Kyou kara Ma no Tsuku Jiyuugyou!

After finding out the reason behind the patrolmen’s quick departure, Lord von Christ starts wailing out loud. He bites a corner of his silk handkerchief, tears pouring from his violet eyes.

“I never imagined that even Your Majesty would misunderstand me, this is like the end of the world to me”--

“Aww, don’t be so upset, Günter, I didn’t misunderstand you. Alright, wipe your nose. So what’s wrong with people finding out you like musclemen? Like me, I respect musclemen, I train every day hoping I can gain more muscle. Ahh, okay, okay, wipe your tears.”

“Your Majesty? Bodybuilding?”

He pauses, possibly imagining my face on Adalbert’s body.

“P-please, reconsider. Your Majesty is perfect enough as you are---”

To a growing teenage boy, that’s a very rude thing to say. Besides, I plan on growing taller, and gaining 30 per cent in weight. Chest hair is in the to-do list too. In other words, I want to look manlier.

Anyway, all these random topics conveniently makes Günter forget to ask me about the reason we stowed away. I never knew luck like this existed in the world.

Zeta and Zuusha are moved to the Special Amba.s.sador’s room, Dakaskos and Sizemore tasked with looking after them. Because we’re almost at Shou s.h.i.+maron, and once we land, Günter, Wolfram and I will have to leave ‘Friends on the Sea’. Although I really want to go save Jason and Freddy, we still have to complete our main objective here first. After all, we’re here to determine the truth behind the rumors about Shou s.h.i.+maron’s urgent diplomatic plans, and if it turns out to be true, we have to stop it. That’s the real reason we crossed the sea from the s.h.i.+n Makoku in the first place.

We also got new information from the blood letter. Although even the most knowledgeable of us all, Lord von Christ can’t interpret the Seisakoku language either, but the letter was written in the common language at a kindergartener’s level. Once we read it calmly, with a clear head, there should be plenty more hidden clues.

“Right here. Vene… It’s not easy, but I think it’s Venera. Since our language has no such verb, it should be a noun? If not a place then a person. So, the word ‘save’ does not refer to the senders of the letter, but this ‘Venera’ place or person. As for the twins who are causing Your Majesty’s low mood, perhaps they have something they are more worried for than their own lives.”

Although it’s only a temporary rea.s.surance, Günter’s words do put my heart slightly at ease. At least this proves that they’re still in a position to be worrying about others.

“They probably want to save a place or city called Venera, right? If it’s a drought or lack of food, we can still offer some aid. If it’s an unknown plague, however…”

We try asking Zeta and Zisha what Venera is, but unfortunately we can’t communicate, as expected. I even try using clumsy hand movements and ugly drawings to get the point across, but all that happens is that they get scared of me. Forget me, even Wolfram the artist loses his self-confidence, hugging his knees at the side and sulking.

“This messed-up looking puzzle should be ‘hope’, right? Mm… but what’s supposed to be on the left is on the right, and there’s even a stick in between. As education minister, it’s really hard to allow situations such as this.”

“Probably because they’re not in the habit of writing letters!”

If it was half a year ago, the one surprised would be me, instead of Günter.

Having lived in j.a.pan for 16 years, I would never have imagined that there were people who didn’t know how to write. To us, we have to learn not only hiragana and katakana, but also kanji and the English alphabet, even some simple English. It’s normal for us to be able to greet people or name dishes in several languages. But there are still people on this world who don’t have the chance to learn languages, or are even forbidden to do so. The letter in my hands is the best example of this.

How have Jason and Freddy survived until now? What kind of life are they living now? All these are unknown to me. The only think I can be certain of, is that they are seeking help from the mazoku.

I don’t want to betray them, and I don’t want to break our promise.

After meeting the ruler or party in charge of Shou s.h.i.+maron, let’s see the situation and make contact with Seisakoku. Not only can we use this chance to search for the twins’ whereabouts, we can also gather information on the place called Venera.

