Chapter 70: Capital – The Love Warzone

That morning’s breakfast was eaten in complete silence.

Everyone quietly consumed the dried meat I had laid out and the wild herb soup Master had prepared.

"……"

And the reason for that—

Was because Rey, clearly in a foul mood, was radiating pressure directly at Karl.

Honestly. To ruin the group’s atmosphere right after joining—Rey’s really something else, huh?

"…Thanks for the meal."

The only one looking cheerful was little Lev-chan, who sat right next to Karl, peeking up at him with a sweet gaze.

There was even a faint air of smugness directed toward Maika.

"Karl…♪"

"Y-Yeah."

Well, she did it. She actually went and told that blockheaded god, Karl, how she felt—head-on.

Surely, even someone like him would understand once the words were spoken aloud.

And then, just like that, Lev-chan was the recipient of his nighttime affections—

"…We’ve got ourselves a lolicon."

"Yep, a lolicon's in our midst."

"I’m not!!"

Still though, no matter how mutual their feelings may be, I think it’s way too soon for Karl to lay a hand on Lev-chan.

By my past life’s standards, that’s prison-worthy. She’s only thirteen.

"So, in the end… how did it go last night?"

"I… I can’t talk about it."

"Lev! Back me up and just say ‘nothing happened’!"

Karl grabbed her arm in a panic, but the thirteen-year-old girl—the youngest in the group—just flashed a mature, enigmatic smile.

Now then, what really did happen? With Karl’s personality, he likely didn’t try anything, but…

He is a man, after all. Could he have done something and is just bluffing now?

"Oh really?"

"Please believe me, I swear—nothing happened."

"Then Karl-san, may I borrow your hand?"

"Huh? O-Okay…?"

I reached out and took Karl’s hand as he fumbled to come up with an excuse.

Alright, time to test him.

"Here."

Without hesitation, I grabbed Karl’s hand and pressed it firmly against my proud chest.

Go on, feel that. Pretty big, right?

"…HOOOOOOOOAHHHHH!?"

"Hmm. Face is bright red."

The moment I made him touch my chest, Karl screamed and flung his hand away.

Now he’s frozen, blushing furiously while glancing between his hand and my face. Hmm, this reaction…

"Karl’s definitely a virgin. A pure white one at that."

"What the hell are you making him touch, Irineeeee!?"

Yeah, that’s not how a man who’s “been through it” reacts. Looks like Lev-chan was just messing around after all.

"Haaah. Irine, you should show a little more modesty…"

"Oh, it’s just boobs. Even Sakura-san grabs them as a joke sometimes."

"I’m a woman too, you know? And in my case, it’s to check for injuries."

After I made Karl touch my chest, Sakura gave me a pretty judgmental look.

…Yeah, I guess I did go a bit overboard. That may’ve been too much.

"Irine. Please don’t tempt Karl too much…"

"Y-Yes, ma’am."

It’s been a while since Lev-chan glared at me like that.

Now that I think about it, when we first met, she said something similar.

"If it’s okay to touch, I’d like a go too, Miss Irine. You don’t mind the rumors of being ‘that girl who lets everyone grope her chest’?"

"Ah, well—"

"Even if it’s just fooling around between friends, there’s a line. And Miss Irine, you’re an attractive lady. Men don’t have infinite self-control. Don’t go around letting people touch your skin so casually."

Then Master jumped in with a full-on serious lecture.

…Yeah, I’m definitely getting scolded for real here.

"My deepest apologies."

"As long as you understand. …Honestly, you really are a sheltered little lady, huh?"

Well, sure. Between society life and Daddy’s obsessive protection, I suppose I’ve been wrapped in bubble wrap.

Not that I think letting someone touch your chest is a big deal, but I’ll accept the correction here.

"That aside! I wanna touch Irine-san’s boobs too!!"

"Did you even listen to the conversation just now?"

Apparently not. Ilyu was wiggling her fingers as she crept toward me.

What is this girl?

"It’s fine if we’re both girls!"

"It’s not fine when there are men around. Look—just look at Karl."

Sakura pointed to Karl, who still hadn’t recovered and remained red-faced in the back.

