Chapter 65

The commoners' area was a gathering where one could relax. Katsuragi felt a vague sense of reassurance about this and entered the party.

After that, he had used the secret teleportation array in the imperial city to move. The secret teleportation array was located in a hidden room, and only the royal family, including Seina, could open the door to activate it.

The teleportation array could transport one to any location within the imperial city. This meant that even if someone found out, they couldn't enter from the other side, and the door that only the royal family could open prevented others from misusing it.

While moving, he learned that the royal family often used the teleportation array in secret. It was originally for emergencies, but now it was mainly used for secret outings.

Therefore, those familiar with the imperial city knew about it, making it a public secret. Of course, if generation after generation of the royal family used it in secret, it was bound to be discovered.

When asked how they would return, they said they would walk back normally. It seemed that being lectured for going out in secret was a given.

Katsuragi had read the original work thoroughly, but this detail wasn't mentioned in the setting guide. Well, knowing the backstage might disappoint readers, so it couldn't be helped. Like the Sky City, the world of the novel that had become reality had a certain sense of daily life, which Katsuragi found somewhat boring.

"Wow, what's this?"

"What is this? I don't know. A mysterious object?"

"Pig's feet, pig's feet."

Seina picked up the pig's feet on the plate, looking curious. Shin, who had never seen them before, tilted his head, so Katsuragi explained. Indeed, pig's feet can look a bit grotesque. It's understandable that he hadn't eaten them before. Who in their right mind would serve pig's feet as a dish? Probably because they are cheap.

"What is this?"

"Maybe cookies?"

"Calmera cookies."

When Seina and Shin, who had just picked up the Calmera cookies, looked puzzled, Katsuragi sighed and answered. Who prepared the Calmera cookies? They are indeed cheap.

"Then what about this?"

"Persimmon... Too cheap! What kind of dish is this!"

Katsuragi finally couldn't help but comment on what Seina brought. Cheap is one thing, but there are limits. He had heard that the dishes in the commoners' area were luxurious, but this was different.

"Ha ha ha, your companion is funny!"

Seina and Shin were not intentionally choosing strange items. The girl brought them, which was quite odd. They weren't bad, but the crispy, tasty sticks were cheap.

Katsuragi, who was exasperated, was patted on the shoulder by the girl, who laughed loudly.

"What, oh, no, what is it?"

He was about to yell but held back because Seina was watching. His mouth twitched as he turned to look at the girl.

She was an ordinary girl with black hair and black eyes, short and a bit messy. Her clothes, though her only set, were quite old and faded.

She gave off a somewhat carefree vibe, as if she had endured hardships but still smiled brightly. She had freckles on her face, and Katsuragi thought she was a background character. She seemed to have some charm, but her face was not particularly striking, like a character in the background of a café.

"That's the snack corner. Everyone is going to eat expensive dishes, but those kids... It's funny, ha ha ha!"

"Do pig's feet also belong in the snack corner?"

Laughing, the girl patted his shoulder. Katsuragi looked at Seina and Shin with half-closed eyes, understanding the situation. Indeed, the other tables, especially those with steaks, were crowded, while that one was strangely empty.

If it were a snack corner, it wouldn't attract many people. The snacks were cheap. The person in charge of this table probably wanted to be unique but failed. There was a separate table with desserts like cakes.

"Well... it's fine. You don't have to eat here."

They could eat such dishes anytime. On the contrary, it would be difficult for them to eat cheap snacks.

"Wow! You have it easy! Ha ha, from your hair, you must be from a good family."

Katsuragi waved his hand to dismiss the girl, who was nudging his shoulder. Seina and Shin were focused on the cheap snacks and not paying attention to him. So, there was no need to act.

"Shut up. Normally, you can't even talk to me—"

Grr.

He tried to shoo her away roughly, but his stomach growled, and his cheeks turned red. He had been busy all morning and hadn't even had a piece of bread. At the party, he was busy with greetings and hadn't eaten anything, so his stomach was rumbling.

"Ha ha ha! What? What did you say? Normally?"

"Shut up! I was too busy to eat anything!"

Laughing, the girl held out a plate to Katsuragi, who, embarrassed, took a piece of pizza and bit into it. It was a bit cold but still delicious.

"Ah, interesting. My name is Akechi Mione. What's yours?"

"My name is Katsuragi Katsuragi."

"Katsuragi? Hmm, I've heard that name somewhere?"

"Hmph, of course, of course."

After all, he was the heir of one of only three ducal families in the country. Katsuragi puffed out his chest and put on a smug face. Snapping his fingers, Mione recalled.

"The name of the bakery on the corner! Are you the son of a baker?"