By the time we reach the continent under Dai and Shou s.h.i.+maron jurisdiction, six nights have pa.s.sed.

The last time I set foot on this land, it was purely due to coincidence, but this time it’s different. This time I’m here of my own free will, even resorting to stowing away to get here.

Last time, our point of departure was the Gilbert Business Port then we crossed Caloria, heading north following the Longerbal river. But this time, we’re here as the Special Amba.s.sador from the s.h.i.+n Makoku, so we are directly led into Saralegui Memorial War Port.

Since we had informed them of our arrival earlier with the ‘Red Pigeon New Satellite Communications’, the local government has already agreed to let us land. The ‘Red Pigeon New Satellite Communications’ is three times faster than normal pigeon mail, but they still tend to forget their special position and mix in with other groups, causing slight accident, and to the birds, that isn’t a mistake of the youth. To the customers, although it can be inconvenient to use, they have no other choice if they want the extra speed, what a dilemma!

Thankfully, the red pigeon arrived at its destination safely, and so ‘Friends on the Sea’ successfully enters the port. This place is completely different from the Gilbert Business Port, there aren’t any luxurious s.h.i.+ps in sight. All the large vessels docked inside, are armored wars.h.i.+ps.

Saralegui Memorial War Port.

That name is familiar to me. That’s the name of the original cropped-ponytail Nigel Weiss ‘Will Never Die’ Maxine’s most respected liege. Who’d have thought he even put his own name on the facilities? Normally, monarchs don’t tend to do stuff like that while they’re still alive. If I don’t have much confidence in my own accomplishments, I really wouldn’t dare to have my name on anything. Such as the s.h.i.+buya Yuuri Memorial Sports Centre, or the s.h.i.+buya Yuuri Baseball Musuem, etc.

It feels even more awkward.

Writing your name on everything, just like a kindergartener would. (He doesn"t know him yet and he understands him very well)

“What’s the matter, Yuuri? Shaking with excitement at the thought of facing the enemy? No wonder, Shou s.h.i.+maron caused us mazoku a lot of trouble in that war twenty years ago, didn’t they? Just thinking about it makes even my veins expand with adrenaline. This time, we’ll definitely decide who’s the male and female!”

Wolfram spiritedly says the lines you’d say when you’re being pulled into Miss Anissina’s next experiment, while the ‘Special Amba.s.sador of the s.h.i.+n Makoku with Full Authority under Orders of the Maou’, Lord von Christ reminds him,

“What are you saying, Wolfram? You should be on the s.h.i.+p now, you’re only here as His Majesty’s bodyguard since security in the capital is meager. Therefore, I hope you don’t say or do anything rash, lest you get in our way. Please, carve that into your mind.”

His Highness the Prince LEVEL-1 immediately pouts angrily.

Of course, we can’t let Shou s.h.i.+maron know that the Maou is in this little visiting group. Although the war ended nearly 20 years ago, our relations.h.i.+p is still very tense. If the opposition’s king boldly waltzes onto their land without any prior notice, forget angering all the people of the country, the worst case scenario is that they might use lowly methods to kidnap said monarch, using him as a condition to threaten the s.h.i.+n Makoku… that’s what smart Günter said.

I think he’s worrying over nothing, though.

“Your Majesty mustn’t let your guard down too much. Once we enter Saralegui City, you won’t be able to have servants by your side as you usually do, Your Majesty must pay attention to this. For your safety, there is still the need to disguise your true ident.i.ty. Therefore…”

We are given the t.i.tle of the Special Amba.s.sador’s personal chefs. Although it’s a lot higher level than a dishwasher boy, we’re still wearing the kitchen apprentice’s uniform. Since it’s a blue collar uniform, logically speaking, the other kings shouldn’t want to meet me.

“Aah~ You look exceptional in these clothes, Your Majesty! The pure white top brings out your n.o.ble aura, the ap.r.o.n covered in oil stains expresses your liberal nature, full of natural humor. In the past Your Majesty wore mainly black, I never thought that white would also suit your black hair--”

“The way I see it, as long as I’m not completely naked, you’ll praise whatever I wear anyway.”