"He’s totally staring at Irine, hoping to see more boob-touching, you know?"

"Ooh! Perverted monkey alert!! Yep, that’s a no-go. I’ll back off now."

"I-I wasn’t staring like that!!"

That guy’s seriously such a perv. Well, I guess I’m not one to talk after forcing him grabbing my boobs.

“C’mon now, Master Karl’s still young. Cut him some slack for getting his hopes up, yeah?”

“But look over there! That silent Blade Rey hasn’t reacted at all to Miss Irine’s chest!”

“…I’ll kill Karl.”

“Seeing someone so principled that he doesn’t ogle women at all—it’s admirable! Karl, you should really try to learn from Ray!”

“Is staring at Karl with murderous intent really what we’d call ‘wholesome’ behavior…?”

He’s probably just too furious over having his sister taken away to even look at my chest.

Well, Rey never really seemed all that pervy to begin with, anyway.

“So, then. In the end, are Karl and Lev-chan gonna get together or what?”

“W-Wait a sec. That’s still… undecided…”

“Muuu…”

Lev-chan looked visibly displeased as Karl scrambled to dodge the question.

Her expression screamed, “Just go out with me already.” Maybe she’s feeling the pressure because she knows how Maika feels.

“We’ll be arriving at the capital soon, so why not go on a date there and make a decision?”

“Ooh, a capital date…”

At the phrase “capital date,” Lev-chan lit up.

She turned to Karl, eyes full of anticipation, practically snorting with excitement. There’s no way he can say no to that.

“F-Fine. Let’s have a date in the capital.”

“…Yay♪”

The girl beamed, cheeks softening as she heard Karl’s reply.

Well, personally, I couldn’t care less who Karl ends up with.

“……”

Maika’s silence this whole time is unsettling. Even now, she’s not making a move. Could she be plotting something?

She’s calm and composed, always accomplishing her goals with ruthless precision. If she really went all in, she’d probably steal Karl’s heart using some method none of us could even imagine.

But Maika and Lev-chan are close. Practically like sisters.

Even if they’re after the same guy, maybe she’s hesitating, wondering whether it’s really okay to just take him for herself.

“Alright then, Karl. Let’s head to Pedia, the capital—”

“Huh? Ah, yeah.”

Two girls locked in a friendly rivalry, fighting over the same guy.

As Karl gently held Lev-chan’s hand, Maika stared at them silently, expression unreadable.

---

That afternoon, we passed through the gates of the capital.

Just as we’d heard, the capital of this country overflowed with energy and splendor.

The outer walls surrounding the gate were made of sturdy brick, painted in vivid colors.

And once inside the gate, modern buildings stretched out in every direction.

The streets were neatly maintained, the sewer systems tightly arranged, and crowds filled every corner like it was some kind of festival.

This was the capital—Pedia.

“There are lots of inns near the entrance. That’s usually where travelers look for a place to stay.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“But we’re planning to stay at the cathedral, so there’s no reason to linger here. Let’s move on.”

According to Maika, who wore her usual stern expression, the area near the entrance was lined with inns, where travelers would typically choose their base of operations.

Deeper inside the city, the residential zones were divided into detailed sectors: the faith sector, the blacksmith sector, the dining sector, the goods sector, and the soldier sector.

And at the very far end of the city stood “Pedia Castle,” surrounded by an inner set of walls forming a second “castle gate.”

“Inside the walls of Pedia Castle is the noble district. That’s where the top aristocrats live. It’s basically all royalty, from what I hear.”

“…In that case, someone from a count’s house like myself wouldn’t be allowed in.”

Looking further into the city, we could see a magnificent, imposing stone castle rising high above everything else.

That must be Pedia Castle—the king’s residence and the very symbol of the nation’s authority.

“I was thinking of greeting Lord Garius, but we’d need a permit… probably too strict for that.”

“An audience is out of the question. A letter might get through, though?”

“…Even getting a letter from an adventurer like me to Lord Garius is a stretch. Well, there’s no real need to force a meeting anyway.”

He’s supposedly some incredible Speaker of Parliament and a direct disciple of the current king. Small-time adventurers like us have no business expecting to meet someone like that so easily.

