Today, a bed was brought into Rika’s room, and that’s where I’ll be sleeping.
There’s one more person than last night, but I’m not the type to be bothered by just one extra person at this point.
Speaking of which, I feel like my libido has increased since I evolved into an Ancient Human.
After all, I can handle six people without breaking a sweat.
More than that, Prim, who has also evolved into an Ancient Foxy, seems to be the same way, and she’s usually the one who stays awake until the end.
She often gets scolded by everyone, so she’s usually exhausted.
“Well then, Yamato-kun. Please take care of me until the Royal Capital.”
“Even so, it’s a Grand Hunter’s Master’s Traveling, so I don’t think an escort is particularly necessary.”
“Isn’t this a matter of sentiment?”
We’re heading to the Royal Capital at 10:00 AM, but the Order’s Guild is already waiting there with bated breath.
Since it’s an escort mission, I’ve heard that there will be many S-rank Orders.
This time, we’ll be heading to the Royal Capital with our Wing Crest, Rika, Apricot, Princess Yuriana, the escort unit Escort Order, and Order’s Masters Rex and Iris.
Rex and Iris are scheduled to return to Feel after their report, and they plan to travel by Wyvern.
Rex has to report as an Order’s Master and Alliance Leader, but Iris has surpassed level 50, so she needs to go to the Royal Capital once.
She can become a Royal Order if she wishes, but Iris’s husband is in Feel, and Butler’s Master Oakis is also his wife, so she’s unlikely to leave Feel anytime soon.
“Is that how it is? Well, we’re returning by Beast Carriage, and I’ll escort you properly then.”
We don’t know when we’ll be able to return to Feel, so we’re traveling by land on the return trip using a Beast Carriage.
We can’t rely solely on the Grand Hunter’s Master for that.
If I or Prim could use Traveling, it would be resolved, but the difficulty is incredibly high, so I don’t think we’ll be able to use it anytime soon.
“Good morning, Lord Yamato.”
While we were talking, Princess Yuriana arrived in Viscount Archlight’s Beast Carriage.
Rex, Iris, Muse, and the other Escort Orders were with her.
“Good morning, H.R.H. Yuriana.”
“Lord Yamato, as I’ve said before, please stop calling me so formally.”
That’s right.
She’s asked me to call her by a nickname for a while now, but I still haven’t been able to.
“… That’s with the official recognition from His Majesty.”
I evade her like that every time.
“Indeed, I am not yet a wife, or even a fiancée, so I suppose it cannot be helped. However, please call me by a nickname once my father approves and we officially become engaged.”
And each time, Princess Yuriana replies like that.
Of course, when it officially happens, I’ll call her by a nickname.
“Princess Yuriana has arrived, so that makes everyone here.”
Princess Marianne, Saches, and Barbatos are being transported in a Beast Carriage for escort.
The Battle Horses contracted by Rex and Iris are pulling the Beast Carriage, but they are to be handed over immediately upon arrival at the Royal Capital. The Beast Carriage will be stored by Rex, and the Battle Horses will be sent back to Feel.
Summoning and sending back familiar magic is truly convenient.
“Well then, let’s go.”
The Grand Hunter’s Master, who had the Lapis Lazuli-made crimson sword I gave him yesterday sheathed at his waist, opened the Staterring and used Traveling while operating the operator.
It was my first time seeing it, but Traveling is magic that creates an eight-pointed star magic circle with attribute magic to connect any two points.
Like some other magics, including Ee-quipping, it doesn’t require incantations when used with the Staterring and is reliably usable, which is convenient.
I think Traveling probably records cities you’ve visited, and you can transfer immediately by selecting them.
There’s a barrier around the city, so Traveling can’t enter directly.
However, there’s always a place in every city where familiar can be summoned and sent back, and Traveling can be used there. So this time, we’re transferring to one of those places, the Royal Capital’s Ranch.
We transferred to the ranch through the magic circle.
This is the Royal Capital, Float.
“As expected of the Royal Capital’s ranch, it’s larger than the Ragnard Flying Beast Ranch.”