“If Your Majesty so wishes, I am also willing to praised your naked—Mm-kya!”

“More like that’s your wish, isn’t it?”

Wolfram gives the perverted-looking Günter a hard kick from behind. The blonde-haired green-eyed pretty boy’s white clothes are completely different from the weird no-nationality cook’s get-up I’m in, he’s much cuter in comparison. On the tip of that white chef’s hat of his, I can almost imagine a tiny bird about to take flight, singing a crooked song.

Having transformed ourselves, the three of us get onto a high-speed horse carriage prepared by said country in the Saralegui Port. The odor of hairb.a.l.l.s make me peek outside, finally realizing that the carriage is being towed by a few dozen sheeps. Can you even call this a horse carriage?

On horseback all around us, is the men from the Shou s.h.i.+maron Royal Secret Service. Can you even call this a secret?

And then the one in charge of leading the way today, is the little bit amongst the forest of green, the Royal Bison Squad. Are we running a marathon here?

“Bison… White bison… Otherwise known as the ‘s.h.i.+ro-Bai’[1]… Mm--”

The land route from the war port to the capital Saralegui takes twenty days’ time. Even if the high speed horse carriage goes non-stop at full speed, the most we can shave off is half that time. During the day we speed down the highways, and in the night we stop by a hotel by the roadside to rest. The good thing, though, is that the hotels are really cla.s.sy, just like the ones you’d see on a travel show.

All the misery from before feels like a dream now, this really is an elegant and praiseworthy journey of luxury.

Soaking in the hotel’s famous health hot springs, there really is a ‘We[2] are Satisfied’ atmosphere around, and I even start humming to myself subconsciously.

“Mm—This really is heaven on earth. If I knew it’d be so comfortable, I should go travelling with Günter from now on--”

“Your Majesty said such kind words… Oh, yeah—Günter is over the moon… Oh, ye—Mmph!”

“Hey… you okay? You’ve been puking a lot, right?”

The sad thing even Wolfram, with his powerful maryoku, has a splitting headache and horrible nausea. To Günter, whose maryoku is even more formidable, the airsickness bag seems to be an essential. Seems like it’s because this is human land, where humans wors.h.i.+p the G.o.ds, so it’s full of houryoku or something, making them highly uncomfortable in enemy territory.

As for me, having been made of Earth DNA, my skin has become smooth and supple due to the effects of the hot spring. You could say I’m in perfect condition.

Just when those two poor pure-blooded mazoku are reduced to lying still on their beds, a little spark of adventure spirit lights up in me, and I set off on a journey of discovery around the high-end hotel. I’ll say it now, this is not a perverted Peeping Tom plan, neither do I want to use this opportunity to try out the mixed bath, I just want to determine where the escape route is!

“…So why do I stumble across a big pool, now of all times?”

A wooden sign hangs above the j.a.panese-style block windows, and carved in the s.h.i.+maron unique yet illegible creative writing—

“Male and Female Mixed Bath.” [3]

I don’t feel safe enough just looking at it with my eyes, so just for precautions I touch it again with my hands. It does indeed say Mixed Bath, I definitely didn’t say it wrong. So I put my towel onto my shoulder without a second thought, and sneak from the wide open changing area to the sliding door that leads to the pool. That is the flowery world of a men and women mixed bath. Even if it’s full of those big sisters back then who later changed into big brothers, the sixteen-year-old man, s.h.i.+buya Yuuri will never regret it!

“Bath…”

White steam saturates the air, so I can’t see where the pool really is. I didn’t think that it’d be so lively this early in the morning. Add that to the echoing from the walls around us, and I can’t quite recognize what noise that is. There’s the sound of water buckets knocking against each other. I can feel someone desperately scooping water. And then there’s that signature hot spring smell, sharp yet makes one look forward to its healing properties.