“That over there’s the faith sector, right?”

“Judging by their outfits, I’d say so. Everyone’s in a monk’s robe.”

So, we gave up on trying to meet anyone important and decided to stay in Pedia for a few days just to get our gear in order.

Specifically, new armor and other protective equipment for me, Karl, and little Lev.

“Our gear really got banged up in Ressal, after all.”

“Yeah, I did a lot of slashing—I’ll need to get my sword sharpened too.”

My bikini armor was already full of dents. The inner mesh got shredded when Rey nearly took my head off.

I’d originally bought it in Rewin, and the quality wasn’t great to begin with. It was probably time to replace it.

“If it’s just armor, we can probably get it done in three days.”

If we just needed existing pieces fitted, a few days would be enough.

We’d do some sightseeing during that time and then head for the coastal city once everything was ready.

There were still a good ten days before the Goddess’s deadline. We’d easily make it even after a short stay here.

“…Karl♪”

“Uh, well—”

In other words, Karl would be free to go on as many dates with little Lev as he wanted during these days.

This handsome guy would get to stroll the capital with an adorable little animal-girl clinging to him the whole time.

How envi—how indecent.

“Still, where’s the cathedral for the Sefa faith?”

“Wherever I look, it’s all Makro churches. I guess the dominant sect really is different.”

We’d heard this district was home to the cathedrals of many sects, but everywhere we turned, it was Makro Church buildings.

There wasn’t even a hint of “Se” for Sefa. Sefa must really be a minor deity.

“Oh, this is the Makro Church’s section. When different sects are placed side-by-side, conflict tends to flare up.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Even within the faith sector, each sect has its own designated zone. The Sefa faithful… I believe they’re in the far eastern quadrant.”

As it turned out, the entrance to the faith sector just happened to be located in the Makro Church’s zone.

There was indeed a zone for Sefa followers, as confirmed by a kind-looking old man we happened to pass by.

“It’s a bit odd to say this to followers of another faith, but may Makro’s blessings be upon you.”

“I thank you for your kindness.”

Now that we knew the location, it was time to head for the sanctuary of our patron goddess.

“The Sefa Cathedral, huh…”

“Wonder what kind of people we’ll meet there.”

I bet the bishop would talk in that same slow, floaty tone.

Saying things like “Soo~” and “Thaaat’s right~,” acting all syrupy and condescending while spouting moral lessons.

Ugh, what if it makes me want to kill someone?

---

"…It’s an honor to meet you, Hero. I have heard much about you from our goddess herself."

"Uh, oh, thank you."

The cathedral was an old building, but it had been well-maintained.

Vines had grown freely along the outer walls, but the main hall was kept meticulously clean.

It was a subdued, stone-built sanctuary that gave off a calm atmosphere.

"I am Aldrei Misha, and I oversee this cathedral. I hope we can become well acquainted."

"Whoa, she’s super formal."

When we knocked on the cathedral’s doors, we were greeted by a sharply dressed woman in a suit-like outfit.

…So this was a follower of the Sefa faith?

"You knew Karl was a Hero?"

"I received divine revelation from our goddess. She told me a Hero, blessed with her power, would soon visit this church."

"Whoa, seriously."

So, the goddess foresaw that we’d stop by here.

"If Karl-sama and his companions were to visit, I was instructed to provide whatever aid I could. Unfortunately, this cathedral is not wealthy, so we can’t offer much financial support."

"N-No, please don’t worry about that. We were just hoping we could stay the night."

"Of course, we’d be glad to host you. While we can’t offer individual rooms for everyone, you’re welcome to use any of the facilities here as you wish."

The woman, who appeared to be the bishop, responded briskly and confidently. She gave off a definite air of competence.

Honestly, I had a more laid-back image of the Sefa faith. Blame the goddess, I guess.

"Well then, please follow me. Fortunately, there are no other guests at the moment, so the lodging will be entirely yours, Karl-sama."

Well, that certainly made things easier.

---

──That day, we left our luggage at the cathedral and spent the rest of it visiting armor shops.

Each of us chose armor that suited our body types and asked the craftsmen to make the necessary adjustments.

