Once More at the Imperial Capital (2)

While we were being led by Misha, the members of Team Bacchus were whispering to Rokuko (though being inside the covered coach, there wasn't really any need to whisper).

"Hey, Jou-chan. Should I start callin' ya with '-sama'?"

"Eh? Why would you, Gozoh? You don't need to worry about that."

"Rokuko-sama～… Yeah, Ichika and Kuro already call you that normally, so it doesn't really feel off."

"Come on. Don't tease me, Roppu."

"I'll keep calling you Rokuko-san as always!"

"Oh, Wataru, you can go ahead and use '-sama'."

The reason only Wataru was getting that treatment was probably my influence. That's my partner for you. Well, Wataru doesn't seem to mind either, so it's fine.

And so we arrived at the imperial castle.

Unlike Haku-san's villa, it had gray stone brick walls that prioritized practicality. Though honestly, if these walls ever actually saw action, the situation would probably already be beyond help.

With Misha leading us, we were smoothly welcomed inside the castle.

… Come to think of it, we're still using the coach with the Tsuia family crest on it. Is that alright?

It might give the impression that we're deeply entangled with the Tsuia family, but we actually are on good terms with them, so whatever.

Just after passing through the second gate from the outside, Misha stopped. Our coach stopped alongside her.

"Alright, go ahead and get off the coach around here. Let's see, I need to hand over my mount too… Oh! Sally. Perfect timing. Take this one to the stables for me～"

"Misha, don't just shove the reins at me like that… Oh, Kehma-san. It's been a while."

Oh, it's Sally-san, the Living Armor knight commander and one of Haku-san's party members. She's literally just a suit of armor though, is that really okay? Well… I guess it is.

… Oh right, there's no need to hide with Sally-san. She came to our inn openly, after all.

"It has. Shikina's here too."

"I-It has been a very long time, Sally-sama!"

"Well if it isn't Shikina. You've come back, I see. Have you greeted your father yet?"

"N-no, we've only just arrived! I will go see him later!"

Shikina saluted crisply as she spoke. Then Wataru bowed his head and joined the conversation.

"Sally-san, are you done with your vacation?"

"Oh, if it isn't Wataru."

I'd figured as much from him knowing Misha, but since he takes commissions from Haku-san, it makes sense he'd know her party members too.

"Yes, I rested plenty so I'm back on duty. I'll give you some training later."

"… Sally-san, you seriously try to kill me, so that's kind of scary, you know?"

"Isn't it more effective that way? A hero like you should be able to handle that much, right?"

Sally-san puffed out her chest (which is just plate armor, though) as if to say "what's the problem?" Sounds like he's been through some hellish training… very protagonist-like of you, Wataru.

"Well then, Sally, could you run my errand for me now～?"

"Hah? You've got some nerve trying to order me, the knight commander, around."

"Ehhh? Come on, we're close, aren't we?"

Sally-san grabbed Misha, who'd been rubbing against her going "goronyaan," by the head and pulled her off.

"I have a message from Haku-sama. She says to stop doing anything unnecessary and hand things over to me from here. You probably tried to be clever again and messed up, didn't you? Hurry back and do your guild master work… It's piling up, isn't it? Your work."

"Ugu… I-I knoow, alright already. Well then, Kehma-san, let's spar sometime! I won't lose next time!"

Saying that, Misha remounted her beast and waved enthusiastically as she left.

… Does that girl do nothing but say unnecessary things?

"Kehma-san, you beat Misha-san too? Even I only have a fifty-fifty win rate against her."

"It was pretty much the same as with you."

"As expected of Kehma-san!"

"… Hmm. You know, you could use -sama for me too, like with Rokuko."

"As expected of Kehma-sama!"

"Sorry, actually don't. Being -sama'd by you gives me goosebumps."

"You asked for it and that's how you react!?"

Next to the laughing Wataru, we entered the castle with Sally-san leading the way.

… So it's finally happening, huh. I was invited here and all, but what are they actually going to do? It's a bit late for this, but is it really okay showing up dressed like an ordinary adventurer?

Just as I thought that, what we were guided to wasn't the audience chamber but an ordinary-looking guest room.

"For now, these are the guest rooms reserved for barons. We've prepared one room per person, so please use them for today. The audience and ennoblement ceremony will be the day after tomorrow."

"Huh? It's not going to be later today?"

"Kehma-san… you don't think His Majesty the Emperor has that kind of free time, do you? You arrived much earlier than scheduled, and the adjustments have been quite difficult. Even so, this group is being given priority."

Come to think of it, we did wrap things up early at Corky… sorry about that.

"Wait, the Emperor?"

"Yes. His Majesty the Emperor. Officially, he's supposed to be Haku-sama's descendant. Of course Haku-sama will attend the audience too, but ennoblement is a matter of the Emperor's authority."

I see. Now that she mentions it, I recall Haku-san saying she stays withdrawn in her villa. So while Haku-san is actually at the top, there's a separate figurehead called the Emperor. Kind of like how I'm a figurehead village chief in our village.

… I'm feeling a bit of one-sided kinship here. Well, being a village chief and being an emperor are vastly different things, though.

"Also, tomorrow you'll be selecting outfits and learning the procedures for the audience, so be prepared for that. For today, please rest."

Oh, so we do get preparation and rehearsal time. Rather, is that why the audience is the day after tomorrow? Quite thorough of them.

"Would you like to eat in the dining room? Or have it brought to you?"

"Oh, brought to us then."

"Understood. I'll pass that along. A maid will be dispatched later, so if you need anything else, please tell her… Also, don't wander around carelessly. If you're caught roaming without permission, you'll be arrested as spies."

Saying that, Sally-san bowed and clanked away.

"… I'm glad we're getting time to prepare. Roppu, are ya gonna wear a dress?"

"Ahh, I guess so? Gozoh, you'll be wearing formal clothes too, right…?"

"Well, don't be too nervous! You won't be executed just for sneezing in the middle of His Majesty's speech."

Not executed, but maybe imprisoned? Wataru cracked that lame joke to Gozoh and Roppu.

For now, we each picked a room from the eight available, four on each side of the hallway. The rooms were all the same though: a futon, a desk, and a vase. Pretty simple, really.

I'm grateful the bedding is a futon.

"Still, Rokuko got the same room as the rest of us, huh. I expected she'd be called over to Haku-san's villa."

"Maybe she'll get a summons tonight?"

"Could be."

At any rate, after a day of rest tomorrow that probably won't be restful, the audience will be the day after.

… I need to make sure I remember why I was summoned here!

No, I remember. I really do.