Vol 9 Chapter 14: Victory Celebration

“—Then, to celebrate this campaign’s victory! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Duke Ricardo Linstar’s voice and the corresponding cheers echoed through the great conference room of the Linstar Ducal House mansion in the Southern Capital.

Inside the great conference room were nearly all the major heads of southern families and notable figures.

Vice Duke Luca Linstar, two marquises, four counts.

Renowned fierce generals, brave generals, and brilliant strategists sparkled like stars.

Numerous brave warriors and formidable fighters whose war tales had become books.

Furthermore, great merchants who controlled the southern economy and representatives of minority ethnic groups.

It was a buffet-style event, and the large tables were overflowing with southern delicacies and fine wines.

But I could only stare at them.

Because—I was seated at the guest of honor table!

…Clearly out of place no matter how you look at it. I’m even wearing formal attire.

Why, how did this happen?

The only saving grace is that they agreed not to mention it’s also my “birthday” celebration.

Ah, no.

If I could be at the very back of the very last row eating delicious food, even I, as a man, could probably enjoy this event. I’d like to hear some war tales.

But… I’m basically forbidden from leaving my seat.

If I want to eat or drink something, I have to ask a maid.

I let out an imperceptible sigh and restrained the left wrist of the glasses-wearing girl in a yellow-white dress beside me, who was trying to sneak away, with an invisible thread.

I smiled and spoke quietly.

“(…Felicia. Where is tonight’s star trying to go? You’re the ‘hero of the Fourth Southern Campaign victory,’ aren’t you?)”

“(I-I’m not the star! Th-The star is you, Allen-san! You’re the ‘Full Negotiation Authority Representative’! I-I didn’t do anything!)”

“(…It’s too late for that excuse! I don’t want to hear it! Even if it was under Risa-san’s orders, you’re the one who made it this scale, right? And then at the very end, you pulled the ladder out from under me… Give up—no, just let me escape alone. If you do that, I’ll go somewhat easy on you after we return to the Royal Capital.)”

“(!? S-Somewhat!?! Wh-What are you planning to do to me—Ah! Y-You’re going to make me wear beast-ear ribbons and a maid uniform, and m-make me s-serve you m-morning, n-noon, and n-night, aren’t you!? Allen-san, you pervert!)”

“(Ah… that’s the bare minimum.)”

“(!?!)”

Her eyes spinning and cheeks bright red, Felicia froze.

She looked up at me resentfully. “…I’m going to take you seriously, you know?”

She’d been tugging on my left sleeve this whole time.

“Gahah!” “Emma-sama!?” “N-No good, this blood loss! I-It’s life-threatening!” “Yet she’s not staining anything… As expected of the Fourth Seat of the Linstar Maid Corps!” “…Lady Felicia is so adorable…” “You won!”

Emma-san and the others were as usual.

The half-dead Fourth Seat raised a trembling thumb toward me. “Thank you… thank you… please continue…” An unwavering person.

As I looked on in exasperation, the gorgeously dressed young ladies arrived. Atra and Ria in dresses with lots of ribbons were extremely adorable.

Lidia at the front critiqued:

“H-Hmm… n-not bad.”

“Wowwww,” “B-Big brother… looks cool…”

“…Th-The glasses are, um, not good, I think.” “—…”

“♪♪”

Next, Tina and Liene’s eyes sparkled, and Karen glanced over with flushed cheeks.

Stella stared at me and froze. Her bangs, similar to Tina’s, stood straight up. Then she smiled gently and pressed both cheeks.

Atra and Ria happily climbed onto my lap.

My left sleeve was pulled.

“…Allen-san, I, um—”

“Felicia looks good too. After we return to the Royal Capital, will you work in a dress for a week?”

“Ugh!”

As this was happening, Ellie-san and Lily-san returned with food and glasses.

—What’s this, Lily-san is wearing the Howard House maid uniform!

Earlier I’d said “confiscated,” but… I gave in to her earnest pleading.

…But I think that was a mistake.

She really stands out. Her chest does.

Probably her measurements had grown beyond what Nico-san reported. To put it bluntly, it’s eye poison. She’s gathering the male gazes, and here and there I can see women secretly stomping on their feet.

I looked toward Emma-san, but—she was sitting deeply in her chair, hands clasped, eyes closed. No good. A regrettable loss.

…Can’t be helped.

I stood up while holding Atra and Ria and went to greet Ellie and Lily-san.

“A-Allen-sensei, Lady Felicia, we brought food and drinks— Kyah!”

“Whoops.”

I caught the stumbling angel while casting levitation magic on the plates and glasses. “Squeeze squeeze♪” The two little girls got excited.

Murmurs from inside the venue.

“Levitation magic?” “That’s not such an easy magic to use…” “No, if it’s him, it’s possible. After all, he fought Jade Wind-sama to a draw.” “Indeed. The Linstar Ducal House is secure!” “Cheers!”

…If I listen seriously, my sanity won’t hold, so I blocked it out. I cautioned the maid in my arms.