“Is it full?”

“Mm-moo-hoo! Mm-moo-hoo! Moohoomoohoomoohoo--!”

…Moo-hoo?

I open my eyes as wide as I can to stare, and find that there are countless hairb.a.l.l.s floating in the middle of the huge pool.

“…Are those mineral deposits from the hot water?”

“No~ they’re not.”

There’s a woman soaking alone in between the white, beige and light-grey hairb.a.l.l.s, the water reaching her chest. Her expression is relaxed as she stretches her arms over the sides of the pool, but that shoulder-length hair with that unique color and that jazz singer’s signature husky voice are extremely familiar to me.

“No way… Why are you here?”

“Who’d have thought that we’d meet and greet in a place like this, Your Majesty? It’s been so long since we met, so why aren’t I getting a warm pa.s.sionate reunion hug?”

He is a member of the s.h.i.+n Makoku Special Forces, the cross-dressing, orange-haired, perfect body for an outfielder, the man with the thousand faces, Gurrier Josak—lips currently curved in mischievously. And when I said ‘special forces’, I don’t mean the crème de la crème kind of elite squads. In his case, his missions are all really ‘special’, so special I have no idea how to describe them.

“Welcome to the grown sheep’s nighttime social area—the Male and Female Mixed Bath!”

“Mm-moo-hoo! Moo-hoo-moo-hoo-moo-hoo--!”

“Waa--!”

Josak stretches his arms wide open to show his hearty welcome, and suddenly a sheep pokes its head out from under his armpit, mooing. Those curved horns are directed straight at me, and it even pants out a threat.

“I-it’s a sheep… Sheep bath…. This isn’t a mixed bath at all!”

“Eh? Your Majesty, haven’t you noticed yet? This really is a male and female mixed bath!”

So you mean not a men and women mixed bath, but male and female MIX? And there are attractive members of the opposite s.e.x just before you, it’s a big bath for boosting your body.

“Ah, ha, ha! What a bother—The sheeps are going into heat one after another!”

“W-why is there such a low grade hot spring—Ah! How can you mix with these beasts so casually?”

“Really! Your Majesty, you look so cute panicking over a few little lambs~ And I am a beast to begin with~”

“…Josak…”

Weren’t you a fan of mountain goats[4]?

Just thinking that this sort of person in a first grade soldier in my country, makes me want to question Lord von Voltaire about our army’s discipline. Right now, all I can do is hide my embarra.s.sment with the towel, hanging my head in silent despair. Josak on the other hand is happily waving at me, seems like as long as we don’t provoke them, the sheeps won’t simply attack.

“Aiyo, Young Master. You rarely get a chance to go into a mixed bath, so you should soak yourself up to your shoulders and warm yourself up!”

“You—Why are you in Shou s.h.i.+maron--”

“Your Majesty, that’s naturally because I’m the s.h.i.+n Makoku’s number one intel agent! Did you see my Red Pigeon message? That was about Shou s.h.i.+maron’s urgent diplomatic plans. The s.h.i.+n Makoku may be wide, but the only company who can get something so special, is none other than I, Gurrier.”

“Gurrier… Is this your new girl character? You really beat me there.”

Actually, as long as you can stand the sheep odor, this hot spring is pretty comfortable. The temperature here really is something else. And according to Josak, the sheep essence in the water can help moisturize the skin.

“Actually, I’m here to determine the credibility behind their urgent diplomatic plans, y’know!”

“I saw you enter the hotel. Your Majesty has some moves—you actually wore couple clothing with your fiancé~”

“Ow ow! Stop that, Gurrier!”

Sitting beside me, he lightly taps my side with his arm. Then he immediately returns to the professional soldier’s tone, turning the topic back to his mission. Though the walls here have the Sheepy Corporation’s ears, sheeps have no interest in mazoku matters.

“I don’t understand what you meant by ‘determine the credibility’, though, is my intel false?”

“I’m not suspecting your intel, but Miss Anissina did scoff at it.”

