Chapter 38

Lying on the provided bed, I was staring blankly at the ceiling, losing track of time.

It was really nice to have this time, as I hadn't had a chance to organize my thoughts due to the storm of events that had rushed in.

As my back started to hurt from lying down for too long, I raised my upper body and looked at the table.

Ria was moving back and forth near the window, as if trying to let the dandelion given by the Gardener photosynthesize, following the direction where light and heat from the hearth concentrated.

Each time, the dandelion seemed to shine brighter as if the light was actually gathering on it.

It also gave me a feeling that it was moving strangely at those times.

Curious about what it was, I asked the Gardener, but she just said things like "It wouldn't be fun if you knew already. Just wait and see," which gave me a headache.

For now, recalling the Gardener's words that it would be helpful when dealing with Outer Gods, this must be a great help in persuading Outer Gods.

I'm not sure how it will work, though.

Well, whatever.

It's not that difficult to water it every morning, and even one yellow flower in a dull room makes the atmosphere brighter, at least for me.

At that moment, I heard someone knocking on my door.

"Oh, the sunlight session is over. Ria, come back now."

Ria quickly returned to my pocket, carrying the flowerpot.

I've been thinking this since before, but seeing her go in with the flowerpot, this really doesn't seem like just a pocket.

"Is no one inside?"

"Yes, I'm here."

"Branch Manager, Black Lion here. Tanton."

Why is the Branch Manager here suddenly?

I quickly got up and opened the door.

"Branch Manager."

"Yes, sorry to disturb your rest."

"Not at all. What brings you here...?"

Seeing the Branch Manager with a somewhat troubled expression made me feel more anxious.

Why, what's going on?

"Tomorrow morning, you need to visit the hearth."

"The hearth? Did the Vice Captain call for me?"

"No, no."

The Branch Manager smiled as if my reaction was natural and shook his head.

Not the Vice Captain?

Then did the Knight Commander call for me?

While I was thinking various things, the moment I heard the Branch Manager's words, I felt like the world was moving slowly.

"It seems you need to have an audience with the Imperial Princess."

...What?

The Imperial Princess?

***

So, as soon as dawn broke, I came to the hearth, and following Alpha and Beta's guidance, I prepared to climb to the top of the hearth.

"Please wear this armor when climbing to the top of the hearth."

"The place where the Imperial Princess is is very hot. Without learning purification, it won't end with just full-body burns."

I ended up wearing a rabbit doll mask.

I thought it would be uncomfortable, but.

It's somehow comfortable?

So we started climbing the tower of firewood.

"But you two seem fine."

I looked at Alpha and Beta.

They weren't wearing any equipment like me, but they didn't seem hot at all.

"This too is a blessing of the hearth. It's not bad to learn purification as a knight."

"It's cozy... even on cold days."

I see.

This explained why the Holy Knight route was most recommended in the community.

So we reached the top of the firewood, the center of the hearth.

This was also the place shown in the trailer when starting the game.

I think the narration then said, "Fire warmed humans, and the hearth brought people together."

"Please enter without tension."

"The Imperial Princess is looking forward to it."

Does this mean that when I open this door in front of me, I can meet the Imperial Princess right away?

Why did it suddenly become this situation?

Of course, I knew that the Imperial Princess had been keeping a close eye on the criminal trio including me.

After all, it was the existence called the Imperial Princess who laid the foundation for me to enter the Knight Order in the first place.

I thought she might have called me this time to talk about my achievements.

But even the Vice Captain, who was considered the head of the Knight Order when the Knight Commander was absent, didn't go for a direct audience.

What wind blew to make her call someone directly?

I looked at the door engraved with complex patterns.

I felt like my body might roast in the hearth's heat if I just stayed still, so I approached the door to knock.

Then the door opened and Alpha and Beta pushed me in.

"Why are you dawdling so much?"

"Please enter."

"Whoa!"

My balance was disrupted and my body entered the Imperial Princess's room on its own.

Those guys.

They're waving their hands as if to say "Have a good time," not knowing how I feel.

After a moment of annoyance, I quickly changed my disheveled posture to a disciplined one, realizing again that this was the Imperial Princess's room.

Looking around, as expected of the top floor, I could see the sky from the hearth.

Above it, scattered ashes and the large fire producing them.

There was a sense of grandeur, as if the blizzard and the hearth's flames were fighting each other.

I thought it was beautiful even from afar, but seeing this phenomenon up close made me feel like I was looking at a work of art.

As I was looking around to see where the Imperial Princess was.

"Guest?"

A warm voice that wrapped around my ears came from inside.

It was a voice that made me think it would be inclusive, fitting the title of 'benevolent Imperial Princess'.

However, that voice couldn't be heard from anywhere in this open space.

"Ah, it was you, Tanton. Welcome."

The direction the voice was coming from was where the flames were rising.

It was a voice coming from inside the fire.

I immediately turned my head towards the hearth, and my mouth opened involuntarily as soon as I faced the person called the Imperial Princess.

