第６２０堀：命がけの顔合わせ (Part1)
**Chapter 620: A Life-or-Death Introduction**
**Side: Kagura**
*Clack, clack...*
The sound echoed, and I realized my body was trembling.
*I have to hold it together.*
I consciously forced my body to stop shaking.
*Good, it stopped.*
But my heart was still racing. *Calm down, Kagura. You’re fine. You’re going to be fine.* I closed my eyes and repeated the mantra to myself.
"Huh? Kagura, are you cold?"
"Mikos?"
I opened my eyes to see Mikos entering the meeting room. I must have been so tense that I hadn't even heard the door open.
"Yeah. You’re as cute as ever today, Mikos-chan. But setting that aside, why are you shaking? Did you catch a cold at a time like this?"
"Eh?"
Prompted by her words, I looked at my own body and saw it was indeed trembling in small, rhythmic pulses. I had just stopped it, too... I needed an excuse for Mikos.
"It’s not a cold. I’m just... a little nervous."
"Nervous? About the Onock investigation? But aren't we supposed to pay our respects to the Viscount first? I heard it wasn't supposed to be that dangerous... Did Yuki-sensei or the Princesses get some weird intel? Is it actually dangerous?"
"N-no. That’s not it. It’s not..."
Just as I started to explain, the door opened again.
"Eek!?"
I was so startled I tumbled right out of my chair.
"Huh?"
"Oh! I-I’m so sorry! Did I startle you!? Are you alright, Kagura-senpai!?"
While Mikos stood there blankly, Solo, who had opened the door, rushed over to check on me. Honestly, feeling relieved that it was just Solo made me even more anxious—did that mean the execution hadn't been carried out yet?
"Y-yes. I’m fine, I was just a little surprised."
"No, 'a little' is an understatement. Seriously, you’re shaking again. Are you really okay, Kagura?"
"She's right. And your complexion doesn't look very good either. Are you really okay? Should we tell Yuki-sensei and the others so you can rest..."
"No!! That is absolutely out of the question!!"
If the Onock investigation was delayed because of me, that would be a real problem.
"Don't say 'no.' You look like you're about to collapse. Hey, Solo, don't you think so too?"
"...Yes. There is no doubt she is pushing herself too hard."
"I-it’s not a physical illness. It’s a matter of the heart."
"The heart?"
"What do you mean by that?"
*Fine,* I thought. *At this point, I might as well just spill it.*
"...I might die today," I blurted out.
"Excuse me? Why would you say that?"
"Did something happen?"
Both of them tilted their heads in confusion.
"Solo wouldn't know, so that's natural, but Mikos, you should know. Haven't you seen the list of investigation members?"
"The investigation members? We’re just having a meeting with everyone before we head out, right? Because new personnel are being dispatched from Weed. What about it?"
"Those people being dispatched... they’re Yuki’s wives."
"Oh, I see. I heard he has a lot of wives, so that’s not really strange... Ah."
Mikos finally realized why I was trembling, and her face stiffened.
"Don't tell me... Riel, Tori, and Kaya...?"
"...Those are the pregnant wives I dragged into the mess when I summoned Yuki."
"Oh, boy."
The moment she heard my words, Mikos covered her eyes with one hand. *See? What else is there to say?*
"U-um, what exactly happened?"
Solo was lost, so I decided to explain. I told her how, when I summoned Yuki, I had also pulled his pregnant wives onto the battlefield. I explained clearly that I hadn't just kidnapped a royal consort, but had also put his wives and their unborn children in mortal danger.
"A-ahahaha..."
"Yeah, all you can do is laugh, right?"
"...Hmph. You two can keep laughing. And please, take care of things after I’m gone. If I die, the grudge regarding the summoning might be considered settled."
"S-senpai, please calm down. It hasn't been decided that you're going to die yet."
"Exactly. Besides, if they wanted to kill you, wouldn't you be dead already? How many days have you been in Weed?"