“Mm—So that’s it? Darn that Anini!”

Anini? The unfamiliar nickname sends a chill down my spine despite the warmth of the water. Josak tilts his clean-shaved chin, saying,

“Just because her CUP isn’t as big as mine, she’s held a grudge until now.”

“Wait a second, wait a second, just you wait a second. Miss Anissina may be small, but she still has a bust, y’know… That’s not what I meant! Yours must be 90 per cent muscle. Ah, not that either!”

“But Your Majesty, a man can easily get a C cup. Or is it because I didn’t report it personally, is that why she’s upset? Mm—but that isn’t Anini’s style. Besides, the reason I couldn’t go back is because other than the urgent diplomatic plans, I heard that there’s some internal conflict as well… What’s the matter, Your Majesty? You look so cute with your mouth hanging slightly open!”

“Ah, you called her Anini, and you said it twice.”

“Ohh~ That? Does your heart feel uncomfortable?”

“Why would it? I’m just suspicious, Josak, don’t tell me you two are secretly dating?”

“Lady von Karbelnikoff and me?”

The self-proclaimed seasoned spy, His Majesty the Maou’s 0043 throws his head back and laughs heartily. Although his nickname is like a telephone number, but not only can he crossdress, he can also run rings around men.

“You must be kidding, of course we’re not secretly dating!”

So he’s denying the ‘secretly’ part? But I don’t dare to ask him, ‘Then are you publicly dating?’ At this moment a hairball slides past my nose, turns out there’s a white and a grey compet.i.tion sheep enjoying a one night stand by the poolside.

“By the way, Young Master, there’s more to the results of the investigation. I decided that rather than sending another pigeon back home, it would be faster to report it face to face, that’s why I’m here waiting for you. Seems like His Excellency GünGünGün’s powers have dropped a lot due to his dizziness, though.”

“Mm, Günter and Wolfram have been completely defeated, looks like it’s because their maryoku is too strong.

Josak looks at me with a complicated gaze, then says,

“Never mind, one day you will naturally understand. For now, forget about those two inexperienced greenhouse mazoku. Since the situation is urgent, let me cut to the main topic… about the urgent diplomatic plans.”

“I know.”

What he means is the issue of Shou s.h.i.+maron restoring relations with Seisakoku. On one side is the human country we fought against during the Great War, and on the other is the s.h.i.+nzoku country which had been locked away for the past 2000 years. I’m not sure how s.h.i.+nzokus are different from humans, but once the two join forces, it’s no laughing matter to us mazoku.

“There are some people in Shou s.h.i.+maron against it though!”

“Well, that happens to the political state in every country, right? Fully unanimous decisions only happen in dictators.h.i.+ps!”

“But Shou s.h.i.+maron was a rather united country not too long ago. What’s really surprising is that everyone’s very supportive of His Majesty Saralegui, who ascended the throne two years ago at the tender age of 15. Con—My friend called it a leader’s charisma… He’s an expert at capturing his ministers’ hearts, and he rubs, kneads and hammers them in the palm of his hand without once letting go.”

Seems like he’s a king good at ma.s.sages, but he is also a very young king. If two years ago he was fifteen, he shouldn’t be any older than seventeen now. Ruling a country at seventeen years old, now that’s an impressive feat, not to mention the country he’s ruling is as big as this, it figures that there would be no end to his worries.

“That’s equal to someone in the second year of high school—Poor thing, working so hard at such a young age--”

Josak looks at me with a surprised gaze again. Then he clears his throat slightly and continues the topic of conversation.

“That voice of opposition is still very weak, true, but no matter how weak it is, they’re still trying hard to make their point. Wasn’t there a line, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’? And because their organization is small, it’s easy for them to adapt to situations. That’s why the government can never catch their tail, or catch and bring them all to court at once, because there’s no way of luring them out at all. They tend to hide underground and operate secretly, so the government can go ahead with their diplomatic plans. But those guys seem to be on the brink of starting their operations. That’s why I said Shou s.h.i.+maron’s current situation is rather urgent!”