"...Are you the Imperial Princess?"

"Yes, that's right. Are you a bit surprised? I'm sorry. I apologize for facing you in such an unsightly form."

That wasn't the part I was surprised about.

Hair as fine as if woven from silk.

Small but well-arranged features like a doll.

And an artistic figure and curves reminiscent of a statue.

I could see it all.

The Imperial Princess's appearance was practically naked, as if completely burned by the hearth's flames.

"This hearth operates by burning me, so this appearance... Oh, why are you like that?"

After briefly admiring that sight, I belatedly returned to reality and immediately knelt down, lowering my head.

"I am in the presence of the Imperial Princess."

I tried to hide my emotions, but my already reddened cheeks betrayed me.

No, the highest authority in this city welcomes me naked?

That can't be right.

"I'm not sure what etiquette this is, but please raise your head."

Raise my head!

Seeing that shameless appearance, this was clearly a ploy of the mode.

I focused on looking at the Imperial Princess's face, not her body.

From the shoulders to the head, the upper body.

Quietly facing her, she was an impressive person with a flawless, beautiful appearance.

It might be a bit inappropriate to compare with the Outer Gods forcibly changed by the mode, but she was comparable to those who had been artificially changed to the most ideal appearance.

However, there was one part that caught my eye.

A heart-shaped pattern near the center of her collarbone.

It was too close to her body to be an ornament, so I thought it might be pierced with something like a piercing.

Damn, my gaze keeps going down to her chest.

"...Ahem."

As I was staring intently at the heart pattern without realizing it, I heard the Imperial Princess's embarrassed voice.

This is bad.

Did I look too openly?

"I-I'm sorry!"

"No! That's not it..."

The Imperial Princess spoke in a flustered voice, waving both hands frantically.

Then she mumbled hesitantly.

"...It's a bit creepy looking, isn't it? I thought about it several times when calling you, whether it would be okay. So don't mind it. It's a natural reaction..."

Is the "creepy looking" thing the Imperial Princess is talking about referring to that heart pattern?

Why is that creepy?

Could that also be an object related to Outer Gods censored by the mode?

If it's related to Outer Gods, it's a bit strange to call it a creepy appearance.

"No, I think it's a beautiful pattern."

So I gave my honest impression.

It seemed better for changing the atmosphere than awkwardly saying "Y-yes..." or something like that.

At my words, the Imperial Princess's eyes widened briefly in surprise, but soon she smiled warmly and said:

"Thank you for saying so, Tanton."

No, it's true.

No matter how much I insisted, since I didn't know the true appearance of that heart, it seemed pointless to say more.

The Imperial Princess picked up clothes placed right in front of the hearth, turned around to change, and then offered me a chair.

I sat down in the relaxed atmosphere created by my words, and the Imperial Princess also sat down in front of me, resting her chin on her arms on the table, and began to tell me what she wanted to convey.

"I heard the Vice Captain's report. You defeated the Observer, and on your way back, not only did you defeat Candles, but you also rescued the Knight Commander."

"...Well, if you put it that way, I guess that's true."

In a way it's true, but why does it feel like the facts are distorted when put like that?

This is why exaggeration is scary.

As I was trying my best to control my twitching lips, the Imperial Princess smiled mischievously and said:

"And although it wasn't in the Vice Captain's report, I could sense one of your achievements."

"W-what is that?"

"The defeat of another Greater Outer God."

The moment I heard those words, it felt like my brain activity stopped.

How does the Imperial Princess know that?

It didn't even happen in Rondan?

But the Imperial Princess calmly recited the evidence.

"I can sense the locations of Outer Gods. The might to defeat the Observer, the sudden disappearance of a Greater Outer God class being, and your return. Isn't that reason enough?"

Is it because she's at the pinnacle of protecting Rondan?

Her sharpness and sensing ability were unparalleled.

As I stared blankly at the Imperial Princess, she smiled with her eyes and said:

"Seeing your blank expression, I guess I'm right?"

"...I have nothing to say."

"Why were you hiding it?"

Why was I hiding it, she asks.

There's no way to prove it.

You might say I could use the Knight Commander as a witness, but a woman who can't even remember what food she just ate is hardly going to testify.

"It's strange. Usually, when something like this happens, it's human nature to boast about it."

The Imperial Princess made a puzzled expression and then smiled again, saying:

"But now you can't hide it anymore. I've found you out, haven't I?"

Since I didn't hide it because I wanted to, I just scratched the back of my head awkwardly.

"Let's stop joking around. The reason I called you like this is because I have one favor to ask..."

I wonder what on earth she called me for.

I focused to listen seriously to her words.

"Actually, I'm a half-breed between an Outer God and a human."

Um... what?

I was momentarily surprised by the Imperial Princess's sudden bombshell statement.

Sensing something ominous, I raised my head and saw the Imperial Princess's reddened cheeks and slightly nervous eyes.

No way...

Only then did I recall 'Laydan Tanton's' crime.