Chapter 65

"Shina-sama..."

While enjoying the afternoon tea, Barry came over looking rather unsteady.

"Barry, what's wrong?"

"Sorry, Shina-sama. Can I get down from Jin-sama's lap and stop the feeding? I don't have the mental strength to see the two of you being so lovey-dovey right now..."

He said it with a face that looked like he was about to die. I want to get down from the lap too, you know.

"No way. I won't allow anyone to disturb my blissful moments."

The overly serious and desperate chubby lion wrapped his arms tightly around my body and growled menacingly. There's no way.

"Gah! This no-good owner. I wish Shina-sama would get tired of you and dump you."

"If Shina-chan gets tired of me, I'll die."

"Okay, okay. Try to stay strong, Jin. Barry seems to have something important to talk about, so let me down for a bit."

I pinched both of his cheeks, and Jin's eyes drooped, but he smiled and let me down.

"Ugh! This no-good owner. After stabbing my heart, you rub salt in the wound."

Barry was muttering something. Just get to the point.

When I glared at him with a sidelong glance, Barry turned to face me and looked me straight in the eye.

"Actually, I just had a sparring session with Kiri."

"Hmm?"

"We both didn't use our bracelets, and Kiri didn't use the fire sword, just a blunted sword..."

"Who won?"

At Jin's question, Barry's shoulders slumped.

"Kiri won, didn't he?"

From Barry's reaction, I could tell.

"Why is he so strong... I couldn't even stand up to him."

"Kiri is strong, indeed."

While I'm stronger overall, including magic, in terms of sword skills, Kiri is exceptionally strong.

"I was surprised by the measurements at the Adventurer's Guild, but after seeing Kiri's performance in Kailart, I thought it would be impossible to beat him..."

"I doubt I could stand up to him either."

"Hmm? I think you could give Kiri a good match. However, Kiri has a lot of practical combat experience, which might be the difference."

"Practical combat... That makes sense. If he was part of the Glass Forest extermination team, then..."

Barry sighed. Oh, he's misunderstanding.

"Ah, well, in the Glass Forest extermination team, Kiri wasn't often on the front lines."

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Kiri was my maid and bodyguard. I specialized in healing, so I was usually at the back of the team. Occasionally, Kiri would hunt monsters that slipped through. Back then, Kiri could use fire magic, but wasn't that strong. If Kiri had fought a squad leader, I think Kiri would have lost."

"Huh?"

Barry's eyes widened. I don't know if Kiri is on the same level as a squad leader from Marita Kingdom and Daido Kingdom, but at least in Marita Kingdom, Barry wouldn't lose to a squad leader. It's surprising, right?

"Kiri became strong because I was kicked out of the Glass Forest extermination team and Kiri followed me. With monsters all around, we had to hunt together. Kiri had the bracelet and the fire sword, so Kiri could hunt almost anything except for monsters with bad fire resistance. Kiri's level rose rapidly. Ahaha, Kiri even realized how delicious monster meat was and started thinking it would be a waste not to hunt."

As I spoke, Barry's expression became more and more skeptical.

"So, how long were you in the Glass Forest?"

"Um, um, um, about half a season?"

"Half a season!? What? It shouldn't take that long to get through the forest from the Glass Forest extermination team's base, right? Even for Shina-sama and Kiri!? Even if you consider hunting monsters, it should take about 10 days, right!?"

"The monsters were strong, so it took a while."

I looked away, and Barry glared at me.

"Shina-sama? If you don't confess, I won't help with the milk contract work."

"I got a bit carried away with hunting and took a longer route to the road! It was fun to explore new paths! We even made new forest trails! That's how Kiri became incredibly strong!"

"This no-good owner!"

Oh, Barry is crying. Sorry, half the reason Kiri is strong is because of me. The other half is because Kiri enjoyed hunting.

"But why are you so disappointed about losing to Kiri? It's not like you're weak, right? There's no problem, is there?"

"There's no way Kiri would like a man weaker than herself, right?"

Barry exuded a gloomy atmosphere. It's annoying.

"Did Kiri say that? That she only likes people stronger than herself?"

"No, she didn't say it... But usually, women don't like men weaker than themselves, right?"

"Not really. Strength isn't that important when it comes to liking someone."

I tilted my head. Why do guys focus so much on strength?

"Barry, you can't beat Kiri in sword skills, but you have many other strengths. You're good with laws, numbers, and can read the future. Kiri said she respects you and enjoys working with you."

Barry's face turned bright red.

"R-Really? Kiri said that?"

Barry tried to hide his blush and smile, but it looked awkward. I realized (rudely) that he's quite innocent.

"Also, I think Kiri dislikes men who are obsessed with strength. There were a lot of idiots who tried to seduce me by saying, 'I'm strong, so I'm cool,' and some even tried to force themselves on me."

"Huh?"

Barry's voice dropped an octave. His red face returned to its normal color, and his eyes hardened. Oh no!

"Shina-sama, can you tell me the names and characteristics of those idiots?"

