Ten minutes later, Satou Kazuma and the others arrived at the reception room.
Roswaal invited Felix to sit down, while Satou Kazuma chose a seat farthest away from him.
"I wonder, what business does Felix, as Crusch-sama's knight, have here?"
Roswaal asked with a smile.
"Crusch...that name sounds familiar."
Satou Kazuma frantically tried to remember. He previously asked Emilia about the royal election, and she introduced each candidate, including Crusch. It seemed she was the most powerful of the candidates right now.
Their dragon carriage looked very fancy, so their status must be very high.
"I am here on Crusch-sama's orders to deliver instructions from the royal capital, meow."
Felix said politely.
The Karsten family she serves is the highest-ranking noble family in Lugunica. Crusch, as the head of the family, also helps the Council of Sages with royal election matters.
"She's the head of a noble family, so she must be quite old. If she's a candidate, she's probably an old woman."
Satou Kazuma picked up a teacup next to him and took a small sip.
For some reason, he suddenly felt like crying.
That rare tea aroma... a scent not ruined by Aqua...
This girl says she can purify any liquid she touches, but she wasn't purifying anything when she was drinking alcohol!
How annoying!
Satou Kazuma suppressed his emotions and turned to look at Aqua.
Although he felt a slight physical discomfort being in the same space as Felix and breathing the same air, this seemed like an important occasion related to the royal election, so he couldn't show any flaws.
After all, Satou Kazuma still hoped to enjoy a life of luxury by relying on Aqua's fake identity for a while longer.
If a fifth candidate really appears in the future, he'll just make up some excuse about a misunderstanding.
"Because the fifth candidate, Aqua-sama, has appeared, all five candidates in the prophecy have emerged. Therefore, Lugunica's royal election will begin soon, and the opening ceremony will be held the day after tomorrow."
Felix's expression gradually became serious.
"Oh, is it earlier than scheduled?"
Emilia asked with some surprise.
"Yes, because something special happened in the royal capital, and it is related to Aqua-sama."
Felix turned her head and fixed her gaze on Aqua.
Earlier, when Aqua touched the badge, it emitted an incredibly dazzling light, making it known to almost everyone in the city. This made the Council of Sages and various nobles aware of her existence.
And many of them were already convinced that Aqua was the most special of the five candidates.
She was the one most valued by the Divine Dragon.
"Now, Aqua-sama is quite the popular figure in the royal capital. Many large families are discussing things about you."
Felix said with a smile.
"After all, a miracle occurred that night."
Hearing Felix's words, Satou Kazuma's heart fluttered, and he immediately understood what had happened.
It was Aqua who caused such a commotion, leading to this outcome!
This is bad, this is bad...
"Um, wait a minute, Felix, I want to ask something. Did you determine the identities of the five candidates this quickly?"
Satou Kazuma asked with an embarrassed smile.
"Don't you worry that someone might fake their identity and sneak in?"
"There's no need to worry about that. After all, the badge only reacts to candidates, and there are usually other witnesses present. Especially in Aqua-sama's case, almost the entire royal capital witnessed it, meow!"
Felix said, while gesturing with her slender white fingers.
"And ordinary people would definitely not risk faking their identity, because it's a serious crime punishable by the death of all nine generations of their family."
"Hahahaha, yeah."
Satou Kazuma scratched his head with a smile, but sweat was already forming on his forehead.
He knew very well that the matter of pretending to be a candidate absolutely could not be exposed.
Otherwise, they would be at odds with the entire kingdom...
Felix then told everyone about the upcoming royal election meeting. Almost everyone involved in the royal capital would participate. According to the process, each candidate had to make a declaration in front of everyone, explaining their political ideas and future action plans.
This made Satou Kazuma feel extremely troubled...
He had never considered anything about politics.
After all, the royal election was too much trouble. Satou Kazuma just wanted to eat and drink every day.
Speaking about related things in front of everyone is simply an impossible task.
What's more...
These things should be said by Aqua.
Satou Kazuma turned his head and couldn't help but glance at the goddess next to him.
For some reason, he could already see Aqua turning the royal election ceremony into a crazy party.
Not only that, Satou Kazuma and Aqua, strictly speaking, don't have definite identities. If someone asks about their origins, it will be difficult to answer...
But now they have no way to turn back.
Satou Kazuma only felt a headache coming on.
"Now that I've told you everything, I should prepare to leave, meow."
Felix got up, bowed to everyone, and then walked out of the mansion escorted by Roswaal and Emilia. Satou Kazuma was still thinking about what he should do until she boarded the dragon carriage and left with Wilhelm.
"Should I dump everything all on that useless goddess and run away pretending to be a victim?"
Satou Kazuma rested one hand on his chin, muttering to himself.
"Stupid Kazuma, what are you doing?"
Beatrice, seeing Satou Kazuma's worried expression, asked curiously.
"Thinking about what I should do after going to the royal capital..."
Satou Kazuma sighed and turned to look in the direction of Aqua in the distance.
Aqua didn't seem to realize the importance of the situation. She was holding a bottle of fine wine, seemingly inviting Emilia to have a few more drinks with her.
He sighed again helplessly.
"Kazuma-sama, we have to go to the royal capital tomorrow."
