Lyon-san and the guard knights were going to remain in Mismid for a while. Apparently various post-summit procedures stall without Belfast personnel on the spot.
Some volunteered to escort Yumina back as their princess — Yumina shut it down. Do your job, she said.
Honestly — we’re going back via [Gate] in an instant. Tagalongs would be a problem.
In parting, I gave Lyon-san a set of letter-Gate-mirrors (just named them). Even across distance, daily correspondence. If one’s with Origa-san, they can keep in touch from Belfast too. The energy on Lyon-san’s face when he received them — I genuinely cringed a little.
His Majesty, Glatz-san, Origa-san, Galun-san — said farewells. Leen and Paula, I tried to say goodbye to, but they were out. Shame.
Out of the castle, in the city I bought souvenirs for the household staff and Sue, packed up. Now just [Gate] back to Belfast, but…
“Sorry — one souvenir I forgot.”
I begged off, slipped into the city crowd, fired up the map app to find the two. Mm — this rooftop. [Boost], up I went, across rooftops, down in front of them.
”!?”
“Fuwa!? Ah — Master. Don’t startle us~.”
The two masked: Lapis-san and Cécile-san. Our maids — but their actual employer is Yumina’s father, His Majesty.
Their hiring was apparently the king’s near-arm-twist to Lime-san. I’d think I shouldn’t have to pay their wages, but they do their maid duties competently — eye closed on that.
The wages for the last ten days, though, I won’t pay. Bill the king for those.
“We’re heading back to Belfast via [Gate] now. Thought I’d send you two home first.”
If they’ve been watching the whole time, [Gate]‘s already exposed. I broached it.
“Heh? To Belfast~?”
“Indeed, if we leave normally we’d return ten days behind. Would arouse the princess’s suspicion.”
“That’s why I came.”
I opened [Gate] with a wry smile. Through the portal — into our home’s living room in Belfast.
“Welcome home.”
Lime-san, who happened to be there, was a touch surprised by our sudden appearance but quickly recovered.
“Home, Lime-san.”
“Home~.”
“My apologies — Master found us out…”
“Of course.”
Lapis-san stated the obvious; Lime-san could only smile wryly.
For now, the two had to change into their maid uniforms and act as if they’d been home all along. As they went to change, Lime-san bowed.
“My apologies. Those two are under the king’s orders…”
“Well — the parental worry I get; no real harm done. And Lime-san, hard to refuse it I’d think.”
Calling it a betrayal of one’s master — no. And it’s not like it’s life-or-death or major harm. In fact, view it positively — more guards. …That’s a stretch.
“Anyway, I’ll keep it from Yumina and the others.”
I also asked him to play it like the first homecoming when I brought the others.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Sloo-w. What were you doing?”
I [Gate]‘d back to the rooftop and rejoined the group in Mismid, and Elze sulked at me. I cobbled something together, led them into an empty back alley, and opened [Gate] again.
In the living room, Lime-san — who’d been waiting — bowed to everyone trooping in.
“Welcome home.”
His second greeting heard, the living room door opened, and Lapis-san and Cécile-san appeared in maid attire.
“Welcome home, everyone.”
“Welcome home~.”
“Home, Lapis-san, Cécile-san.”
We exchanged greetings with straight faces. Everyone went to their rooms, bath to wash off travel fatigue. I’ll go in later.
Before that, the souvenirs.
For Lime-san, a tie pin and cufflinks; Lapis-san and Cécile-san, color-different teacups. The two said they couldn’t accept, but it’d be weird to skip them, so I forced the issue.
For the Frio-Claire couple, straw hats and a Mismid cookbook, plus a husband-and-wife rice bowl set. For Tom and Hack the guard duo, ornate knives. Sue’s souvenir later.
I flopped onto my own bed and stretched. Tired. Physical fatigue aside — mental fatigue from unfamiliar territory is the surprise hitter. Well — this entire world is unfamiliar territory, but.
This trip gave me a lot of ideas. Send a [Gate]-enchanted vanity mirror to Eashen, visit there. Build [Program]-driven self-driving carriages, cars. Start with a bicycle — to stand out. Add an auto-targeting function to the map app via [Program]. Range of possibilities expanded.
Also — Paula the auto-doll. Make something similar — cat or penguin plushie… …Mngh — getting sleepy…
…Hm? Whoops — slept a bit. More tired than I thought. Sleeping in my clothes left me sluggish. Hot bath to loosen up.
I took underwear and a bath towel from the dresser and headed downstairs to the bath.
Our bath has a tub that fits five or six adults. A small public bath, basically. The girls bathe together as girls; in my case, I get it to myself. Only Lime-san and I are male, so naturally this happens. Not going in with Lime-san.
“Well — one of life’s luxurious pleasures.”
In good spirits, I opened the dressing room door, gacha.
""""…Eh?""""
”…Hm?”
…Uhh — in front of me: Elze, Linze, Yae, Yumina, all in underwear. Elze and Linze in matching pastel sets with little ribbons — Elze pink, Linze blue. Tied at the hips with cords. Yae beside them — the customary chest-bind and fundoshi. In Eashen, that’s standard, I take it. Brilliantly white. The chest-bind had loosened — looks like she’s the biggest. Last, Yumina: not flashy, but expensive-looking white with frill and lace, also cord-tied at the hips. Maybe that’s the common style in this world. …That I can think this much in a flash. Don’t recall using [Accel].
""""Kyaaaaaaa!!!""""
“Waaaaagh!?”
The screams snapped me back, and I screamed too. Did I just stare that hard!?
Tearful Elze’s fist came at me. Uh — Elze-san — please tell me that isn’t [Boost]-charged…
A tremendous impact on the temple — I lost consciousness.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“Granted, we did forget to lock the dressing room — that was on us!”
“But more caution would have been appreciated, indeed.”
Surrounded by four, in seiza. Lecture continuing without break.
“I’d thought everyone was already out…”
Apparently they’d each napped on hitting their rooms, woken in a panic, all converged for the bath, and just when they began undressing — I walked in. What rotten timing… Or — not rotten, hmm…?
”…Are you… sorry?”
“Eh? Y-yes!”
Linze gave a flat-eyed glare. Quiet usually — strangely intimidating.
“Personally, I’d prefer this kind of thing followed the proper sequence first…”
“Sequence” — what does that mean, Yumina-san? Don’t go red-faced and say unnecessary things. Granted — careful behavior could have avoided this; I did stare. No grounds for excuses, but…
After endless lecturing, I was released near midnight. I couldn’t sleep at all that night, of course. Close eyes and the image surfaces… Painful — but it was a good day!