"No way! I'm from the Katsuragi ducal family! The ducal family! Understand? The ducal family!"

"Why a bakery?" Katsuragi yelled, and Mione laughed again. Is she a laughaholic?

"Sorry, sorry, I'm not well-educated. Is the ducal family nobility? Are you a noble?"

"Remember that! The ducal family is the most prestigious noble family in Japan! You'll be in the fourth grade the day after tomorrow, right? Remember that!"

"Ah, sorry, I don't go to school much."

"What? Skipping school at your age? You're a truant."

Katsuragi looked at Mione, who scratched her cheek and looked awkward, with disdain. He himself had become a recluse from his second year of high school. Skipping school in the third grade of elementary school was quite a feat.

"I grew up in an orphanage, and the management wasn't good... I secretly work as a laborer at the adventurer's guild, pretending to be older."

"Wow, that's... yeah, that's it."

Surprised by her unexpected response, Katsuragi stammered, but Mione patted his shoulder cheerfully.

"Don't worry about it. There are many people in situations like mine."

"A, ah, yeah, I guess."

Upon closer inspection, Mione's fingers, though those of a child, were rough and chapped, indicating hard work.

Katsuragi remembered that 'Magical Night' was a world with clear social disparities. There were slums, and many orphans had lost their parents to monsters. In areas near the slums with poor security, pickpockets and thieves were more numerous than black bugs, according to the original work.

"Ah, I'm used to that kind of look. Don't worry about it. Here, eat this. You look like a mean kid."

"Who's a mean kid, who's a mean kid?"

"Ah, because you had a really mean look just now. A bit too mean for a kid."

"What? No way. I'm a refreshing genius boy, praised for my charm."

Shaken by her words, Katsuragi touched his face and looked at Mione. No way. He was confident in his smile. When he asked the butlers, maids, and servants about his smile, they all said it was charming and would make anyone fall in love, clapping... Huh?

"Flattery, of course! You don't seem to have any decent adults around you."

"Grr, no, that's not... or is it?"

"Ha ha ha, it seems we both have tough situations. Eat, eat, it's on me."

Mione showed a smile that dispelled the gloomy atmosphere and offered the plate again. Only the sushi rolls were left.

"It's free, right! Ch, I'll go get some food."

Katsuragi, sighing, decided not to be drawn into her pace and looked for food. He was a commoner in his previous life. There was no way he wouldn't enjoy the food here. In fact, he was about to head to the snack corner to try some crispy, tasty sticks when he was surprised to see Seina right in front of him.

"Seina-sama?"

"Have you already made a friend among the commoners?"

Her glasses glinted mischievously as she asked, and Katsuragi hurriedly waved his hands in response.

"No, I just had a short conversation with Mione-san."

Trying to cover up, he answered, and Seina observed Mione closely. The impolite gaze made even Mione step back, her mouth twitching.

"Your hair is a bit messy, isn't it? As a girl, you should take care of it."

"A, ah, yes, you're right."

Mione, intimidated, responded with awkward formal language. She must have sensed the aura of nobility.

"Would you like me to help you tidy your hair?"

Shin, standing next to her, took out a fancy comb and smiled. His smile had the potential to make women swoon when he was a bit older.

"Ah, sorry. I have to go meet my friends, see you later!"

Mione waved her hands frantically and fled. She must have found the noble Seina and the princely Shin intimidating.

"See you," Mione winked and left. Katsuragi couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Who is that person from?"

"This is the commoners' area. She seems to be an orphan from an orphanage."

"Oh, I see. More importantly, explain those foods, Katsuragi."

Losing interest in Mione, Seina pulled Katsuragi's sleeve and led him to the snack corner, grinning and laughing.

"Ah, this is... "

Feeling elated to be explaining snacks to the heroine Seina, Katsuragi thought about it. Seina and Shin praised his knowledge, which made him happy.

The girl would die in the upcoming events. Glancing at her, he saw her enjoying the food with other girls in similar clothing.

The girl who seemed to have endured hardships would die. Thinking about it, a sense of guilt welled up. After all, the story would follow the original. Saving one girl wouldn't change much.

"... Ch, as a thank you for the pizza, I'll warn her to leave this place."

Deciding to call out to Mione, he clicked his tongue.

"Oh, the iron spider is moving."

"Really? Is it some kind of attraction?"

Surprised by Seina and Shin's words, Katsuragi turned to look in the direction they were facing. The iron spider was indeed moving.

"Why? That's impossible."

Seeing the iron spider, which was supposed to remain stationary according to the original, Katsuragi was shaken and muttered.

Seina heard his mutter and narrowed her eyes slightly.