――The next day, at the Momonga estate.
Just now, a single luxurious carriage had come to a stop in front of the residence.
Its body was engraved with the royal crest.
Upon the driver's seat sat Climb.
He skillfully pulled on the reins to halt the horses, then hopped down lightly.
With his usual sharp, earnest expression, he stood waiting for Momon to emerge from the estate.
Momon observed the scene from the window.
"Tsuare, it seems the time has come. I'll be heading out now, so I'm counting on you to watch the house for a while."
"Y-yes! Please have a safe trip, Lady Momon."
Leaving the empty teacup with Tsuare, Momon rose gracefully from her chair.
Due to the trauma she suffered at the hands of Eight Fingers,
Tsuare still couldn't leave the estate.
In truth, she wished she could see her mistress off all the way outside,
but that was impossible in her current state.
Momon had no intention of forcing her,
nor did she have any complaints.
She entrusted the house to Tsuare at the entrance,
then opened the door.
Looking up, she saw a bright, cloudless sky.
As Momon stepped outside, her cloak swaying,
Climb noticed her and bowed briskly in greeting.
"Good morning, Lady Momon."
"Good morning, Climb. I didn't expect you to come with such an impressive carriage."
"I'm the one who insisted on it…
And this was arranged for you by the one I serve—Princess Renner.
Her Highness, and the members of Blue Rose, are all truly eager to meet Lady Momon.
Now, if you are ready, let us depart for Ro-Lente Castle."
"…Very well. I look forward to today."
The earnest young man's sincerity almost shone.
By contrast, Momon's heart grew heavier as she stepped onto the carriage.
(Ughhh… Why in the world would they suddenly want me to meet a princess and the Kingdom's Adamantite-rank team?
Did I do something to offend someone…?)
Once Momon had taken her seat, the carriage began to move.
She felt the shaking ripple through her large hips as she exhaled deeply.
The young man she happened to meet yesterday—Climb—
was actually an attendant of the Third Princess,
acquainted with Blue Rose,
who, it turned out, had long wished to meet Momon.
And due to various coincidences stacking together,
a meeting had been arranged for today.
Such Pythagorean coincidences shouldn't exist… yet they did,
and nothing could be done about it now.
She still hadn't been told why exactly they wanted to meet her.
With her shallow speculation, the only thing that came to mind
was that the Kingdom might be attempting to recruit her.
Trying to secure an Adamantite-rank warrior for their own forces was
a perfectly reasonable ambition.
But then why was Blue Rose also attending?
That part made no sense at all.
To expect an ordinary person like her to deduce such things was unreasonable.
In truth, Momon wished she had refused.
But declining an invitation from a princess would reflect poorly on her,
and since she was only in the capital for sightseeing,
she had no excuse to decline anyway.
(Still… maybe I should have refused…)
Resting her cheek in her hand, she stared out the carriage window,
sinking into the same lingering regret that had plagued her since yesterday.
She could confidently handle individuals like Ainzach or the other minor nobles—
supposedly "high-ranking" though they were.
Even speaking with Panasolei, mayor of E-Rantel, was nothing now.
There was no tension in those situations.
But a princess was different.
As a former working adult,
reading the moods of people in high positions was her specialty—
except when actual royalty was involved.
To be told, "Please speak with a real-life princess, thank you,"
and feel no anxiety—
only an idiot or a skeleton could manage that.
For the first time since coming to this world,
Momon felt a truly distinct kind of tension take hold of her.
What was she even supposed to talk about with a princess?
And to top it off,
she'd also have to greet the Adamantite-rank Blue Rose.
Not knowing their personalities,
it was entirely possible they'd greet her with:
"Oi, you getting cocky, black armor?"
Or worse:
that the princess could suddenly accuse her of disrespect
and order her execution on the spot.
Her imagination naturally gravitated toward the worst scenarios.
Despite the clear blue sky,
dark storm clouds seemed to loom over her heart.
"Lady Momon, this way."
"…Ah."