“Ellie, calm down.”

“Y-Yes! …Ehehe… It’s been a while since you held me like this…”

“Mm!” “Ellie, no cutting in line—”

“Lady Tina and Lady Liene went to the Water City!”

“Guh!”

At Ellie’s point, the young ducal ladies fell silent.

I placed the plates and glasses on a nearby small table and released Ellie.

Then, holding several wine and fruit water bottles, I gave a deadpan look to the older maid who’d spread her arms for some reason.

“…What are you demanding?”

“Eh~♪ I thought maybe it’s my turn next~☆”

“…Not happening.”

I took off my jacket and handed it to Lily-san while receiving the wine and fruit water bottles.

I lined up glasses and poured for everyone.

The older maid looked puzzled.

“? A-Allen-san??? U-Um…”

“…Please put it on. Lidia, Karen, Stella, I’ll leave the explanation to you.”

“Mm.” “Understood.” “Leave it to me.”

“Eh? Huh?? Whaaat??”

Lily-san was secured by the three and pulled away.

…The fact that all three were focused on the jacket was surely my imagination.

I prompted the remaining girls.

“Tina, Ellie, Liene, take your glasses. Atra and Ria too, here you go.”

“Okay~” “♪♪”

“A-Allen-san! Th-That kind of bullying is—”

“Felicia’s portion is—”

“Right here.”

Soundlessly, presenceless—a short blonde-haired maid offered a glass of chilled black tea.

Her name is Sally Sykes-san.

A maid from the Walker House and Ellie’s cousin. Apparently part of the “Felicia” faction.

I bowed and accepted it, passing it to the glasses-wearing girl.

“…M-My favorite?”

“Of course. Does it suit Tina and the others too?”

“…Yes♪”

My students beamed.

I took a glass of red wine and expressed my gratitude.

“You all really worked hard. And—thank you. I’m happy that you all grew so much through this series of events. There’s no need to rush. Let’s move forward together slowly. …Felicia is an exception, though. Please learn the phrase ‘excessive.'”

“S-Sensei…” “A-Allen-sensei…” “B-Big brother…”

“Ugh! Y-You should just honestly praise me there! …Geez!”

Tina and the others were surprised and at a loss for words, while Felicia pouted. Atra and Ria copied her.

—Ah, this feeling. Daily life is returning.

Though everyone around is watching us.

Two beautiful women and an unfamiliar, light brown-haired beautiful girl in a white dress approached with giggles.

She was short and petite. Maybe even shorter than Ellie. Her chest was very large.

She looked at me and smiled gently.

Lady Leticia, in a jade-colored dress that clearly showed her figure, grinned wickedly.

“Oy oy! Man, to court multiple women in public—how bold!”

“…I wasn’t courting them, Lady Leticia.”

“Call me Leti.”

“Well, but—”

“Call me Leti.”

“…”

An unyielding response.

I glanced at the other beauty—Risa-san, who nodded slightly.

I poured red and white wine into spare glasses Sally-san had brought, handing the red to Risa-san and the white to Lady Leticia.

“…Then, Leti-san.”

“Good!”

“Allen, let me introduce you. My sister-in-law.”

“!? Sister-in-law, you say—could it be…”

The fluffy, seemingly young beauty bowed to me.

“I’m Fianou Linstor~ Ufufu~♪ I’ve heard so much about you from Sister-in-law Risa and Lily that it doesn’t feel like we’re meeting for the first time, Allen-sama~”

“…Please spare me the ‘-sama.'”

“Then Allen-chan♪ —Thank you for helping Lily this time. My gratitude. And— …When will you come to our place—”

“M-Mother!?”

Wrapped in wind, Lily-san, wearing my jacket, returned.

I was hugged tightly.

“Wh-What were you about to say!? G-Geez! D-Don’t do things without permission!”

“Eh~, but you always talk so happily about him, and in letters you write— mmph!”

“Ah-ah-ah-ah!”

The older maid covered her small mother’s mouth.

I shrugged, poured wine and fruit water into three glasses, and sent them forward with levitation magic.

Lidia, Karen, and Stella received them with smiles.

I looked around at the surrounding people—and found Lean-sama, Ricardo-sama, and Luca-sama. I signaled “Please come here! By all means!”

The three smiled and shook their heads. …They didn’t want to join in. Cruel.

I drooped my shoulders and raised my glass—

“!”

In the venue—I spotted a bird-folk woman with long, beautiful black hair, and my thoughts stopped.

Ah… so she came.

Well… that person probably doesn’t remember me. After all, she’s now the head of the renowned “Griffon Express.”

But—…I remember. I remember.

“If there’s no path… I’ll create one! And—I will definitely, definitely change the future of the beast-folk! Boy, so… don’t cry like that. Okay?”

Lidia approached and intertwined her left arm with mine, naturally slipping her fingers between mine.

…She noticed I was about to cry from nostalgia.

“N-Now, cheers! To celebrate the campaign victory and—Allen’s eighteenth birthday!”