accidentally swallowed water at the sudden bomb declaration.
Fortunately, I didn’t spray it, but I got caught in a terrible case. I coughed in succession. Oscar and Cecile also looked quite flustered.
Only Jeniel spoke out confidently.
“He is handsome, has a good reputation, and has a good family. And he has a very good personality. Isn’t this the perfect son-in-law?”
“Coke-collock-!”
I held my cough in one hand and shook my other hand. Nevertheless, Jeniel did not stop.
“Isn’t it, Father?”
“Hehe, marriage isn’t something that only one person wants.”
Oscar laughed awkwardly, as if embarrassed. Then he passed the burdensome baton to me.
“I don’t want Leonard’s opinion to be important…”
After saying that, the three eyes turned to me. Jeniel and Oscar looked at each other in anticipation, while Cecile seemed a bit uneasy.
“Coke-! Inhale, um…”
Why should the case stop at this point?
I shyly raised my tail.
“That… that’s…”
I thought about what answer to give.
Currently, Jeniel’s family is in a bad mood due to the breakup with Karios. If he made a mistake, it could have been like pouring oil on him.
So would you say it’s not good?
not. Still, you can’t bring your children down in front of their parents. I had to wrap it in the best words possible.
I smiled lightly.
“If it’s Jeniel, that’s fine. His personality is so good, and his appearance is so outstanding.”
“is it?”
Oscar smiled broadly.
Fortunately, my choice seemed to be the right one.
“Well, our Jeniel isn’t the type to get lost anywhere. cancer!”
On the other hand, Cecile’s expression darkened even more. Slap- He slapped Jeniel on the back of his hand.
“There’s nothing a kid can’t do with a fiancée.”
“It’s because I’m breaking off my engagement with Karios.”
“I-I didn’t mean to say that, did I?”
Cecile reached out and covered Jeniel’s mouth. The diamond ring on her index finger shone brightly.
Oscar asked, looking at the ring to change the subject.
“haha. A ring I haven’t seen. As for the accessories, there are many things I haven’t seen lately. Aren’t you spending too much?”
“yes? Oh, no. It’s been a long time since I’ve worn it, so I’m mistaken.”
Cecile hurriedly lowered her hand under the table.
It looked somewhat suspicious.
＊＊＊
boo woo woo-
A sedan that lights up the road and moves smoothly.
An old car chased after him. It was the vehicle of the secret royal inspector of the Ministry of Magic.
Yerina said as the sedan and the distance got closer.
“You can’t stick too close.”
“······All right.”
Ministry of Magic agent Jake slowly took his foot off the accelerator. Somehow, he became a driver.
Obviously, you are the one behind the wheel, but why are they paying more attention to what’s ahead?
“·······”
Jake looked into the back seat in the rearview mirror.
Narsha and Yerina poked their heads out, staring at Leonard’s sedan ahead. He was ready to fire lasers from his eyes.
Yerina muttered to herself.
“Where are you two going this late at night?”
Not only Leonard but also Jeniel are in the sedan. After the two finished eating, they boarded the sedan as if they were going on a date.
What’s more, what Leonard said during the meal was truly spectacle.
-If it’s Jeniel, that’s fine. The personality is so good, and the appearance is so outstanding.
It was a remark that angered Narsha and Yerina at the same time.
I wanted to steal the steering wheel and run into it. I wanted to send them both to heaven.
“You can’t be too far away.”
“······All right.”
Leonard’s sedan, which was gradually going into the mountain, stopped in front of a certain temple. The Ministry of Magic’s vehicle also stopped several meters behind.
A solemn silence lingered in the car.
Yerina and Narsha, as well as the Ministry of Magic agents, carefully looked inside the sedan. It looked like secret agency employees trying to catch the two of them having a tryst.
gulp-
A moment of strange tension.
Contrary to expectations, however, Leonard immediately got off the sedan and went up to the temple without hesitation. Soon after, the sedan also departed.
Jake muttered as if it was a waste.
“Ah… what is it?”
“What is it? I have to get down.”
Yerina got out of the car and chased after Leonard. Narsha and the agents also followed.
The four headed to the place where Leonard got off. Right next to it were countless stone steps, at the end of which I could see the gate leading to the temple.
Leonard seemed to have entered that place.
Narsha asked.
“Now what?”
“What can I do? I’ve come this far, but I have to ask Leonard-sama what to ask. let’s go.”
Yerina, who was very angry, took the lead.
After striding up hard, I reached the gate before I knew it. He rolled up his arms and knocked.
smart-
After a while, a monk in uniform opened the door. He had shaved hair and a handsome face like a young boy. But the voice was a heavy, low-pitched voice.
“who are you.”
“I’m here to see Leonard.”
Yerina answered boldly.
However, the monk flatly refused.
“It is impossible. Unless there is a special instruction from Master, contact with outsiders is taboo.”
It was a resoluteness that was not lighthearted.
Reluctantly, Yerina pushed the agents away.
“Even from the Ministry of Magic?”
“Because this place is out of Imperial territory, there is no reason to comply with the Ministry of Magic’s orders. Moreover, women are not allowed in Kataracha. As an exception, those with exceptional magical powers are permitted to enter…”
The monk with narrowed eyes looked at Yerina and Narsha in turn.
“The two of you don’t show any signs at all. I am sorry.”
As the monk tried to close the door, Yerina hurriedly thrust her foot in. He blocked the door that was about to close.
“Now, wait.”
“What are you doing?”
“Even though this person is a competent healing magician in the Empire?”
This time, he pushed Narsha on the back.
“You would know if I said Narsha?”
“sorry. Kataracha is an attack-type monastery.”
The monk smiled softly and stepped on Yerina’s feet.
Ouch! When Yerina took her foot away, she firmly closed the door.
thud-
Only empty silence lingered in front of the gate where the conversation was cut off. The night wind blowing from the forest awakened the cold reality.
Narsha sighed softly.
“Ehh…”
I suddenly felt skeptical.
It’s an Imperial Conference soon, and it was pathetic to be doing this. I felt depressed because I felt like I had blown the whole day.
Come to think of it, I’ve already broken up with Leonard, but strictly speaking, he’s not related to me.
Whom you do now, whoever you do, and how you get away from me, has nothing to do with me.
It’s a useless book.
“·······”
Narsha went down the stone steps without saying a word. Let’s go together,” he said, leaving Yerina and the agents behind, looking at the full moon in the sky.
I was alone in the dark without a star.
There was nothing around.
just like me
Tubuck- Tubuck-
Narsha immediately lowered her head.
It was an incomprehensible heartache, and it was a night that made one side of my heart ache.
······Meanwhile.
The monk in charge of the gate locked the door and looked around. It was late, so no one was seen. Everyone was inside the temple.
Moving to a corner, he, no, she took out a microscopic crystal ball from her bosom. After checking the surroundings once more, I spoke to the crystal ball.
It was a soft female voice, not a heavy bass.
“That’s me. In case of an emergency, we will contact you. Kataracha has been invaded by Ministry of Magic agents.”
-······
“yes. All checked. I think we should move up the schedule.”
-······
“all right.”
Two Ministry of Magic agents who approached Kataracha a while ago.
I don’t know the exact reason, but it seemed like he wasn’t just there to see Leonard. It looked like he had other plans.
Maybe he had a clue.
But there were also unexpected harvests.
“And I think I found some useful talent.”
-······
“Yes, I checked the face too. This is a woman named Narsha .”