Souvenirs from the Holy Kingdom (2)

"Oh, Ichika. Here, take this."

Saying that, Kehma handed Ichika a necklace with a blue gemstone. The teardrop-shaped blue stone hit within the strike range of Ichika's tastes.

"Eh? Oh, what a cute necklace! Is it really okay for me to have it? I'm not gonna give it back, y'know?"

"It's a magical tool, water will come out when you suck on it."

"Ah, it's a magic stone, huh? Hmmm… nom."

As soon as she bit the stone, water slowly started to seep out. It seemed useful enough to quench her thirst, but drinking water from a glass would be overwhelmingly faster.

"Fumu fumu. This thing's pretty nice."

"Right? I chose it since I thought it would be perfect for you."

"Hoh, you chose it…"

However, what interested Ichika was that this was a necklace.

It was a very rare magical tool necklace. It must be quite expensive.

Ichika looked for the engraving of the creator's name or the name of the workshop.

If it was made by Kehma or Nerune, there wouldn't be such an engraving. Otherwise, it would be an indicator of the price, and it would mean that it was specifically purchased.

Upon closer inspection, she saw the name [Nayuta Shishido] engraved in an inconspicuous place. It seemed to be the name of the creator. So, he did purchase it.

In other words, this was…

"Don't show it off too much. It would be troublesome if Dolche-san found out…"

"Hm? Oh, is that what ya mean? Got it."

"Yeah, thanks for being so knowledgeable and quick to understand, Ichika. You saved me the trouble of having to explain."

"But for Goshujin-sama to give me somethin' so stylish… hehe."

"I'm glad you like it. Well then…"

And with that, Kehma left.

Yes, Ichika understood.

This was a token of a mistress contract!!

"Wow, giving a slave such jewelry… that's what it means, right? I'm finally gonna get to be touched by Goshujin-sama!"

Being caught by Dolche—under Haku's surveillance—in front of his legal wife, Rokuko, would undoubtedly make the situation very awkward. That's probably why he didn't say much.

"Ah, I need to take a bath in the hot spring and make my body clean!"

Humming cheerfully, Ichika headed towards the inn's hot spring in high spirits.

She bumped into Niku on the way.

"Oh, Niku-senpai."

"Oh? You seem to be in a good mood, Ichika."

"Well, I am… Hmm, I guess it's okay to tell you since you're my senpai? Hehe."

"?"

Grinning, Ichika looked at Niku, who tilted her head in response.

"Did something good happen?"

"Well, yeah. Goshujin-sama gave me this necklace, and I thought it meant something like, you know? That kind of thing?"

"Oh, everyone got one."

"Really? Goshujin-sama made a harem!? … Wait, everyone?"

According to Niku, not only the executives like Rei, Kinue, and Nerune, but even their subordinates like the Silkies and Ereka, had received magical accessory gifts. That included Rokuko and Soto too, of course.

"… Mmm, if they're being distributed like that… maybe I misunderstood?"

"I also received this from Goshujin-sama."

On Niku's wrist was a bracelet with yellow stone inserted into it. It was simple in design, however, instead prioritizing functionality over its appearance, unlike Ichika's necklace.

"It's a bracelet that produces stones for throwing. When activated, it creates a perfectly-sized stone on the inside for easy gripping. If you swing your arm while creating the stone, it fits right in your hand and can be thrown immediately. Goshujin-sama called it a [Stone-Throwing All-You-Can-Wear Bracelet]."

"A stone-throwing all-you-can-wear bracelet, huh."

"It's one of Nerune's prototypes. The original one she got produced sand for blinding people."

"Oh, so your bracelet is Nerune's prototype."

In other words, unlike Ichika's necklace, it was homemade.

"… Could it still have that kind of intention?"

"Nerune received the original magical tool."

"Right. Rei and Kinue also received magical tools that Goshujin-sama acquired."

The Silkies got a set of ear cuffs and rings which were also Nerune's prototypes.

The nubile girls received accessories that had been purchased while the younger ones got Nerune's prototypes.

"… Maybe he still has that kind of intention?"

"Don't tell anyone about it, though. It's a secret, even for you, Ichika."

"Did Goshujin-sama tell you the same thing, senpai?"

"Yes."

Despite only being given one of Nerune's prototypes, he still told the pillow-dutied Niku?

… Could it still be a mistress contract token?

"These magical accessory tools were made in the Holy Kingdom, after all."

"Oh, so they were imported?"

"That's what I was told."

Ichika thought the transportation costs would be quite high. At the same time, she remembered that Kehma's people were currently investigating the Holy Kingdom and the whole thing with Soto's transportation ability.

"Oh, I see."

"Yeah, that's the case."

Niku nodded.

The secret about Soto's power was hidden from Haku. The reason for not revealing it to Dolche, Haku's subordinate, was now clear to Ichika.

"I misunderstood and thought it was a mistress contract."

"A mistress contract… Huh, that's an interesting way to think about it."

"Eh, which is it?"

Ichika was puzzled when Niku seriously agreed with her.

"… I wonder which? Maybe there's a possibility it's both?"

"Mmm, I ain't got a clue… I shoulda asked…"

Even if she wouldn't be open about the instructions due to Dolche's watchful eye, not knowing the reason for secrecy could lead to her accidentally leaking information.

"Okay! How about we go sneakin' into Goshujin-sama's room during his off-time? We can confirm it either way. If it's a mistress contract, we can just go with the flow! Ya got your pillow thing with him Niku, so ya can just enter Goshujin-sama's room whenever."

"Indeed, that's a smart idea, Ichika."

And so, with Niku's consent, Ichika headed to Kehma's room with her.

The thing they were supposed to keep secret was Soto's ability, of course.