“When you say ‘operation’… What kind of operation? Don’t tell me it’s a revolution to overthrow the country or an armed political uprising?”

“About that, it’s something faster… like a.s.sa.s.sinating the king…”

The gas lamp that had been dimly illuminating the pool suddenly swings a little, causing the light to dim some more. Beside me, Josak’s whole body tenses instantly, then he quickly yet quietly stands up.

“…Ah--…”

Wordlessly I tilt my head and watch closely. Because an unwelcome guest is coming towards us from that direction next to me.

Now the flame grows immediately stronger, and the pool returns to its usual brightness. Looks like it was all just a matter of the wind blowing. The culprit who brought the breeze in appears from the sliding door. The other party reveals only a pair of slender, long and beautiful legs while the upper half is wrapped in a towel, entering the bath area.

Completely unfazed, the stranger shows off fair limbs, and slowly walks through the mist towards us.

In my heart, I’ve thrown my arms up, tearfully yelling, “Mixed baths, banzai!”

“Mixed baths, ban… pff!”

Josak takes the wet towel he had just been using to cover his important powers and puts it over my head. Waa~ Don’t do that, Gurrier, it’s very… very dirty! And the warm water even got into my eyes…

The third guest with the beautiful limbs and skin, descends into the water a distance away, at the end of the giant pool. The way the tips of those toes slide into the pool first, is literally torture to a young man’s eyes, specifically one who hasn’t had any luck with women for sixteen years. Because the other is too graceful and gorgeous, I’ve completely forgotten to complain about ‘showering first before soaking’.

But we have to watch our manners in public areas, and always remember to wash yourself properly before entering a bath…

Before I can start nagging, the stranger starts making flirty movements again. Like slowly stretching to determine the temperature of the water, or sighing s.e.xily with that throat. The pale gold hair that was bundled up above the neck cascades down on both sides, landing on the surface of the water with a small noise. And that skin, so fair I can clearly see the Adam’s apple, makes me want to say, “If it’s already so soft then there’s absolutely no need to soften it some more!” Just like that, my gaze is held fast.

After humming a song in an unfamiliar note, the third guest sighs deeply, and says in a voice like a girl’s,

“This hot spring is really comfortable~”

Hm? Like, a girl? Adam’s apple? Adam’s…

“…It’s—a—guy—after-- all…”

I sag my shoulders in disappointment, while Gurrier touches my back, saying, “You still have me.” Thank goodness I didn’t nosebleed just now.

“Soaking can moisturize a person’s skin and soul. This is s.h.i.+maron’s ultimate culture, y’know. Sheep baths are especially wonderful, do you agree?”

“…Yeah.”

“Why the long face? Don’t tell me you don’t like s.h.i.+maron style hot springs?”

He c.o.c.ks his head slightly, asking me with a smile. Face to face, I notice a pair of really small gla.s.ses perched on his nose. And the lightly-colored lens is of course fogged over. Just when I’m asking ‘why do you wear gla.s.ses even in the bath?’ in my heart, perhaps he notices my confusion, and explains smilingly.

“Oh~ It’s because my eyes are sensitive to heat and light… I’m weird, huh, talking like a child even though I’m obviously no longer one.”

“Oh~ But I know an eighty-two year old guy who acts like a child.”

Problem is, I will automatically deduce that people with gla.s.ses are smart. Although if I don’t get rid of that stereotypical opinion, I’d be too mean to n.o.bita.

The weak lamplight makes his eye color indeterminable, but likewise, he probably can’t tell mine either. He uses a pretty finger to brush the hair on his face behind his ear, and though the rest of his hair had been piled atop his head, it still drops down fairly easily. Looking deeply troubled, his brow is creased as his lips curve, and he looks exactly like a graceful pedigree cat.

