The road leading back to Shikuro from Indole.
A wilderness that had nothing at all, and a man-made road built to compensate for the lack of things.
With a world that has everything(products) dropped from dungeons, if you were to leave just a few miles away from a dungeon, you would find no cities or humans whatsoever, which gives of an end of the world atmosphere.
On that empty path, Margaret and I were walking on it.
My appearance was your typical adventurer that you see everyday, but Margaret had an appearance showcasing her as [The • Princess].
Her clean and elegant look was displayed from top to bottom.
It was a considerable mismatch with this wilderness.
[So in conclusion, Ryouta is the head chief of Indole?] (Margaret)
[There is the village mayor, I’m just appointed as the Chief of the Dungeon Association.] (Ryouta)
[The position of the association chief is overwhelmingly higher than that of a village mayor. You can say that neither a city or a village can do without a dungeon inside.] (Margaret)
[……That’s obvious.] (Ryouta)
I smile bitterly as I understood what Margaret was trying to say.
I do understand, but I just can’t see myself as a [Chief].
Back when I was working at that Black company at my former world, there weren’t any positions for manager, plus new employees did not settle for long and thus there weren’t any juniors at the company.
So I wasn’t familiar with being at the position of a chief which stood higher than everyone.
[Which means those peoples were also saved by Ryouta.] (Margaret)
[That’s how things ended up being. Rescuing them and gaining knowledge of the dungeon.] (Ryouta)
Plus doubling the drops in the dungeon—–Though I omitted from saying it.
I’m not sure whether it’s the spirit of the dungeon or it really was the God of the dungeon, but I figured that it was best to keep Aurum’s existence to myself for the time being.
[Nothing less from Ryouta.] (Margaret)
[Anyways—–] (Ryouta)
I looked around us, and after checking that there were no one else I asked her.
[Did your four knights, I mean four teammates not follow you?] (Ryouta)
[You mean Rat, Social, Play, and Builder?] (Margaret)
[Yeah them.] (Ryouta)
I did remember their name being that (weird).
[They are following though.] (Margaret)
[Eh? Where on earth..?] (Ryouta)
[Rat.] (Margaret)
[Yes.] (Rat)
[WTF!!!] (Ryouta)
The moment Margaret called for his name, one of the knights suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He appeared without a sound like a ghost and kneeled down in a posture as if [A follower following his princess].
[Where in the heck did you come from?] (Ryouta)
[…..] (Rat)
Rat did not answer my question.
[Well, I wonder where though?] (Margaret)
Margaret tilted her head, as if not knowing too.
[We are always here when Margaret-sama needs us, and when Margaret-sama orders at any moment or at any place we will comply, also whenever we are not in use, we will be at a place which won’t get in the way of Margaret-sama.] (Rat)
[Is what he said~] (Margaret)
[Th, that didn’t explained anything at all.] (Ryouta)
[Good work Rat, it’s alright now, you may leave.] (Margaret)
[Yes.] (Rat)
Rat sl
ightly bowed and disappeared as the same as when he came.
Although I was watching him the entire time, but the moment I blinked he disappeared from my sight.
As if he wasn’t here from the beginning.
[…….Oi oi, he even removed his footprints?] (Ryouta)
In the wilderness there remained only the footprints of Margaret and I, and there were no evidence of Rat ever stepping foot here at all, even looking at several tens of meters, there weren’t any footprints of him ever existing.
[It’s almost as if you summoned him, okay I won’t say anymore.] (Ryouta)
[That’s right.] (Margaret)
[What’s more that attitude. It reminds me of way back when I saw the position of a senpai and a new stuff which turned into an errand boy under that senpai.] (Ryouta)
[What’s an errand boy(Pashiri)?] (Margaret)
She doesn’t know what’s an errand boy, well it can’t be help as she is a princess.
[It’s a position where you are ordered to buy yakisoba bread or juice or something like that.] (Ryouta)
[If that’s the case then everyone is an errand boy?] (Margaret)
[Huh?] (Ryouta)
[Social, I want a cold tea.] (Margaret)
[Here you go.] (Social)
[What the!!!] (Ryouta)
I was surprised by that sudden action.
A different man appeared diagonally behind Margaret this time.
I don’t know where he got it, but the man gave a glass with ice to Margaret.
It looked tasty as one can see the cooling glass with water droplets dripping from the glass.
[Thank you~] (Margaret)
[It’s my pleasure to serve.] (Social) (TLN: 恐悦)
After Margaret finished drinking, Social disappeared without a trace or sound.
Though their appearance is that of a knight…..but aren’t they ninjas in disguise?
[That is seriously amazing. I’m kinda interested as to how far they would go to listen to your orders though.] (Ryouta)
[You want to know?] (Margaret)
[Un, yeah.] (Ryouta)
[If Ryouta says so.] (Margaret)
Margaret stopped.