"Hey, this place looks pretty good."

The cathedral’s lodging turned out to be more comfortable than I expected.

Instead of the "everyone-sleeps-on-the-floor" situation I’d heard about, it was a room lined with a dozen or so beds, each with its own small curtain for privacy.

Our baggage was stored in a locked room within the cathedral, and if we wanted, they’d even provide bread and soup for breakfast.

We got to stay for free, but even for regular travelers, it only cost 30G. That’s more than ten times cheaper than the cathedral in Ressal.

"This cathedral offers the same prices as the Makro Church, but with better service. The Makro side doesn’t even provide beds for their guests."

"Huh."

"That way, adventurers who aren’t particular about denomination will start choosing Sefa cathedrals instead, right? By gradually drawing in people like that, we can increase the number of followers."

Apparently, this subtle boost in quality was part of a strategy to gain more believers.

Seems like the bishop of a minor faith has to think about these things in her own way.

"Alright, so tomorrow is finally…"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Let’s go out together, Lev."

"Okay…"

And so, our first day in the capital came to an end.

The armor would be ready in three days. Which meant we had two more days to explore the city.

I wasn’t going to be the kind of jerk who got in the way of Karl and Lev’s date. I wanted them to enjoy it to the fullest.

Which meant I could either invite Silent Blade out for some intense training, or take Sakura around the city instead.

Sakura said it was her first time in the capital too. Maybe I could invite Maika along and have her guide us.

If left alone, I had a feeling Maika might try to interfere with Karl and Lev’s plans.

Thinking absentmindedly about all that, I sank into the cathedral bed and drifted into a shallow sleep.

---

"...Let's go, Karl♪"

"Yeah, yeah, I got it."

First thing in the morning.

The little girl and the Hero set off down the bustling streets of the capital, Pedia.

"Take care out there."

"Make sure you escort her properly, okay?"

"If you lay a finger on my sister, I’ll cut you down."

We watched the heartwarming scene with smiles as we saw them off.

Rey, who had apparently gotten too clingy with his sister and earned himself a slap, looked sulky and pouty.

"So, what shall we do? Care to browse around the market area together~?"

"That sounds lovely. Shall we get ready, then?"

Before I could even say anything, Sakura invited me out for some window shopping.

No reason to turn her down—spending time with a friend and browsing shops sounds like a good way to pass the day.

"Rey, Maika, what about you two?"

"...Obviously, we’ll track Karl dow—"

"Oh? You're coming with us? Smart choice~"

Rey tried to stalk them without a hint of hesitation, so I promptly grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

Yeah, like I’m letting you go.

"Injustice."

"Yes, yes. An over-the-top siscon like you is bound to get on people's nerves. And you, Maika? Any plans?"

"...Not really sure."

"Oh my, no plans? Then come with us~"

Maika didn’t seem to have anything specific to do. Good. I was genuinely worried she’d suggest stalking them too.

Thankfully, she’s still rational.

"Hey, what do you think I should do?"

"Like I said—why don’t you just come along with us?"

"...It’s just, um..."

Honestly, a casual day of window shopping with everyone doesn’t sound bad at all. Could make for a nice memory on this journey.

And then, when Karl gets back from his ‘date,’ we’ll tease him about it all night. It’s shaping up to be a pretty fun day.

"...But at this rate, Karl might end up getting taken!! What should I dooooo!?"

"...Huh?"

Suddenly, Maika grabbed my shoulders and started shaking me like I’ve never seen before—completely frantic.

...What?

"W-Wait, M-Maika-san, p-please stop shaking me—!"

"W-What do I do!? I can't believe Lev, she actually—eeek!?"

"C-Calm down! This isn’t like you at all!"

She’s panicking. Like, full-on breakdown mode.

So that’s why she was so quiet yesterday—she hadn’t emotionally rebooted yet.

"I-I-If this keeps up, Karl and Lev are gonna end up together!!"

"Well, yeah, I mean… that’s how it looks. First to confess wins, you know~"

"I thought you had some master plan! You are Maika, after all! I figured you were holding back for a reason!"

"What was I even supposed to do in that situation!?"

