CH 31

The Princess’ Majesty

“My bad, I feel a bit sick today.”

“I’m sorry. There’s a special lecture for the Hero Course today, so I don’t have time to do anything after school.”

In school, after classes.

Gran and Elysia apologize.

“I-is that so…”

Mize withdraws, looking dejected.

Mize seems to have wanted the four of us to accept another commission from the Guild after this day’s classes. However, it seems that Gran and Elysia aren’t available today.

“H-how about you, Tweight-san?”

“Let’s see…”

Honestly, I’d like Mize to quietly stay in her dormitory as much as possible, but if I refuse here, she might leave the Royal Capital on her own, which I wouldn’t want.

“I’ll ask, just in case, but what kind of commission do you plan on accepting today?”

“Since I only have a short time after school today, I was thinking of accepting a collection commission. When I checked the Guild’s bulletin board yesterday, there was a commission to collect medicinal herbs that grow in the First Layer of the “The Swirling Depths of the Royal Tomb”, so, in the worst-case scenario, I can take it by myself…”

It appears that Mize will be heading to the Guild by herself.

If so, then I should accompany her.

“Is if fine if I help you?”

“Y-yes! I look forward to working with you!”

“Oz should also be able to make it. I’ll contact her later.”

Mize gladly nodded her head after I told her that I would call Oz.

While watching Mize pack her bag, I contact Oz with my [Communication Paper]. We decided to meet up at the Guild.

— 2 hours later.

The three of us: Mize, Oz, and I, were at the First Layer of the Labyrinth “The Swirling Depths of the Royal Tomb”.

“We don’t have much time left to spare, so let’s finish this as quickly as we can.”

“Yeah.”

“Roger that!”

In response to Mize’s instructions, Oz and I nod.

The sun was already beginning to set outside. Since it would probably be time for dinner on our way back, we had purchased portable rations at the Guild beforehand and left them in the carriage.

Since she had to move without any time to rest, she couldn’t afford to enjoy the Labyrinth, but even so, Mize was full of energy. Right now, working as an adventurer itself is enjoyable for Mize. She is carefully and diligently collecting the medicinal herbs that are growing by her feet.

“…Oz, how is it?”

I whisper to Oz in a small voice, so that Mize cannot hear me.

The intent of the question was, “Do you think the enemy is lurking around the vicinity?”.

“They aren’t, right? Did you find any, Tweight?”

“No, I haven’t found anything either…they’re probably not pursuing us this time.”

As we confirm with each other that the enemy isn’t pursuing us, I remember the exchange I had with Oz the other day.

Last night, both of us disagreed with each other, and Oz even looked irritated…but now she was back to her usual self.

Before we accepted the commission, when we met at the Guild, I was surprised by her behaviour, but I didn’t mention it because I felt it would be like poking a bush snake. Dragging out yesterday’s matter would only be inconvenient for me.

“Should I keep a lookout, to be sure?”

“…Yeah. I’ll leave it to you.”

After giving a favourable nod to Oz, she loudly declared:

“I’ll go to the toilet for a while!”

Mize, who was collecting medicinal herbs, slips.

“U-um, Oz-san. It’s better not to talk about those things…”

“Eh, why? I don’t particularly mind.”

Mize looked at me with a complicated expression on her face.

I silently shrug my shoulders. It’s futile to expect Oz to have any kind of common sense.

After watching Oz head to the toilets, Mize and I resume collecting medicinal herbs.

The medicinal herbs specified in the request are probably food for the Demonic Beasts that inhabit the Labyrinth; they were growing everywhere. However, in order to avoid confronting the Demonic Beasts, it is necessary to pay attention to the neighbouring area. We can’t just freely gather them wherever they’re found.

We place a large number of medicinal herbs in the basket provided by the Guild.

At that time, the [Communication Paper] notified me of an incoming transmission.

“Mize, is it fine for you to collect from the neighbouring area? I’ll search elsewhere.”

“I understand.”

After notifying Mize, I leave the place for a bit and activate my [Communication Paper].

“Oz, what’s the matter?”

“Hmm, well, no enemies have come here so far…hmm, I’m not sure if it’s necessary for me to say this after contacting you, but…”

“…Just in case, I’ll listen to it.”

I prompt Oz, who raises a troubled voice, to continue.

“About that, some people wearing the same uniform as Elysia seem to have lost their way and are at a loss on how to proceed.”

“The same uniform as Elysia…do you mean white school uniforms?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

So, they’re students of the Hero Course.

“They look kinda weak, and if we just leave them like this, the Demonic Beasts nearby will attack them and wipe them out…what should I do about it? It’s not related to the mission though…”

“That’s true…”

This could become troublesome. I’ll have to think for a bit.

“Could that possibly be a [Communication Paper]?”

As I was worrying about what to respond to Oz, Mize’s voice approaches me from behind.

Mize’s attention is turned to the [Communication Paper] I’m holding.

This device itself can be found on the market, so there’s no need to hide it.

“Do you know about it?”

“Yes, it’s a kind of magical tool! It’s used to keep in touch with other people from far away!”

Mize looked at the [Communication Paper] with eyes filled with curiosity, as it seemed that she also had an interest in magical tools.

As expected, I can’t lend it to her right now– but there is something I would like to discuss with her.

“I’ve just been contacted by Oz…and it seems like there are some students from the Hero Course who are stranded.”

Perhaps she sensed the severity of the situation, as Mize had a serious face.

“There also seem to be some dangerous Demonic Beasts nearby. This has nothing to do with the commission, so Mize–”

“– Let’s help them.”

Mize says decisively.

“If I don’t do anything to help them here, I’m sure that I will come to regret it.”

As she said this, her eyes did not waver in the least.

In school, we students of the Common Course often receive harassment from the students of the Hero Course. But despite that, she chose to help them without any hesitation.

That strength should be respected.

As is befitting of a princess, her bearing was both lenient and filled with majesty.

“Understood. Let’s head there now.”