"It's the Apostle! He's really here!"
"Apostle!"
"Is it true you created Milkis?!"
The sudden flood of people left me bewildered, but I had no time to process it.
If this kept up, I'd be crushed by the crowd instead of getting any rest.
I glanced out the window. The main street was packed with citizens of the Carcel Kingdom.
"The hallway is completely filled with people! What should we do?"
Aria, who had just checked outside, asked with a worried expression. I responded calmly:
"We fly."
"Pardon?"
"Quickly."
"...Ah, understood."
At my urgent tone, Aria hesitated for a moment but then took off into the air using flight magic, with me clinging to her back.
"Tsk, can't you fly on your own?"
"...Can't I?"
"W-Who said I can't?!"
Behind us, Lilith, carrying Iberkina on her back, also shot out through the window.
"The Apostle is flying!"
"Where?!"
"There, over there!"
"Apostle!"
Dodging the citizens chasing us on the ground, we flew over the capital of the Carcel Kingdom for more than an hour.
After a nerve-wracking chase, we finally landed on a quiet beach a bit away from the capital.
Luckily, no one recognized us, and I managed to secure a lodging, finally allowing myself to relax.
'That was close. I almost got caught.'
I had experienced this before in the Principality of Yuren—once captured by their citizens, there would be no escape for the entire day.
If I was unlucky, it could even take a month before things calmed down.
It was supposed to be a peaceful overseas trip, but I could've ended up wasting a whole month doing nothing.
That's why I had planned to keep a low profile, staying quietly at the hot springs…
"What on earth happened?"
"W-Well..."
Lilith, who had been glued to the wall, glancing at me anxiously, finally stuttered out an answer.
"I thought it might help you, Yuri, if I handed out Milkis to people… but the reaction was so good that…"
Apparently, Lilith, wanting to help me, had taken it upon herself to distribute Milkis as a form of grassroots promotion.
Since Iberkina's subspace was filled with Milkis produced in the Empire, it had seemed like a good idea.
"It was Kina who encouraged it."
"...I just thought if we gave out Milkis, we'd get more food in return."
Iberkina, who had been standing by Lilith, added a quiet apology.
Despite her typically emotionless demeanor, she was a dragon capable of feeling remorse. That's why she had voluntarily joined Lilith in accepting their punishment.
To sum it up: Lilith had promoted Milkis out of a genuine desire to help me, and Iberkina, knowing that giving Milkis often led to better food service, had urged her to give even more.
Eventually, their overly enthusiastic promotion had inadvertently revealed information about me.
"I'm sorry. I never intended to disturb your rest."
"...Sorry."
"Haah, it's fine."
Seeing how genuinely sorry Lilith and Iberkina looked, I didn't have the heart to scold them.
If they had done it on purpose, I might have been angry, but they had only been trying to help me out of pure goodwill.
"It's alright. You can rest from now on."
The thought that they had wanted to support me even lifted my spirits a little.
Besides, the whole incident had ended up giving Milkis a lot of positive publicity—perhaps this wasn't so bad after all.
"Thanks to you both, we found this wonderful place."
The serene view of the ocean through the wide window opened up my chest.
We had stumbled upon this spot by accident, but it had far more charm than the lodging back in the capital.
"Still, I'd appreciate it if you could let me know beforehand next time."
"Of course. I will make sure to inform you first from now on."
"...Okay. I'll tell you."
Once the conversation settled, Lilith patted her lower back.
"Carrying such a heavy thing all the way here has left my back sore."
"...I'm not heavy."
"Hmph, with how much you eat, of course, you're heavy. Even a pig wouldn't weigh this much—"
"Omph!"
"Ack! L-Let go of me!"
With a pouty face, Iberkina bit down on Lilith's hand and clung to her.
Seeing the two of them start to squabble, I couldn't help but chuckle.
There had been some twists and turns, but now, at last, I could truly relax.
*
Late in the evening, I sat on the terrace, sipping cola while looking out at the sea after a relaxing hot spring bath. The cool breeze from the ocean gently cooled my body, still warm from the hot springs, making me feel pleasantly drowsy.
"This is what real rest feels like."
I enjoyed the moment, lazily sipping my drink, when the terrace door slid open with a soft creak. Aria walked in. I thought nothing of it—maybe she was here to relax too—but she spoke up first.
"Senior, do you have a moment?"
"Why?"
