Makoto meet the Ice princess again

We return to our table with hazy feelings. The banquet was close to ending.

I sobered up already.

My appetite is gone too.

I was spacing out with a blank head.

Thinking all the things that happened to me.

The quarrel of Princess Sofia if she will chase me away or not.

The talked of Great Sage

and.

My apostle Senpai 1,000 years ago...

Oii... Noah-sama can you hear me?

I know you can...

I have many problems here you know...

(.....)

No response huh...

"Takatsuki-sama, there's a guest", Nina-san pokes my shoulder.

I'm still spacing out...

The one who came was the Water Oracle, the Princess of Rozes, Sofia Rozes.

While I saving my sanity... I mean my energy because of many things that happened to me on this day.

I heard the devi... I mean the princess.

"Takatsuki Makoto, do you have time?" (Sofia)

A clear voice that travels well.

It makes me feel the coldness of spring water from it.

And as always, she has a cold and unfriendly expression.

Princess Sofia had for some reason come to our table.

She has a knight as her bodyguard, but it is not the haughty knight of before.

"What is it?" (Makoto)

I can't ignore a princess, so I ask reluctantly.

"I had him quit being my Guardian Knight." (Sofia)

"I see..."(Makoto)

I don't really care.

That's not what I'm asking. But I can't say that loud, it will just leave many troubles.

"It is the sin of displeasing the hero-sama that saved Laberintos. Can you please forgive us with this?" (Sofia)

Hero?

What is this princess saying this time?

At least she apologize for what happened.

" In the first place, I am not a hero though…" (Makoto)

"You are one of the heroes that came from the other world. That's why, I want you to please continue staying in Rozes." (Sofia)

This princess...

I don't know if she is shameless or she's just that desperate to have a fighting force in her country.

"After disregarding me... Now you want me to become a hero?"(Makoto)

"That's....."(Sofia)

Even though her face is cold I can still see her flustered face.

"Hey hey." (Lucy)

Lucy tugged my sleeve.

I know. I am not going to be such a bully.

"…I like the city of Makkaren, so I will continue being an adventurer in Rozes." (Makoto)

If she didn't apologize for what happened.

I might think differently.

Adventurer is okay but being a hero... Don't wanna.

Hearing this, Princess Sofia made a relieved expression.

But she instantly returns to her previous expression.

"As for apology. Do you wish for anything? If it is something I can do…" (Sofia)

Oh, how generous.

But I don't really have much of a wish though…

"Right, let's give this one to my friend that has been helping me out all this time. This is here is my friend, Fujiwara-kun." (Makoto)

"T-Takki-dono?!" (Fujiwara)

Fuji-yan who was suddenly pulled into it was surprised, but my thoughts should be transmitted to him.

"I was wondering if you could back him up for the sake of furthering my work. He is also one of the heroes that come from the other world. My achievements are thanks to his support." (Makoto)

"…I see. What should I do in detail?" (Sofia)

Fuji-yan, sorry for putting you on the spot all of a sudden.

He is looking at me with eyes of 'I didn't hear anything about this-desu zo'.

But, as expected of him, he must have thought of something, and he began speaking.

"Then, please grant me the freedom to do business in Rozes. Especially in the noble districts." (Fujiwara)

"Alright. I will give you a permit with my name. Please come to the capital later to get it." (Sofia)

""Thank you very much.""

Fuji-yan and I lowered our heads.

Is this much okay?

"Well then, let's meet again." (Sofia)

Princess Sofia leaves with hurried feet.

◇◇

"Takki-dono, I didn't expect you to suddenly throw the topic to me-desu zo!" (Fujiwara)

He was slapping me multiple times on the back.

It looks like his really happy.

"Compared to the helped I received from you that was nothing. But was that good enough?" (Makoto)

"It is great! Being able to freely do business under the name of the Princess of Rozes! With this, I will be winning it all in any businesses in the Water Country…" (Fujiwara)

Ooh, Fuji-yan is making an evil face.

"T-Takatsuki-sama, you do terrifying things…" (Nina)

Nina-san had a stiff expression.

"Did I say something weird?" (Makoto)

"Makoto…normally when royalty asks what you want, you normally refrain at first." (Lucy)

"Goshujin-sama is also fearless." (Nina)

I see, so that's how the etiquette goes.

"Like I would know. I am an otherworldler. And she's the one who wants something not me." (Makoto)

"Anyways, that Princess just now was pretty persistent in wanting Takatsuki-kun to stay." (Aya)

Sa-san says this on the passing.

"Aah, about that, even though you took such rude behavior, she still came here herself and listened to your requests." (Lucy)

"Princess Sofia must have been angry inside her heart." (Fujiwara)

"…"

If Fuji-yan says so, it must be.

Looks like the inside of Princess Sofia was burning.

"The warriors and mages that Princess Sofia scouted ended up running to other countries, or would get injured and not serve as a fighting force", Nina-san explains.

No wonder.

"Right. It looks like the life in the royal castle of the Water Country didn't fit them well." (Fujiwara)

"Thanks to that, there's rumours saying that Princess Sofia doesn't have an eye for people. On the other hand, at the place of Princess Noel, there's a lot of talents gathered around." (Nina)

I expected that...

"That's why she is trying so desperately to have the apprentice mage -she once gave no concern to- stay, huh." (Makoto)

"As a result, you didn't get exiled from Makkaren. Isn't that great?!" (Lucy)

Right, it is as Lucy says.

"Then, let's go back to Makkaren." (Makoto)

"Okay!" (Lucy)

I want to go back and eat skewers.

And in this way, our adventure challenging Laberintos ended.

But my heart is not clearing up.

The things that happened to the princess.

The words of the Great Sage.

The suspicions towards the Goddess remain.

Hahh...

Please give me a break...