Vol 9 Chapter 16: Scheme

“…So, what’s the meaning of this? Sensei, Headmaster.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“We must welcome the great hero of our age—this much is acceptable.”

“…………Whose. Whose great hero.”

What awaited me when I reluctantly went straight from Royal Capital Central Station to the Royal Palace were the kingdom’s two great mages.

…Moreover, before I could complain, Lord Rod’s teleportation magic suddenly whisked just me away to the inner garden at the very back of the palace.

The inner garden that had been thoroughly destroyed during the siege was already completely restored—and though few in number, clearly high-quality long tables and chairs were arranged, creating an obvious banquet venue.

Those bustling about were—incredibly, members of the Royal Guard.

I received splendid salutes that made me swoon from people I knew, and while returning them, my face twitched. …No, you can’t have these people doing this kind of thing. No matter how you think about it.

I chose to escape reality and gave them both flat stares.

“…Come to think of it, Sensei, Headmaster, about the matter of you not coming as reinforcements to the Water City—”

“Allen, I’m an old soldier. I simply fade away.”

“I heard you fought a bone dragon or something. I was right not to go!”

“…I’ve finished the Southern Campaign aftermath. The rest is all for you to—”

“As if I’d let you do that now!!!”

“? Ah, Richa—!!”

A cheerful loud voice came from behind.

I turned around and before I could call out a name—the red-haired vice-captain of the Royal Guard punched me hard in the cheek.

Before I could fall, he grabbed my collar and squeezed it tight.

“…A-lle-n! At the Royal Palace, you really did well, didn’t you…”

“R-Ricardo, I’m g-glad you’re s-safe…”

“Thanks to so-me-one… hehe… hehehe… I’m honestly angry… Sorry, but you’re going to become important!! I don’t give a damn about your feelings or thoughts!!”

A tremendous number of flame feathers scattered around. …Eek.

I clapped my hands in a sign of surrender.

The red-haired vice-captain finally released me with a broad smile. Scary!

“…Do it again—and I’ll make you inherit the Linstar Dukedom without mercy, got it?”

“D-D-Don’t put your body on the line! It’s the house you should inherit!?”

“Hah! I don’t give a damn!”

I applied healing magic to my cheek while seeking help from the Sensei and Headmaster. Please do something! But—the two were grinning.

“Allen, you reap what you sow.”

“Give up. I heard you acquired overseas territory in the Water City. Moreover, a sacred domain. For such a person—there’s no choice but to give some kind of treatment. Is that acceptable, Princess Cheryl?”

“—Yes, of course.”

A cool yet… clearly bold voice struck my ears.

A white dog ran to my feet and showed its belly.

Petting it naturally restored my mental state.

“Chiffon is such a good boy…”

“Allen—look at me. Chiffon!”

“Woof!”

Suddenly, the white dog enlarged. Into magical beast form.

Skillfully biting my collar—it carried me over to Princess Cheryl Wayne Wright, dressed perfectly in white formal wear, and set me down.

—Immediately after, my feet were caught by invisible chains and I felt unable to move.

I opened my eyes wide and called out to the reliable black cat on a nearby sofa.

“N-No way!? A-Anko-san!?!!”

“Allen, right now, you have no allies here, you know? Ah… strictly speaking, everyone is your ally, but—”

“Ch-Cheryl… w-wait! Wait!!”

“I won’t wait♪”

Cheryl showed a truly lovely smile.

…This is bad. Seriously bad. I don’t know what, but it’s bad anyway.

I agonized for half an instant.

What do I do? What should I do?? How can I—…decided. No choice.

I drew in a breath—

“Lidia! Help me!!”

“—I’ll help you even without being asked!!”

From above with crimson light, my longtime friend dive-bombed.

Cheryl’s magic barrier caught the descending sword strike.

A tremendous magical collision. In that moment I released Anko-san’s restraint and retreated.

Immediately, Lidia took the vanguard position to protect my trembling self.

The princess smiled leisurely.

“Lidia, you were late.”

“…You rotten princess! He’s mine!! Don’t you dare try to touch him!!”

“Yes, that’s right. Allen is yours.”

“—…Huh?”

“Y-You idiot!!”

Cheryl easily affirmed it.

Lidia went blank, creating a fatal opening.

Darkness appeared at the crimson-haired Ducal Lady’s feet. Her figure vanished.

I ground my teeth.

“You knew Anko-san was on the other side, not just Cheryl…! How many times do you have to fall before you understand!?”

“Hehe… Lidia is really honest only when it comes to you, which helps. Now—it’s judgment time, Allen.”

“Guh! Ch-Cheryl, l-let’s talk! We can work this out! Th-the greatest contributor to the Southern Campaign—”

“Is Felicia Fos-san, right?”

“Ah, so you know. Then this will be quick. Even if a peerage is difficult, just give the Allen Trading Company some authority and that’s fine. If I have achievements too, you can add them on.”