In other words, he’s a pretty child. Although I say child, in truth his age should be close to mine, at around 16. Looking at the way he walked on the porcelain tiles, his figure seems similar to mine too. But I’m more muscular than him, and my bones bigger.

Logically speaking, I should have long since grown immune to pretty boys, so why do I still feel my heart pounding? Especially since I have the ultimate example of a pretty boy right next to me!

“But it’s not the same… completely different… there are no similarities at all…”

“What?”

He leans closer to me, asking me as though he’s my friend.

“N-n-n-nothing, nothing at all.”

Wolfram is a pretty boy just like an angel, his blonde hair and emerald eyes the color of the bottom of a lake would never give anyone a feminine impression, even those beautiful lips he inherited from his mother only prove to bring out his strong personality. Lord von Bielefeld is like the sunlight, making people want to run together with him, making it hard not to notice him.

As for the third guest soaking in the pool beside me, he’s like the gently dark moonlight, if you ask whether he has the beauty of a young girl… Actually, just observing him for ten or twenty seconds will refute that conclusion. But everything about him has an aura of neutrality, and none of the roughness of a man.

For example, his fingers. Those slender fingers are elegant in shape, and the fingernails he holds out even have a light shade of pink, the type that wouldn’t look at all out of place holding a c.o.c.ktail gla.s.s with the pinky sticking out. Those hands of his have never held a bat, oh, wait, I correct myself in my mind, they’ve never held a sword.

“But still, why am I surrounded by nothing but pretty boys~”

“Aw, Young Master, how mean. Gurrier will be embarra.s.sed—”

In many ways, his words are too presumptuous.

“So that one is called Gurrier?”

“Yes, because a relative on my mother’s side is a chef.”

His Majesty the Maou’s spy 0043[5] is already an adult, so he won’t be attracted by the charms of neutrality. Still unable to get used to such stimuli, I can only repent while at the same time showing respect for this quality of his.

“I know, it’s an Eastern name, right! Do you have relatives in Dai s.h.i.+maron?”

The third guest, who doesn’t know a thing about Josak’s background, is happy to find a similarity between them.

“Like my grandfather, he was born in Dai s.h.i.+maron too, I still have distant relatives there to this day. Oh, yeah, please call me Sara, it sounds friendlier this way.”

“Sara? Why does the name also sound like a girl… Sorry, what I said was too rude. I’m called, uh—”

Revealing my true ident.i.ty to a pretty boy I just met in the pool, doesn’t seem like a smart thing to do. So I try to think of a fake name on the spot, but all that comes to mind are weird ones. Is it okay to use the characters I played in the past? Like Mitsuemon or Colonel Crusoe.

“I’m Cru…”

He presses my open mouth with his beautiful fingers; and those eyes with the unreadable color looks amused through the thin little lens, as though saying, ‘let me guess’. His gentle and graceful expression makes me completely unable to refuse.

“Your Majesty Yuuri.”

Even though my shoulders were just in the hot water, now they’re cold to the point of s.h.i.+vering.

“I’m right, aren’t I? There’s no need for you to report your glorious name. You are my most precious guest, Your Majesty Yuuri. Who’d have thought you would visit my Shou s.h.i.+maron? It never even crossed my mind.”

“You are…”

The question on the tip of my tongue is immediately swallowed back down, didn’t he just tell me his name?

Sara.

Completely unafraid to say the name of the powerful country, the young man similar in age to me, is the king of Shou s.h.i.+maron who ascended the throne two years ago, Saralegui, turning seventeen this year.

Josak grabs my arm and pulls me to his side. Like a replacement trick in a magic show, the guard is instantly standing between me and Sara. Although we’re all in a hot spring, a cold sweat is beading relentlessly on my temple. I use my dry and stiff tongue to force out a simple sentence.

“You know, my, name?”

“There shouldn’t be anyone who doesn’t, Your Majesty the double black Maou.”

The omniscient lord and ruler, Saralegui of Shou s.h.i.+maron, is using his beautiful fingers to push his hair behind his ears.