Before she realized it, she stood before a certain room in the royal castle.
She had no memory of the carriage ride after a certain point—
lost in worry, she must have been on autopilot the whole time.
Climb gave her a curious look.
Apparently, the princess and Blue Rose were waiting just beyond this door.
(I… I want to go home…)
Only now did Momon realize
that she had not prepared any gifts.
Was an adventurer even supposed to bring gifts when meeting royalty?
Her thoughts spiraled, dragged down by fresh anxiety.
Climb, sensing her unease, asked quietly,
"Are you ready?"
"…Yes."
Once she nodded heavily,
Climb knocked on the door.
"Princess Renner.
I have brought the Jet-Black Beauty, Lady Momon."
A voice like a ringing bell answered from within.
After a brief pause,
Climb opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
"Lady Momon, please."
"…Thank you."
Her first step felt heavier than iron.
Momon mustered her resolve—
or rather, resigned herself—
and entered.
A soft carpet greeted her feet.
At the peak of her anxiety and tension—
the sight that met her eyes was a delicate, breathtaking scene,
like a blooming garden.
Around a round table sat a beautiful girl,
another beautiful girl,
and yet another beautiful girl.
(…Aren't their face-value stats way too high?)
Only beautiful girls.
A sight that would cause Peroroncino to weep with joy.
He would have taken screenshots instantly.
…No, saying only beautiful girls was misleading.
There was also a bizarre girl in a strange mask,
and a gorilla-like man.
Yet even with that,
the room overflowed with a brilliance
unlike anything Momon had ever encountered.
She had heard rumors of Princess Renner and Blue Rose's beauty,
but they had far exceeded her expectations.
For a heartbeat,
she was too stunned to react.
And among them, shining brightest of all,
was a golden-haired girl smiling at her.
(I see… the "Golden One.")
Momon immediately understood
that this must be the princess.
Though others were beautiful,
this one alone seemed to exist on a different plane—
like a storybook princess,
a fairy-tale maiden made real.
Kneeling on one knee before Princess Renner,
Momon spoke calmly:
"Your Highness Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself,
and esteemed members of Blue Rose.
I am honored to make your acquaintance.
I am Momon, an adventurer of E-Rantel.
At your summons, I have come.
To be invited to such a meeting…
it is my utmost honor to—"
"Oh come on, that's too long!
You some kind of noble?"
the gorilla-like woman yelled.
Princess Renner hid her mouth and giggled softly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Momon.
You are very polite.
Thank you for coming today.
Please, call me Renner—I would be delighted."
"Yes."
Momon bowed again.
(I said "Yes" like that, but…
I honestly have no idea how one is supposed to speak to royalty…
I hope that was correct…)
Although panicking internally,
she maintained an outward calm.
Her timing in removing her helmet felt a bit late,
but since one of the girls wore a mask,
hopefully it would be forgiven.
Renner's soft voice addressed her from behind:
"Standing there won't do.
Please, Lady Momon, have a seat.
Climb, tea please."
"At once."
Hearing Climb preparing tea behind her,
Momon rose and moved to the single open seat.
To her left sat Renner.
To her right—
"It is a pleasure to meet you.
I am Lakyus, leader of Blue Rose.
We've heard much about you, Lady Momon."
—Lakyus.
Her beauty rivaled Renner's,
like a noble lady rather than an adventurer.
But the sharpness in her eyes and posture
set her apart from ordinary noblewomen.
Momon, drawing upon her full lifetime of business etiquette,
answered with smooth diplomacy:
"To think that the famed Lakyus of Blue Rose would know of me…
I am honored.
Since becoming an adventurer in E-Rantel,
not a day passed without hearing of your team.
To be seated at the same table with those I look up to—
it humbles me."
"…You're more serious than I expected, Lady Momon."
Lakyus smiled awkwardly.
For an adventurer, Momon was too polite.
Even Momon herself knew that.
But in the presence of royalty,
there was no such thing as being too polite.
She had no intention of lowering that shield.