Scary! Really scary!

The air around us felt like it was freezing, and I instinctively clung to Jin.

"Jin-sama, can you approve a business trip to Daido Kingdom?"

"Hey, calm down, Barry. Shina-chan is scared."

Jin hugged me while trying to calm Barry. Yes, stop it! Jin! It could become an international issue!

"I'll take them all down, including those who oppressed Shina-sama."

"I'll approve it."

I couldn't believe Jin's immediate response.

Baka! Jin is a baka! Why did you approve it?

"No, no, Jin! Don't send Barry to Daido Kingdom!"

"It's fine! Barry can easily collapse that country from the inside in less than a season. He won't leave any evidence."

Jin's eyes are also hard. Let's calm down?

Barry, don't nod with a smile. Why are you smiling?

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Jin signaled the attendant to open it.

"Excuse me, Shina-sama. I apologize for leaving your side."

Kiri, dressed in a maid's uniform, came in looking apologetic. She smelled faintly of soap. Did she take a bath after sparring with Barry? She didn't have to rush.

Kiri noticed Barry and bowed slightly. Her lips were slightly curved.

"Kiri! It's a big deal! Barry might have to go on a business trip again!"

At my exaggerated words, Kiri was genuinely surprised and visibly deflated.

"Is that so... I had many things I wanted to learn from Barry-sama, but there's nothing I can do if it's work. I'll learn from other officials. I'll be lonely again..."

"No, it's fine! The work is gone, and I won't go anywhere! I won't make Kiri feel lonely! Besides, if you have any questions, ask me, not other officials! I'll always make time for you!"

As Barry ran to Kiri, I could see hearts flying around in the background. Kiri smiled, looking relieved.

"What, Barry, you're not going?"

Jin, looking dissatisfied. Stop it, don't bring it up again!

"Jin-sama. Since Barry has decided not to go, you shouldn't do anything unnecessary."

"Those who made Shina-chan suffer should receive appropriate punishment."

What kind of demon king is this? Really.

"Jin-sama. I don't like it. I'm already busy and can't spend much time with you. If you add more work, we'll see each other even less. I'll be lonely."

We eat every meal together, so we spend plenty of time together, but here, a lie is a useful tool.

But will such an obvious lie work? Surely Jin won't fall for it?

"Alright, I'll stop. I don't want Shina-chan to be lonely."

Yay, he fell for it. I'm not happy. Jin is too easy to manipulate.

Jin hugged me tightly and whispered, "So, Shina-chan is lonely. I'll try to make more time for you." I stroked his hair and relaxed, feeling relieved.

Being enveloped in Jin's warmth makes me feel happy and safe, but that's a secret. It would be annoying if he knew.

◇◇◇

"Hey, Barry."

The moment Shina-chan and Kiri left the room for their etiquette lesson, I called out to Barry.

"We already have agents in Daido Kingdom."

"Make sure Shina-chan doesn't catch on?"

"Yes. However, I think it's only a matter of time before we need to intervene... There are already reports of victims in the local cities and villages of Daido Kingdom. The capital seems to be safe for now, but it's only a matter of time before they seek help from other countries."

"Victims among the people..."

I frowned. Even if it's another country, it's unpleasant to see the powerless suffer first.

"When the request for help comes, my army will respond. One of the other armies will be led by Alain or Lute..."

"Prince Said will probably want to go too. The one spot besides Jin-sama will be a hotly contested position."

"Why?"

At Barry's words, I tilted my head. Responding to a monster extermination request is a given, but I didn't think it would be so popular.

"The fire sword and the wind sword. The king is cautious about the power balance with other countries, so he's being careful about making magic swords. Without Shina-sama's request and the king's permission, they can't be made. If we respond to Daido Kingdom's request for help and go to fight monsters, there's a high chance the king will grant permission to make magic swords."

"Ah, I see..."

I remember my brothers constantly envying my sword, saying how great it was. Shina-chan's swords are amazing! When infused with magic, the blade is wrapped in wind magic, and the attack power skyrockets. The more you use it, the more the sword adapts to your magic, making it even more responsive and feeling like an extension of yourself.

Kiri didn't want to remake the fire sword for this reason. The fire sword is a modified cheap issued sword, and Shina-chan wants to remake it, but once the magic is so deeply ingrained, it's hard to let go.

If it becomes known that Shina-chan can make magic swords, her value will skyrocket. The shameless Daido Kingdom will likely try to get her back.

"I want one too, that sword. If it were me, I'd want a water sword, no, an ice sword."

Barry looked at my sword with dreamy eyes. No way, it's my sword.

Noticing my glare, Barry cleared his throat.

"Anyway, we are urgently preparing to respond to the request for help."

"Understood. Keep an eye on that country. If they try to harm Shina-chan again..."

"Hehe. We'll crush the entire country."

"That would be cleaner."

If Shina-chan saw us laughing menacingly, what would she think? But I'm willing to do anything to protect her.