[Rat, Social, Play, Builder.] (Margaret)
After she called for the four of them, as if time has stopped for a moment, the four of them appeared in front of Margaret, with one knee in front of her and rests their arm on their protruding knee. This time they didn’t appear diagonally behind of Margaret.
The appearance is that of a ninja, but their gesture showed that of a knight. That imbalance was a little funny to look at.
[How far would you cooperate with me?] (Margaret)
When Margaret asked, the four of them did not spare any time, but they weren’t in a hurry, using a delicate tone.
[I’ll live on for the sake of Margaret-sama.]
[I’ll die for the sake of Margaret-sama.]
[Margaret-sama’s joy is everything to me.]
[It’s because of Margaret-sama that everything exists.] (TLN: Is this some sort of occult?!?!)
[They are outright devotees! Even their beliefs are similar to that of a devotee!] (Ryouta)
[Thank you.] (Margaret)
After Margaret thanked them, the four of them disappeared without a sound again.
[Well, they have answered. Are you convinced with that?] (Margaret)
[Instead of being convinced, I feel that it was extremely amazing.] (Ryouta)
[Wait? Didn’t the each of them received a gold dust from Margaret. Wouldn’t that mean that they are pleased to serve you because they received something.] (Ryouta)
『We deserve only death if we refused any of Margaret-sama’s gifts!』
[Wow wtf again!!] (Ryouta)
[What seems to be the problem?] (Margaret)
I was surprised enough to jump up, but Margaret seemed to be calm as ever.
I looked around me, I was certain that someone came and whispered into my ear, but when I looked around nobody was here.
Besides, I felt that the voice was different from the ordinary voice.
…..That is seriously amazing, just amazing.
After being surprised, I calmed down and finally accepted it.
[They really are firm believers. Well, when I first met Margaret, I thought that you were like an idol, because you sold an Air box or something.] (Ryouta)
[What is an Idol?] (Margaret)
[Un? Aah….It’s a type of race where everyone loves and adores them.] (Ryouta)
I tried giving my interpretation.
[From everyone….Is it?] (Margaret)
[That’s right.] (Ryouta)
[…..Even Ryouta?] (Margaret)
[Eh?] (Ryouta)
[Am I also….liked by Ryouta?] (Margaret)
Dokin.
Margaret turned to me and looked straight to me.
A happy eyes with reddish cheeks.
It’s as if—–Wait, wait, wait just a minute.
Idols should not have any romantic relationship or even get married—–
[I really like Ryouta……so does Ryouta….like me too?] (Margaret)
A hard ball without fine workmanship was thrown straight at me.
My chest took a critical hit.
My heart was beating fast, spiking up my heartbeat in a stretch.
[………………]
Margaret was staring at me with wet eyes.
As I was excited and warmed up, she gradually became troubled, then saddened, as if tears were starting to pour out from her eyes.
[Is it, a no then…..?] (Margaret)
[No no that’s not it!] (Ryouta)
[Is that true?] (Margaret)
[Yes! I think I like you, but—–] (Ryouta)
This happened before with Elza, but I have little experience with such things.
I have no idea what to do.
And, I’m at a lost.
My visibility unexpectedly became dark, and a soft feeling was transmitted to my lips.
The contact of about 0.1 seconds, a kiss just like a bird.
Kiss.
My head had gotten even whiter.
[———! Wh, what have I done!] (Margaret)
Margaret’s face turned even redder, and her face was boiling up.
[Rat, Social, Play, Builder! Please hide my face.] (Margaret)
[ [ [ [ Yes! ] ] ] ]
The four shinobi knights appeared without a sound and surrounding Margaret.
[Uuuuuuu…..I, I’m so sorry!] (Margaret)
While still being embarrassed, Margaret ran away covering her face with her hands while being escorted by the four of them.
I remained standing there blankly.
[Satou-dono.]
[Wow (stop scaring me!)!!] (Ryouta)
One of the knights who escorted Margaret appeared in front of me.
If I’m not mistaken…..It’s Rat right?
He looked at me straight in the eyes with a serious face…..and with that face he honestly said.
[This was the first time we have seen Margaret-sama with such a happy expression.] (Rat)
[Eh? Aaah….] (Ryouta)
I imagined he would say things like [This unlucky man should not deserve the Princess!] or something along those lines, but what I was told was the complete opposite of that.
[Please continue to be with her from now onwards…..] (Rat)
After saying that, Rat bowed and disappeared once again.
[Thank you….] (Ryouta)
Being said that by Rat, I remembered the feeling of that kiss.
Imagining the words [from now on] and [various] with Margaret, my heart rate increased even more than usual.