After Lakyus introduced herself,
she introduced the shinobi twins,
the masked girl,
and the muscular warrior.
That the muscular warrior was actually a woman
was a shock Momon kept carefully hidden under her helmet.
Lakyus, Tia, Tina, Gagaran, and Evileye.
Many frontliners—
yet a well-balanced party.
A miracle, honestly,
that so many high-level women gathered in one team.
(Blue Rose…
especially the leader, Lakyus, seems far kinder than I expected.
That's a relief.)
Through their conversation,
Momon began to feel she could trust Renner and Blue Rose.
They possessed a normal human sensibility—
in fact, a very good one.
Their karma value was likely extremely high.
She—Momon—knew well that humans often had terrifying hidden sides,
so she wasn't blindly trusting.
But enough to relax slightly.
The women of Blue Rose felt similarly:
they could not fully trust Momon yet,
but they sensed she was "good by nature."
Their first meeting was surprisingly warm and pleasant.
"Not taking off the helmet, Momon?
I heard the Jet-Black Beauty lives up to her name."
One of the shinobi twins asked bluntly.
Renner chimed in cheerfully that she was curious too.
Only then did Momon realize she still wore her helmet.
"…Ah, you're right. I forgot to remove it."
"You're quite the scatterbrain, Lady Momon."
"Says the scatterbrained Oni Boss."
"Be quiet."
Lakyus tried to smack Tina but missed as the girl dodged.
All eyes turned toward Momon.
They had been curious.
"Well then… please excuse me.
It's late, but I'll remove it now."
Feeling slightly awkward,
Momon grasped the helmet
and lifted it off slowly.
"…My."
Renner exhaled a soft sound.
Silky black hair cascaded down.
Skin like porcelain or fine white silk.
Lips soft and faintly rose-tinted.
Gentle, slightly drooping eyes of radiant emerald.
A beauty worthy of toppling kingdoms—
different from Renner's type,
yet equally supreme.
The air in the room shifted instantly.
The already garden-like atmosphere
bloomed into something even more dazzling.
Lakyus swallowed audibly.
Evileye's shoulders trembled.
Gagaran let out a low whistle.
And then a chair scraped violently—
Tia stood abruptly.
Tina stared at her, puzzled.
Tia locked eyes with Momon,
bowed at a perfect right angle,
and extended her right hand.
"Please… sleep with me, with marriage in m—"
"Shut up."
Gagaran crushed Tia back into her chair.
Flattened by a massive hand,
Tia glared resentfully,
but Gagaran's gaze easily overpowered her.
"It was a joke!"
"That wasn't a joke look in your eyes!"
they bickered.
Lakyus stepped in, flustered.
"S-sorry!
She's… a little odd.
Please don't mind her."
"…Haha…"
Momon forced a smile,
trying not to meet the scorching, predatory gaze
she'd been receiving nonstop.
She felt like locking eyes even once
might get her devoured.
Still—
this easy camaraderie,
the banter,
the teasing—
it reminded her achingly of something.
Of the guild.
Of Ainz Ooal Gown.
As Blue Rose laughed together,
Momon felt a flicker of loneliness.
Traveling with the Swords of Darkness had been the same—
she felt lonelier when surrounded by happy groups
than when she was truly alone.
And somewhere inside her
rose a small, bitter thought:
(Your team too… someday you'll end up like Ainz Ooal Gown.
But for now, you all look so happy together…)
"Lady Momon? Is something the matter?"
Renner leaned forward worriedly.
Momon shook her head vigorously
and gave a smile.
That bitterness wasn't all of her.
Most of her simply felt longing—
envy for their closeness.
Ashamed of her own pettiness,
Momon took a sip of tea
to swallow down those feelings.
"…More importantly," she began softly,
"may I finally ask the true reason
you summoned me here today?"
At last, she touched the main subject.
When she asked,
their expressions sharpened instantly.
So it wasn't just a tea party after all.
Momon mentally tightened an invisible necktie,
ready to face whatever was coming.