Chapter 68. It’s Ruined

“You said no one would come for a week…”

Marc’s voice trailed off into a whisper.

“…Didn’t you, Seraphina?”

Of course, I did say that.

Like a fool, I trusted Johann completely and said so.

He promised that no one except the personal physician would be allowed in, so I thought I could at least hold out for a week, this damned guy.

I shot a glance at Johann and then looked at my only friend in distress. Marc was giving me various pleading looks as he sat on the bed.

I’m sorry, Marc.

I have no power either.

Engulfed in a feeling of despair, I quickly scanned the three heroes.

Mihail was crossing his arms, lazily smiling with a look that said, ‘What is this now?’ Johann’s gaze was still sharp, as if he was labeling Marc as shameless.

And…

Claude, who had his back to the entrance, slowly turned around.

With eyes so red they seemed to freeze everything around them, Marc, who was standing by the door, flinched and took a step back.

Click.

And the door closed.

…Hey, Marc?

“…Did he leave?”

A bewildered voice escaped my lips. No matter how scary it is, is he really leaving like this? For real?

I couldn’t believe it, and as I sat there in a daze, a voice mixed with a hollow laugh came from above. It was Claude.

“Who was that?”

“…My friend.”

“It seems like he just abandoned you.”

“……”

Indeed, it seems so.

I felt complicated and clicked my tongue.

Next to me, I heard Johann snort. It seemed amusing to him that I had insisted that Marc was my only friend, only for things to turn out like this.

Honestly, who wouldn’t run away when being glared at by three heroes at once?

I would have run away too.

Well, I actually plan to run away. Haha.

“Interesting.”

At that moment, Mihail hummed as he stroked his chin. His gaze was fixed on the closed door.

What does he find interesting?

As I looked up at him in confusion, Mihail began to move. With steps neither fast nor slow, he reached the door and turned the doorknob without hesitation.

And…

Beyond the open door, there was only emptiness.

Did you really leave, Marc?

I secretly hoped he would be there, so I felt a bit disappointed.

Then Mihail leaned forward and stuck his head out into the hallway. In a voice that sounded quite friendly, he said,

“Come in.”

“Y-Yes, yes, sir!”

Oh, Marc!

You didn’t leave, after all, my only friend!

Feeling a bit proud in front of Johann, I straightened my shoulders.

Come to think of it, even that day when we drank heavily, Marc had come back not long after Johann left. It seemed that Marc was planning to linger nearby until the three heroes left today as well.

This guy.

I didn’t intend to blame him even if he had run away, but this feeling… of having a true friend.

I felt my heart being filled with a warm sense of satisfaction.

Hehe.

I really like Marc.

As my lips unknowingly curled up in satisfaction, Mihail kindly invited Marc in and smoothly took the bag from his hand.

“Huh, huh?”

Marc fumbled in surprise.

And the smile vanished from my lips.

Johann had assured me that no one would be allowed in. Trusting the emperor’s promise completely, I decided to enjoy this non-vacation vacation to the fullest. With Marc.

“Is Miss Sera’s illness perhaps a hangover?”

Mihail shook the bag, causing the bottles inside to clink together.

Beside me, I heard Claude mutter, “So it was a fake illness,” and Johann gritting his teeth, muttering, “That pervert again,” towards Marc.

I closed my eyes tightly.

It seemed like everything was ruined.

No, it was completely ruined.

“Do you refuse the dispatch like this? You’re going to the Grodes Mountains immediately.”

“How disappointing. Miss Sera is going to Sahar according to divine will.”

“Sahar? Who decided that? The dispatch location is determined by the imperial family.”

The three heroes glared at each other and growled.

Even though it was my place, I had no choice in the matter.

With a resigned expression, I just prayed.

Please fight gently so that only the shrimp’s back doesn’t break.

* * *

“Could it be that something was detected?”

Ionia read the freshly arrived report with a serious expression. Jesuf, who had just stopped by the military department, peeked over to see what she was holding.

Jesuf’s brow gradually furrowed.

“…What? That’s a lie, right?”

He asked in disbelief. Ionia let out a deep sigh and leaned back in her chair.

With her eyes closed, she spoke.

“I don’t know. We have to go and check it ourselves.”

Ionia’s voice was laden with fatigue.

Jesuf swallowed dryly with a somber face. If this report turned out to be true, they would need to seriously discuss Seraphina’s dispatch.

