第４７５堀：モルモッ……じゃなくモニター見つけた (Part1)
### Chapter 475: Found a Guinea... No, a Monitor
**Side: Yuki**
"It’s not like anyone rare has come to visit, is it?"
"Indeed. While visits to Betan have been frequent, this is the first time anyone has specifically requested an audience with you, Lord Yuki."
"With me, huh? Did you hear what it’s about?"
"No. They insisted on speaking with you directly. They mentioned that they had searched everywhere for you and your party to no avail, which is why they came here. If I may ask, where have you been?"
"Ah... I’ve been making the rounds, you know."
Yeah. I really have been all over the place.
After dealing with Marly and Prism, I was technically a student at the Lancer Magic Academy. Then came the visits to Roday and White Forest, the trip to August, the skirmish with the Hifie Holy Kingdom, and finally, the visit to Noble’s Ex.
Just when I thought that was over, a problem broke out in Weed...
Yeah, there’s been way too much going on.
Because of all that, I completely forgot about Marly and Prism.
"Anyway, let’s go see them."
"Very well. Please, proceed. The atmosphere seems a bit... tense."
"Is there a problem? Do you know anything?"
"No. Recently, both Zilba and Enaria have officially announced the engagement between Princess Miffy and Prince Arnold, so things are moving toward stability. There are also reports that the criminal organization using magic swords has been wiped out, so the world is peaceful. My information shows no particular issues."
"...I see. So the Princess is safely engaged."
Ah, so the matter with Princess Miffy was settled, too.
I suppose we did frame that criminal group as the masterminds behind Roday’s behind-the-scenes meddling.
That aside, the fact that her partner is Arnold—much like with Horst—makes me think, "Are you guys just collecting celebrities?"
Regardless, Jessica, who was by her side in Roday until the very end, probably has some complicated feelings about it.
"If that’s the case, it’s likely a personal matter. It shouldn’t be anything that would tilt the balance of Betan."
"I certainly hope so. This way, please. Excuse me. I have brought Lord Yuki."
When I was ushered into the reception room, the female magic sword users were there, sipping tea with elegance.
"Oh, so you were here."
"We certainly were."
"I’m glad."
That was the Zilba magic sword user group: Marly, Olive, and Mist.
I seem to recall the sisters mentioning something about "Olive" and "Pikmin."
"Are you safe?"
"Yeah, glad to see you’re looking well."
Those were the Enaria magic sword user group: Prism and Agil.
"It’s been a while. So, what’s the occasion for this gathering? Are we doing a joint exercise for magic sword users?"
I sat down on the sofa in the back as I said that.
"The joint exercise is for another time. But never mind that. Jessica, you look well."
"Yes. I am serving as Yuki’s wife safely."
"I’m glad to hear you two are getting along. I was worried about how I should protest if you were being treated poorly."
Jessica is quite the asset, after all.
She’s capable of handling real administrative work.
I just hope the remaining adjutant, Hivia, isn't being worked to death by Marly.
I’ll have to check on her safety later. She is Jessica’s friend, after all.
"Please, save the conversation between you two for later."
"Yes. As my sister says, talking to Yuki-san comes first."
The sisters are as they always were, but it seems this isn't a tearful reunion.
After the sisters cut off Marly’s small talk, Prism spoke up.
"As the Fire-Water sisters said, we want to hear from you, Lord Yuki."
"What do you mean?"
I don’t have anything in particular to report.
I’ve left the progress of Betan to people like Horst.
"Err, it’s a bit complicated, so I’ll explain. But first, thanks for all your help at the academy."
I had traveled to the Lancer Magic Academy with Agil, and we got along well while we were there.
After that, things got hectic with the magic sword business and returning to Enaria.
Still, she’s as child-like in stature as ever.
"Are you eating properly?"
"Nah, I’ve been able to focus on my research lately, so I haven’t really..."
"Agil, you’re getting off track."
"Oops, sorry, Prism. Right, the explanation. First off, the reason we’re all together—which I’m sure you’re wondering about—isn't a coincidence. It’s the result of us exchanging information."
"Exchanging information?"
"Yes. About where you and your party are. Right now, the upper echelons of Zilba and Enaria—well, maybe not every country, but mostly them—are looking for you."
"Looking for me personally?"
"That’s right. Well, if they go after you, their subordinates—those girls—will follow, won't they?"
"I suppose so. So, what’s this about?"
"You have to ask? Zilba and Enaria are currently in a bit of a chaotic state, you know."
"Huh? This is news to me. Besides, I haven’t even been in Zilba or Enaria lately."
"That’s true, but what you’ve done has had a massive impact."
"I don’t follow. What exactly is so 'massive'?"
"I see. So it starts there. Right now, both Zilba and Enaria are having a very difficult time figuring out how to handle you, Yuki."
"Didn't we settle on me being a royal with no succession rights?"
Yeah, that’s how it was supposed to be.
That was the whole point of making it easier to move around.
"It’s evolved since then. After you and I parted ways at the academy, taking Lady Samantha and Lady Cleena as your wives was a problem in itself, but that seems like it might lead to normalized diplomatic relations, so that’s fine. But you also played a part in catching that criminal group, didn't you?"
"Ah, yeah. I did play a part in catching them."
A part? I was the lead actor *and* the screenwriter.
"Because of that, letters of appreciation were sent directly to both countries from the Ex Kingdom—specifically from King Noble himself."
Ah, right. I am technically a mercenary belonging to Zilba and Enaria.
"That’s not all. We’ve also received word from August that you avoided a military conflict with the Hifie Holy Kingdom."
"And we’ve received a letter of appreciation from Roday for suppressing the internal rebellion."
I remember those things, too.
Yeah, I did those.
"To top it all off, thanks to you, the criminal organization was wiped out. They’ve asked the two countries that dispatched you to make effective use of the confiscated gate technology. Well, I’m sure the real reason is to atone for letting a criminal organization run rampant in their own country, but they’ve promised to prioritize deployment to us over other nations."
Mist’s detailed explanation cleared things up.
Ah, I see. So they’re trying to open the gates under that pretext.
That guy Noble... he should have checked with me before using my name...
"So, that’s where the problem arises. In the end, while the gates themselves are welcome, it’s all thanks to your achievements. It’s become a major issue for Zilba and Enaria to use the gates gained through your efforts without giving you any formal recognition or reward."
"...Is that what this is about?"
"Exactly. And the point of contention is your status. For you, it was just a convenient position to move around, but with these recent achievements, that’s no longer the case. Opinions have been raised that you should be formally granted royal succession rights, and now there’s a faction rising up to oppose it."
"Oh boy."