“Well, it’s the Royal Capital, isn’t it?”
“The number of people is on a different scale than in Feel.”
Indeed, Prim and Meena are right.
“We have been waiting for you. Welcome back, Princess Yuriana.”
As everyone passed through the magic circle, an Order greeted them.
“We have returned, Grand Order’s Master. As you’ve heard, the criminals are in that Beast Carriage.”
“Yes.”
Grand Order’s Master Tolman Breialls raised his hand, and the Orders surrounded the Beast Carriage. An Order wearing the same armor as the Grand Order’s Master opened the door, and the three people, Princess Marianne and the others, were brought out of the Beast Carriage.
“Grand Order’s Master, there are three criminals. The Library confirmation is also complete.”
“Understood. They will be transported to the Headquarters in a carriage for criminals. Take them away. Ah, Associate Order’s Master, you will remain.”
“Yes!”
Under the Grand Order’s Master’s command, the three criminals from Retisencia were loaded into the carriage for criminals and escorted to the Order’s Guild Headquarters, with Orders carefully guarding them to prevent any escape.
Come to think of it, a carriage for criminals is no different from a cargo bed.
I seem to recall a punishment called public shaming in the past; was it like that?
“Good work, Rex. Muse, you also did well guarding Princess Yuriana.”
“Yes, I’m honored.”
“We were able to bring them to the Royal Capital safely. However, we lost five subordinates along the way…”
Rex and Muse are reporting to the Grand Order’s Master. Rex is relieved, but Muse must be feeling remorseful.
“I have received the report. I have informed the families, but please return the bodies yourself.”
“Yes…”
“And Rex, who is she?”
“Yes, she is Order Iris Servant from the Feel branch. She was active during a recent campaign with the Alliance, and her level reached 52, so we brought her along this time.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Grand Order’s Master. I am Iris Servant, belonging to the Order’s Guild Feel Branch.”
Iris introduces herself, but Iris was not originally scheduled to come.
“Level 52? And with the Alliance… What happened?”
“I have prepared a brief report, but this is not the place to discuss it. No, it needs to be reported to His Majesty, so I would like to report on the Alliance at that time.”
Rex replies, but the Grand Order’s Master looks suspicious, his brow furrowed.
“If you cannot report here, does that mean there was a presence of such magnitude? In that case, Rex, you participated as well, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I participated as the Alliance Leader. My level also increased at that time, and I am currently level 51. Furthermore, Escort Orders, including Muse Couvel, also volunteered, so three of them participated, and all of them have had their levels increased.”
“Is that true, Muse?”
“Yes. If I may be so bold, I have reached level 56 in that Alliance.”
Upon hearing Muse’s level, the Grand Order’s Master and Associate Order’s Master’s eyes widened further.
It’s understandable that they’re surprised.
“Don’t tell me… you’ve surpassed our levels?”
“Only in levels, but…”
“No, even just the levels are cause for celebration. After all, it’s only been Hunters who have managed to surpass our levels lately.”
Orders rarely fight monsters.
Therefore, Hunters often have higher levels.
In fact, the average level of a G-rank Hunter is 53, while Orders are reportedly at 51.
“Given that, wouldn’t it be good for you yourselves to raise your levels a bit more to serve as role models for the Orders?”
“This is Grand Hunter’s Master. I apologize for the trouble this time.”
At that moment, Grand Hunter’s Master interrupted the conversation, and instantly Grand Order’s Master and Associate Order’s Master bowed their heads.
“Please raise your heads. It all stems from misconduct by the Hunter’s Guild.”
“However, it is true that we asked for the impossible from the oldest Ancient Class of Helios Orb and the highest-leveled individual. We are truly grateful.”
“It is true that I am higher in level than them, but if we were to fight, I would undoubtedly lose. They possess that much skill, and they have proven it.”
Saying so, the Grand Hunter’s Master looks at me and Prim.
Hey, don’t drag me into this.
“I’ve heard about it, but is he an Ancient Human?”