"It's nothing big. I just wanted to give you something."
"What is it?"
"You don't need to get up. Just close your eyes."
"?"
"It'll only take a second."
Though puzzled, I closed my eyes. I could hear a flurry of quiet sounds around me.
"Not yet. Keep them closed."
Following Aria's instructions, I stayed still for a little while longer.
"Alright, you can open them now."
When I opened my eyes, I was momentarily at a loss for words.
"..."
A table was set up on the terrace. On the glassware sat a rather clumsy-looking dish, as if a child had played with the ingredients. It was fruit shaved ice, piled with the fruits of the Carcel Kingdom I'd seen earlier, bits of frost scattered here and there, and a generous scoop of ice cream on top.
A candle, reminiscent of a birthday cake candle, burned atop the ice cream, casting a soft light in the darkness. And behind the table stood Lilith and Iberkina.
"...What is this?"
"Lilith and Kina wanted to express their gratitude to you, so they've been preparing this since earlier today."
"For me?"
"You've done so much for us. When we thought about it, it seemed like we hadn't really done anything in return, so we prepared a small gesture."
"...Do you like it?"
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I stared at the ice cream with a strange expression for a while. I had assumed they were just filling their bellies while wandering the streets earlier, but it turned out they had been gathering ingredients to express their gratitude toward me.
As I remained silent, Lilith whispered to Iberkina.
"See? I told you. I knew we should've poured milk over it."
"...No one would eat such a weird dish."
"W-What? W-Weird dish?!"
As the two began bickering again, a soft chuckle escaped me.
"Haha."
Hearing my laughter, they stopped and stared at me.
"Haha, this is nice."
I smiled and complimented them.
"Thank you so much. I'll enjoy it."
"See? I told you it would be fine if we did it my way."
"...Lilith, you fool."
"Hush!"
"Ahahaha!"
Lilith, Iberkina, and Aria looked at me, laughing brightly, with surprise in their eyes. But I couldn't stop smiling. Though the dish and its presentation were a bit clumsy, it was the most heartfelt plate I'd ever received. It was brimming with their sincerity.
"The candle usually goes on a cake, Lilith."
"I-Is that so? I didn't know."
"But I think this feels more genuine, and I love it."
I gently blew out the candle, tilted at an angle on the ice cream, and chuckled softly. Truly, this vacation was proving to be a great decision.
*
Leaving behind the sweet memories of the first day, the days of relaxation continued.
"Ah, this is nice."
The cool sea breeze, the quiet village, and the laid-back people. The relaxed atmosphere of the resort had a magical effect, soothing my mind effortlessly.
I fully immersed myself in that laid-back vibe, enjoying the peaceful days.
"Senior, did you know you haven't gotten up once since yesterday?"
"Really?"
"Yes, except when you went to the hot springs. You've just been lying down."
"Sometimes, you need days like that."
"You haven't stepped outside in two weeks."
"The sun reaches the terrace, so it's fine."
"Good grief."
With a sigh, Aria left the terrace. Even after that, I continued living like a plant, soaking in the sunlight. Aside from the minor downside of muscles stiffening from lying down too long, every day felt perfect.
That day, too, I lay on the terrace, basking in the sun, staring blankly at the blue sea. In the far-off horizon, a squad of knights riding on flying beasts, 'Griffins,' appeared in the sky.
"Wow, that's impressive."
I had heard of the Sky Knights but had never seen them in person. It was truly awe-inspiring.
However, the emblem on the banner hanging in front of the griffin was oddly familiar. A golden dragon soaring against a crimson background.
'The Empire?'
But why are they coming to me? Did they take a wrong turn?
Oddly enough, the griffins drew closer, heading straight for my terrace.
'No way... It can't be.'
As if to deny my own thoughts, the group of griffins landed right in front of my terrace.
"Hear ye, Yuri Grail!"
A royal knight, who had gracefully leaped off a griffin, unfurled a long scroll.
"By the decree of His Majesty the Emperor. Yuri Grail."
"I am listening."
I shot up from my spot. My muscles, stiff from disuse, screamed in protest, but I forced myself to move and knelt.
"Yuri Grail is to return to the Empire at once and prepare to attend the 'Imperial Banquet.' That is all."
"..."
My short vacation was coming to an end.
But an Imperial Banquet...
I feel a bad omen coming off from this.
In many ways.
***
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