They couldn’t blindly trust what was written on paper…

“Undead energy was detected in the barrier? I thought Elmon was a safe zone.”

“Honestly, when His Majesty talked about the barrier, I dismissed it as nonsense.”

“…When are you going to go?”

Jesuf, who had similarly dismissed it as nonsense, groaned and asked. Such matters shouldn’t be decided just by looking at a report. They needed to see it with their own eyes to properly understand the situation.

“Once His Majesty returns.”

Ionia blinked as she thought and then changed her words.

“No, it would be better to discuss this after either of them takes Miss Seraphina.”

“Hmm.”

Though many words were left unsaid, Jesuf nodded as if in agreement.

If this report reached Johann, who was already keeping Seraphina close, he might use it as an excuse to avoid sending her anywhere.

Of course, if they were to consider where the probability of undead appearing was higher, they should send her to the Grodes Mountains, but things in the world weren’t that simple.

The heart of the Granz Empire is Elmon.

Its population density was higher than any city in the world.

And if a place like that were to fall?

It would be akin to reenacting the nightmare that began decades ago.

Elmon, which had already fallen once, was miraculously rebuilt. But if the nightmare repeated itself in just over a decade, it wouldn’t be easy to rebuild it again.

It meant that the best personnel needed to be stationed there as a precaution.

“The Imperial Knight Order is there. Above all, His Majesty is present.”

After pondering for a moment, Jesuf spoke.

Come to think of it, when reporting to Johann about the undead energy detected at Elmon’s barrier, this explanation would suffice.

According to the report, the energy detected this time was only from a low-level ghoul, so there shouldn’t be any major issue in dispatching Seraphina. The contents of the report were something to be cautious and watchful about, but it wasn’t an immediate crisis.

However, that was just Jesuf’s perspective.

Ionia had a different view.

“By that logic, the Grodes Mountains are guarded by His Grace Denhague and the Northern Knight Order, and the Sahar Desert has Sir Andantino and the Holy Knight Order.”

So strictly speaking, those places could manage without Seraphina as well.

“……”

Jesuf, at a loss for words, let out a low groan.

She was right.

Ultimately, the decision on the importance of the matter lay with the three heroes.

It was uncertain whether they, who were busy with their pride battles, would discuss this matter fairly.

* * *

“Please, have a seat here, both of you.”

Having been caught faking illness, I got up and belatedly welcomed the guests.

Pointing to the two chairs in front of the dining table, I invited Claude and Mihail to sit, while Johann’s expression subtly hardened.

Oh, you came here once before, didn’t you?

You should yield to the guests who are visiting for the first time.

Of course, I only muttered this in my mind as I put my hands on my hips and looked around.

Is there anywhere else to sit?

With three well-built men inside, the house felt too cramped.

Oh, by the way, Marc had left.

Leaving only the liquor bottle behind.

“Surely you’re not planning to have Marseus sit on the floor, are you?”

Johann asked, crossing his arms with a slight tilt, seemingly displeased with receiving lesser treatment than the others.

Of course, I wouldn’t go as far as to make the emperor sit on the floor.

But what can I do when there are only two chairs in the house?

I gave Johann a sheepish grin, indicating he should calm down, and quickly darted my eyes around.

Damn it.

I can’t ask him to sit at the dining table.

The windowsill is too narrow to sit more than a fifth of your backside on.

The sink…?

I’d rather have him sit on the floor.

Mihail and Claude were staring at me intently.

I bit my lip and then acted quickly.

Flap!

Rustle, rustle!

“Please, have a seat here.”

I neatly spread out a blanket that was lying around and swiftly smoothed out the wrinkles with my skilled hands.

How about that?

It’s almost as good as a dining chair, right?

I swallowed dryly and politely gestured to the bed with both hands. Johann’s expression turned strange.

What kind of expression is that?

He looked at the neatly arranged blanket with a complicated gaze, the corners of his mouth twitching.

“……?”

I was bewildered and blinked in confusion.

Was I mistaken?

It seemed like a cold aura was emanating from where Mihail and Claude were sitting…

“Good.”

Then Johann plopped down on the bed and spoke.

“Now, shall we properly discuss Seraphina’s residence?”

As he said that, he patted the spot next to him.

As if telling me to come and sit beside him.