CH 40

“Principality… I haven’t been there in a long time.”

“Really? I mean, this is my first time going there.”

“I can’t believe I get to travel with Maria-sama like this!”

“Don’t get too excited, alright?”

Hearing his classmates’ voices from far away, Kanata crossed his arms. He muttered in his mind that they were too noisy.

The other day, Maria suddenly, but unexpectedly, asked if he would like to come with her to the Principality, to which Kanata nodded readily.

The Principality of Xandard is a technologically advanced country in the field of magic engineering. He wanted to find something useful when streaming and the experience of visiting a country he had never been to before.

“I don’t know if it’s too much fun, but… it’s basically like a trip for the rest of the class.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. You’ll know it when we get there.”

“… I guess so.”

This time, it’s just a regular diplomatic meeting led by Maria, but there is also the aspect of gaining various experiences by visiting other countries.

Only a few of the students got selected to go on this trip. Some got recommended by their teachers, and others were approached personally by Maria, including Kanata.

“… Um.”

“Is something wrong?”

At that moment, Maria’s face fell somewhat apologetically.

When Kanata asked what was wrong, Maria spoke up in a small voice.

“You always do your stream at night, don’t you, Kanata-kun? Even though you have your terminal, I think there might be some awkward or inconvenient moments in the Principality. So, you need to be careful.”

“Oh, that’s what you meant.”

A change in environment from the usual will probably impact his stream.

Well, he couldn’t promise the same kind of content as always, but he had already told his followers that he could be absent for a few days, so it’s not something Maria has to worry about.

“Don’t worry about it. To be honest, I was thinking of taking a break once in a while since I have been streaming for so long.”

“… Is this true?”

“Yeah.”

Even so, Maria still seems not quite convinced.

Kanata wished she would not worry about it. If it bothered him, he would not have accepted her invitation.

As he said, he’s not going to let this opportunity to go to a country he might not visit again go to waste. It’s a great opportunity for him.

“Thank you, Maria, for giving me the opportunity to go to the Principality.”

“Uh…”

“Kukuh, don’t make that face. You’re a princess. Be confident and say— act like my servant.”

“You know I can’t say that!”

Finally, Maria’s voice became louder as she regained her composure.

Kanata chuckled at the sight and looked out the window again.

“… Quite a comfortable sky journey, huh.”

He thought they were travelling by carriage or something, but they were flying by using summon magic to summon wyverns.

They were all carried by five wyverns.

It’s hard to describe the feeling, but in Kanata’s memory, it’s similar to being carried by a bus-like vehicle.

“… Thank you too, Kanata-kun.”

“Huh?”

As he was looking out the window, Maria muttered.

“In truth, the reason I invited you is that I personally wanted to.”

“…”

Kanata’s heart raced, trying to act like it was no big deal.

He turned his gaze towards Maria while trying to hide his feelings, to her staring at him intently.

“Ever since I got to know you and after spending time with Alphana, your presence in my mind has grown a lot. Maybe it’s because I hear your voice in the form of the podcast, but it feels more familiar.”

“… Ou.”

“Everyone treats me as a princess, but you’re different. When I told you I didn’t want polite words, you did so, and you always correct me when I’m wrong, just like you do with Alphana.”

“… Ah.”

Kanata realized he was not being too reserved with her or with Alphana. He treated them as close friends, which is unusual for someone of their status.

“It’s really refreshing, you see. I think this is what it feels like to have an equal friendship.”

“I see… Yeah.”

“I’m really happy to be in a place where I have Kanata-kun, Alphana, and now I’m even in a place where I can support… Haishin-sama.”

“…”

Maria spoke directly, with honesty.

Compared to Alphana, Maria is strong-willed and can be impulsive, but hearing her say that she’s happy because of their presence also makes Kanata happy.

“So I’d like to continue to help you. How about that?”

“As much as I appreciate it, Maria’s got a lot going on as a princess, don’t you?”

“Un~”

Maria put her hand on her chin and thought, then continued as if it were a matter of course.

“I don’t think there’s anything more important than you, Kanata-kun. And… Everyone in my family knows I’m putting my all into supporting Haishin-sama.”

“… Oh, that’s what you meant.”

It was embarrassing, but Kanata, who had once met the king and queen as Haishin, was very much convinced by those words.

“… Is that good enough for you?”

“Yes. I think it’s good… Haha, more than good it’s the best for me. After all, I want to be someone who can help you.”

Kanata nodded, feeling slightly pressured.

Maria, who had raised the tension to a cackling level, giggled even more and closed the distance to Kanata, who sat next to her.

Shoulder to shoulder, the sweet scent emanating from Maria tickled his nostrils.

Kanata continued to think about how women could have such a sweet and good smell to ease his tension.

“And yet Alphana was disappointed.”

“That’s right.”

Regarding this matter, Alphana wasn’t able to come along.

It’s also significant to know that this diplomatic meeting doesn’t require her as a saint, but it would be difficult to take her out even if it did.”

“I’m sorry… Then, Kanata-sama!”

… This is something Maria doesn’t know, but in order to make up for the loneliness, he got asked to leave some words directed towards Alphana, so he used the recording function of the terminal to do so.

“…”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing…”

Kanata was slightly regretting it now that he had uttered such embarrassing lines meant only for Alphana, unlike the one he was trying to produce as a members-only item.

After that, the journey through the sky ended as he conversed with the students who had accompanied him, including Maria.

While travelling on the ground in a carriage takes much longer, the advantage of flying is still its speed.

“… This is it.”

“Yes, this is the capital of Xandard.”

Thus, they arrived at the country of Xandard, known for its advanced magical technology.

Unlike the capital city, which gives off a slightly old-fashioned image, the streets give off a somewhat modern impression, and not just Kanata but others were also amazed by this.

Soon after, they were greeted by a girl who had brought guards along,

“Good day, everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Princess Maria.”

“Long time no see, Athena… Well, why don’t we just go on as usual?”

“You’re right. Let’s do that?”

The girl, seemingly an acquaintance of Maria, took out a fan from her pocket and opened it with a sound.

“My name is Athena Fartoa, the Duke’s daughter. Pleased to make you my acquaintance.”

The words used to describe people of high status in the Kingdom, Empire, and Principality are not likely to vary too much. Unfortunately, Kanata did not have much knowledge in such areas.

However, he understands that a Duke is quite… No, the highest-ranking nobility among the nobility.

“…”

Aside from Maria, Kanata and the others just bowed their heads quietly.

Athena chuckled softly, apparently thinking this might have led to unnecessary reticence.

“Please don’t feel too nervous. My position here is certainly significant, but I don’t intend to make you, who have come from the Kingdom, worry about it.”

Someone exhaled in relief at her words.

Well. There probably won’t be any unfair treatment, and most importantly, there is a feeling of safety when Maria is by their side.

“… Athena, is that…”

“Eh? Ah, this?”

It was then that Maria noticed something.

Athena smiled as she traced the object attached to Maria’s gaze, the tip of her finger.

“It’s Master Haishin’s badge! You sent your servants to buy it!”

“…”

Kanata had a distant look on his face.

However, Kanata did not anticipate this at all.

He never imagined that he would make friends of the same s*x here, away from his country.