“Oh? I can add them on? …If I do that, things will become quite serious though.”

“…………That was nothing.”

The princess asked with a smile.

…The wind is turning suspicious.

I glanced behind me.

The two bad adults were grinning and grinning.

The red-haired vice-captain: Don’t think you can escape, okay? You might as well become important!

Anko-san had an atmosphere suggesting she’d use more dark magic than could be counted if I moved.

Only Chiffon had sparkling eyes: If I move, you’ll play with me really hard, right☆? His tail wagged so hard the generated wind hurt.

Note… this child’s ‘really hard’ is on a scale where a mediocre mountain becomes flatland.

Wh-what did you tell this innocent, pure child! Cheryl Wayne Wright!!

…Lidia—no good.

She’s destroying Anko-san’s dark prison, but it doesn’t look like she can escape soon. Well normally, escape is absolutely impossible though.

I-In that case—

“Allen-sama, I don’t think relying on Atra and Ria is appropriate.”

“Brother, give up. You’re already in checkmate.”

“! St-Stella? K-Karen? E-Everyone too…”

In a gentle voice, the one who rejected me was Ducal Lady Stella Howard, holding hands with Ria.

Atra was being held by Karen, sucking her finger sleepily.

Tina, Ellie, and Liene surrounded the exhausted Felicia.

Lily-san, who should be a guard, had brought out two greatswords as if on a battlefield, in combat readiness. She was even humming.

At this point, I saw the whole picture—and felt my consciousness flee far away.

I buried my head in Chiffon’s body and wept bitterly.

The white wolf fretted: A-Are you okay? Shall we play??

Somehow, I squeezed out words.

“…Cheryl, you framed me, didn’t you? No, I should say you framed me and Lidia? I absolutely have to accept this, don’t I?”

“I’ve always loved how quick you are to understand, Allen♪ Ah, the only ones who didn’t know were you, Lidia, and Felicia-san★ All other related parties know. Everyone has already approved. The four great duchies—Howard, Linstar, Lubfera, and New Orgren. And of course, Father too. You have no veto power.”

“…A peerage is impossible. I can’t accept it. Also, handing over Atra and Ria is impossible. If you do that, I’ll seriously—”

“Idiot.”

Cheryl approached and made me stand.

Then, gently placing her hand on my cheek, she smiled.

“I wouldn’t do such things. You’re now the kingdom’s new pillar, you know? I can’t lose you by doing something foolish. Not as poor Cheryl Wayne Wright who became first in line for the throne because someone’s achievements were excessive—but as just Cheryl who knows you well★”

“…………Your phrasing is terrible. So what do I have to do? What’s the top priority?”

Probably with deader eyes than ever before, I looked at Tina and the others, then returned my gaze and presented my condition.

“I’m their tutor. If I can’t do that, I’ll refuse with everything I have—”

“Allen—I appoint you as Plenipotentiary Investigator attached to me, Cheryl Wayne Wright.”

—My consciousness blanked for an instant.

My unnecessarily perceptive mind understood the meaning.

What that position meant was—

“Ah, I think you understand—but it’s a position where if I order it, you can do most things using royal authority. Hehe… ‘Investigation’ is such a wonderful word, isn’t it? Want to ‘investigate’ and negotiate with the Demon King? If you tell me what you want to do, I’ll order it all, everything★”

This is too much. Way too much.

I turned around and weakly glared at the two bad adults and Ricardo.

…But the Sensei and Headmaster gave thumbs up, turned their backs, and just laughed with shaking bodies.

The red-haired vice-captain widened his eyes, looking somewhat surprised—but sighed. A bit late, he gave a thumbs up. Y-You traitor.

My students, for their part, flushed their cheeks, looking excited.

My last hope, my sister—

“B-Brother… thank goodness… really, really… thank goodness…”

She was even shedding tears.

Th-They calculated this far?

The bespectacled girl surrounded by Tina and the others shrugged. …Yeah. This is inevitable now. Let’s just take the benefits. Let’s do that. Do your best! For the Allen Trading Company’s development! …Beast-ear maid outfit is decided for a while.

I pleaded.

“…Cheryl, if my performance is poor, you’ll dismiss me, right?”

“Eh? Can the performance of someone who’s already achieved several decades’, or possibly over a century’s worth of achievements become poor? Moreover, if I did that, my position would worsen, Lidia would get a bad reputation, and your students might be pointed at with scorn, you know?? Ah, Karen might get things said about her at university too.”

“…Who was it that put this idea into your head?”

“Allen. You’re amazing. Really, truly, truly amazing. I’m proud from the bottom of my heart to be your classmate. But you know?”

Cheryl showed a broad smile.

Stella, Karen, Liene, and Ellie also smiled.

And—Tina puffed out her chest.

“If all of us work together, we can do this kind of thing too, you know? No matter how strong you and Lidia are♪”