"Ugh, that’s true, but... you understand why I can't settle down, right?"
"Well, yeah. But this is..."
"...You just have to apologize properly."
"I can't take this tension anymore. I’ll just die to apologize."
As I walked toward the window, Mikos and Solo grabbed me.
"Hey, hey!! Calm down!!"
"Exactly!! What about your work with Weed!?"
"If I die, maybe the things I caused can be wiped clean!! You and my father can just take over the diplomat work!!"
"Don't be ridiculous, calm down!!"
"Senpai!! It’s going to be fine, so please, calm down!!"
This was the only way to be freed from this suffering, yet they were getting in my way. I tried to reach the window...
"You don't have to do that, we aren't actually angry."
"It would be troublesome for us if you died, so please stop."
"...Just work hard to make up for the trouble you caused."
"That’s how it is. Calm down and go back to your seat, Kagura."
*...Ah, I’m finished.*
"You aren't finished. *Sigh*, it was a good thing we held this meeting first. If we had just sent you out on the investigation, it would have been a disaster."
"...I am so sorry. Please, please..."
Before I knew it, I was bowing my head desperately, apologizing.
"It’s okay. It’s going to be fine, okay? Kagura, calm down."
"...Your mental fortitude is weaker than I thought."
"...Poor thing. Yuki, were you threatening her?"
"No, not at all. Amanda, Eoid."
"Yes? What is it—whoa, what happened!? Kagura!?"
"W-what’s going on!?"
"Yeah. She’s like this because of the guilt of dragging Riel and the others into the summoning. Please, help her calm down."
" "Ah..." "
Thanks to everyone’s persuasion, I finally regained my composure.
"...I am terribly sorry for showing you such a shameful display."
*...I can't believe I ended up apologizing for making a scene, too. I’m such an idiot.*
"Well, I’m glad Kagura is back to normal. I’m Riel. Nice to meet you. We didn't have a chance to talk back then, so I’m happy we can talk like this now."
"I’m Tori. I’ve received your feelings clearly, Kagura-san, so there’s no need to hold a grudge. We’ll be working together from now on, so please treat me well."
"...Yuki is a bit shy and has a twisted personality, so if he bullies you, you can rely on me."
"Hey, Kaya."
" " "Ahahaha..." " "
It seemed they were trying to be considerate and lighten the mood for me.
*...Sigh, I really was worrying too much.*
No, I’ll tell myself this was the result of apologizing with all my heart.
Finally, with a calm heart, I looked at Riel and the others, and noticed something strange.
"Huh? It’s not there?"
"Not there? What? Did you forget something?"
"Shall I go get it for you?"
Mikos and Solo were right next to me, so they must have heard my mutterings. Since there was no reason to hide it, I told them what was missing.
"That’s not it. Um... I recall Riel, Tori, and Kaya were supposed to be shrine maidens..."
"Huh? Shrine maidens? Like, priestesses of the spirits?"
"Yeah."
"...But they look like normal humans, don't they?"
"You’re right."
That’s right—no matter how I looked at them, there were no animal ears. Had I misremembered? Well, it was only for a split second, and I had been under a lot of pressure back then.
"More importantly, if Riel-sama and the others were shrine maidens, and you summoned them while they were carrying children... that’s a capital offense in the Hayden Kingdom."
"...That’s why I was in that state."
"I see. That makes sense."
"But shouldn't you ask them just in case?"
"Oh, you're right. There’s a possibility they’re different wives, and if we don't clarify that, Kagura will end up in that state again."
"B-but, I have to ask? W-won't I die?"
"Ah, calm down, Solo."
"Yes. Please leave it to me."
Solo said that and walked over to Riel and the others to ask.
"U-um..."
"Hm? Who are you?"
"I-I am a junior to Kagura-senpai, and I’m a middle-grade student at this Magic Academy, my name is Solo."
"Oh, you’re the student who was attacked by bandits, right?"
"...You don't have to be afraid. We will protect you."