“The other one is… Primrose-sama!?”
Ah, as expected, the Grand Order’s Master and Associate Order’s Master know Prim.
“I heard you were coming, but I didn’t expect it to be true. Rex, the matter of Primrose is also to be reported directly to His Majesty, correct?”
“Yes. Due to political issues, we were unable to report it.”
“I imagine so. I won’t fault you for not reporting it, but I will listen carefully with His Majesty?”
Rex returns with a salute, but this is the first I’ve heard of them not reporting to the Order’s Guild Headquarters.
Admittedly, we lacked the means and opportunity, but still, Grand Hunter’s Master went to the Royal Capital before the Alliance, so I thought he would have requested it then.
Well, the fact that Prim is alive is a big political issue, so I understand why they couldn’t easily report it.
“That is all from me. Muse, take the Escort Order and return to Headquarters to rest. Iris, you will accompany Rex to the palace. Associate Order’s Master, no, Dianos, I will return first, but since my son and daughter have returned, you should stay and relax a bit.”
“Thank you.”
Grand Order’s Master says so and leaves the ranch, but Associate Order’s Master remains.
Ah, he’s Meena’s father.
“Father!”
“It has been a long time.”
“Ah, welcome back, Rex, Meena.”
Meena and Rex rejoice in their reunion, but I’m getting incredibly nervous.
“I received your letter. Meena, congratulations on your promotion to C-rank.”
“Thank you.”
“And you’re engaged, but wasn’t your partner a High Human?”
“About that, he has evolved into an Ancient Human. Um, Yamato over there is my fiancé.”
Meena introduces me with that.
She looks so happy.
Come to think of it, my father is here too!?
“Are you Lord Yamato?”
“Y-yes! My name is Yamato Hydrangea Mikami!”
“Hydrangea?”
Ah, they should know I’m married, but I asked them to keep Prim’s existence a secret, so they didn’t know the partner was Prim.
“He’s married to me. It’s been a while, Dianos-san.”
“It has been a while, Primrose-sama. I am surprised that you not only escaped safely to Amister but are also married. Rather, Primrose-sama was never interested in anyone weaker than herself, was she?”
Prim also greets him, but I’ve heard they’ve met before.
And Dianos-san’s question is understandable.
I only managed to win against him in a duel, so I was able to marry him.
“Yes. That’s why Yamato is stronger than me. Right, Rex-san?”
“Father, Prim is right. I acted as the judge for their duel, and I have never seen such a battle.”
“Is that so? I would have loved to see it.”
Rex, who judged, and Rosemary and Gram, who were present, all said it was spectacular.
“I see. In other words, he’s not just an Ancient Human, but a man recognized by Primrose-sama?”
“It’s not just that.”
“Oh? And what do you mean?”
“It has been a while, Lord Dianos.”
Prompted by Prim, Rika also steps forward.
“This is Marquis Frederica. Greetings.”
“Actually, I am also engaged to him. Of course, with permission from Prim-san, Meena, and Flam, the other fiancée.”
“H-hello, my name is Flam!”
Flam also introduces himself.
“This is not yet decided, but Princess Yuriana may also become his fiancée.”
“Your Highness too…?”
“He has earned such merit.”
I feel like the bar is getting higher and higher…
Isn’t it already a pole vault bar rather than just a bar?
“Given that, I feel like Meena might not be a good match… Is that alright?”
“Yes. I’ve made up my mind about various things.”
“Rather, if Meena weren’t here, we would be in trouble.”
“That’s right.”
Yeah, it’s true that because of Meena, and Flam, I can base myself in Feel.
Even more than that, I like Meena, so I don’t care what outsiders say about whether we’re a good match or not.
“Whether we’re a good match or not doesn’t matter. I like Meena, so I asked her to be my fiancée.”
I have to make that clear.
“Hearing those words is enough. Lord Yamato, please take good care of my daughter.”
“Y-yes!”
It felt like everyone was helping me, but I guess this is the end of my greeting to my father?