...Maybe confess your feelings?

"Impossible, impossible, impossible!! I can’t confess! Not me!!"

"...Why not?"

"I just can’t!! I mean—it’s just too much!!"

...

"Then, guess you’re just gonna have to back off, huh?"

"N-No way!"

"At the very least, it seems like Lev-chan made a proper, honest confession."

"...Uuuugh, I got beaten!!"

Maika cried out, teary-eyed, then dropped to the ground, clutching her head in defeat.

...Okay, so in other words—

"...Maika-san’s really bad at romance, isn’t she?"

"Bad enough to lose completely to a little girl like Lev~"

"Shut up! I know that already!! It’s just—! Ten whole years and not a single step forward! You expect me to suddenly make a move out of nowhere!?"

—Yeah, now that I think about it, if Maika could’ve made Karl hers so easily, she would’ve done it a long time ago.

"...Besides, even if I confessed now, it’d just be annoying… They’re already so close, Karl and Lev..."

"She’s sulking now."

"...Ugh. I’ve been helping him all this time. We’ve been together since we were little. And because I didn’t have the guts..."

Eventually, Maika’s voice cracked, and she curled up on the ground, sniffling in tears.

...Uhh. Yikes.

"Sakura-san, what should we do...?"

"It’s not really a ‘what should we do’ kind of thing~"

We exchanged glances, both of us at a loss.

Well, when two girls fall for the same guy, it’s only natural that one of them ends up like this.

"...Um. I hope I’m not overstepping, but I think Maika-san should go after Karl and the others. Even now."

"Huh?"

Well then. I’m close friends with little Lev-chan, but Maika is also a comrade and someone I value deeply.

Given that, there’s only one path I should take here.

“You too should confess, Maika-san. Now that Lev-san has shown her courage, unless you do the same, you don’t stand a chance.”

“Irine…”

“If you just sit here sobbing without saying anything, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Even if you’re not the one chosen, there's a huge difference between speaking your heart and keeping it buried.”

It might not be in Lev-chan’s favor, but if I don’t light a fire under Maika now, she’ll surely regret it.

And then resentment will fester, threatening the harmony of the party.

It’s far better to have Maika confess too and let Karl make a fair choice between the two.

“Go. What are you sitting around spacing out for, Maika-san!”

“Y-Yes!!”

“Hesitation doesn’t suit you. If you don’t make up your mind now, when will you!?”

At my shout, Maika's expression shifted in an instant.

Ah, there it is—the usual, decisive Maika.

“…Thanks, Irine.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“I’m going. If I get rejected, I’ll pick up some good booze—so drink with me, alright?”

“Gladly.”

And with that, Maika wore a face full of resolve and dashed out of the sanctuary with purpose.

Yes… that’s how it should be.

“…She’s gone now.”

“Youth really is something. I’m getting all nostalgic for my own fumbling teenage years.”

“Oh, you were here, Master?”

Before we knew it, the old man had slipped in behind Sakura, speaking solemnly about his long-past youth.

Apparently, he’d finished cleaning up after breakfast.

“Well, shall we just enjoy a leisurely sightseeing trip? Come on, Irine, Rey.”

“…I still want to go after Karl, though.”

“We’re in the capital, being escorted by a dashing swordsman—can’t you show us a proper date, Silent Blade Rey?”

“…Hmm. But Master is right there—”

“He’s from a totally different generation.”

And so, I found myself setting off into the city with Sakura and the others.

Maika will catch up to Karl. She’ll muster her courage and give him a proper confession.

And tonight, I’ll get to hear all about how it ended.

───At least, that’s what I thought.

“Wait!!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed me tightly from behind.

“I’ll only say this once, so listen!”

I blinked in confusion and slowly turned around.

“The one I really love is───”

There stood Karl, face blazing red, clinging to me from behind.

“───you!!”

Right in the heart of the bustling marketplace, with people flowing by on all sides…

I was suddenly being hugged from behind and confessed to by Karl.

“……”

“……”

Two very familiar faces were peeking at me from the shadows of a side alley, staring with burning, murderous intensity.

I could feel the approaching doom of a party breakup settling heavily on my shoulders.