At that moment, Roswaal's voice rang out from the side.
"Yes."
"Although I am very grateful for everything you have done for Emilia-sama, we are not allies yet. If we go to the capital together, it may cause unnecessary misunderstandings with other forces. So tomorrow, I will arrange a separate dragon carriage for you. We will return to the capital separately."
"Oh, thank you very much."
Roswaal narrowed his eyes slightly and asked with a smile.
"Kazuma-sama, have you and Aqua-sama not changed your minds? It would be beneficial for both of us to form an alliance—"
"No."
Satou Kazuma shook his head immediately, giving his answer without thinking.
Their group was being targeted by an assassination organization, and Satou Kazuma didn't want to get himself involved too.
"Is that so? It's a shame then. I hope we have more opportunities for cooperation in the future."
...
At the same time, in the dragon carriage that was leaving the Mathers mansion.
"Grandpa Wilhelm, what do you think of that person named Satou Kazuma?"
Felix sat in the back seat of the dragon carriage, asking Wilhelm, who was driving, with a curious look.
"Although he looks weak, I can feel an unparalleled air about that young man. And Felix-sama, I don't know if you noticed, but shortly after you came into contact with him, his attitude towards you seemed to change."
Wilhelm said with a serious expression.
"Oh? What kind of change?"
"He developed a sense of hostility towards you."
"Why would he be hostile, meow?"
A look of surprise and confusion flashed in Felix's eyes.
"He probably sensed that our purpose here was not only to deliver the order, but also to investigate them. After all, no one in the royal capital found out their backgrounds."
Wilhelm looked into the distance with eyes as sharp as an eagle.
"Because he noticed this, Satou Kazuma showed hostility at that moment, without any concealment. He might be warning us."
"He didn't hide anything in front of you, the Sword Demon?"
"That shows he is full of confidence. Aqua-sama is completely different. I can't see through her at all. Her behavior seems very casual—even to the point of being excessive. But I can be sure that this is just a facade. Even I can't tell what she is really like."
"I didn't expect that the fifth person would be such a troublesome person—"
Felix's expression gradually became serious.
"I hope they don't become an obstacle for Crusch-sama."
.....
The next day, early morning.
Two dragon carriages were already parked at the mansion gate. It was the day when everyone was preparing to return to the royal capital.
"Then I'll see you at the royal palace!"
Natsuki Subaru, dressed in a maid's uniform, said to Satou Kazuma.
"Yeah, but are you sure you don't want to come with us?"
Satou Kazuma asked.
"No, I want to become Emilia's helper!"
"A scary love-struck person."
"What?"
"Nothing, we're leaving then!"
After saying goodbye to Natsuki Subaru and the others, Satou Kazuma returned to Aqua and the others.
His eyes scanned over the others.
Felt, Meili... and Beatrice...
Looks like I'm a crazy person guilty of kidsnapping!
How did it get to this?
"Whatever, let's take things one step at a time."
Satou Kazuma sighed and got into the dragon carriage.
After a long day's journey, Satou Kazuma finally returned to the royal capital.
Just as he had guessed, when they were checked by the guards at the city gate, they saw that the people in car looked basicly like children, and suspected that Satou Kazuma was doing something shady.
Even if the evidence was not very strong, those in carriage are children.
But after they discovered Aqua's identity, the guards respectfully apologized and let them pass.
The dragon carriage stopped in the center of the royal capital, and Satou Kazuma and the others got out. Looking at the bustling city in front of them, their expressions couldn't help but be a little dazed.
Beatrice opened her eyes wide and looked around curiously. She hadn't seen a human city in a long time.
"Kazuma, where are we going next?"
Aqua asked with a curious look.
"Of course we have to go back to the slums first! I have to tell Old Man Rom that we're safe!"
Felt said immediately.
"Yeah, we do have to go back to the slums..."
Satou Kazuma swallowed.
After all, the three of them were still forgotten somewhere.
Soon, they arrived at the slums, Felt and Old Man Rom's former residence.
Felt rushed into the house, telling Old Man Rom about the ridiculous things that had happened during this time.
Satou Kazuma took Aqua to a nearby broken house.
That was where Satou Kazuma had told the trio of thugs to wait.
"Kazuma-sama..."
The faces of the three of them were filled with resentment as they looked at Satou Kazuma.
Earlier, they had been completely forgotten by Satou Kazuma and had been waiting in the small room for his orders.
After all, in the eyes of the trio, Aqua and Satou Kazuma were people they couldn't afford to offend. Plus, Satou Kazuma's earlier bluff with the prophecy made them afraid to disobey his orders.
The trio had been staying here hungry—except Gaston.
Because Gaston had only woken up today.
Earlier, he had been tricked by Satou Kazuma into drinking 'anesthesia with a little milk' and had been unconscious until today.
It wasn't until Satou Kazuma returned from Emilia that he finally found them, who were on the verge of not being able to make it.
Satou Kazuma felt sweaty, but before they could say anything, he said first:
"Very good, the three of you have passed my test."
"Huh? Test?"
"That's right, the reason I asked you to stay here was to test whether you would obey my orders, and also to see if you could withstand the test of hunger. Appetite is the most basic desire, and you have successfully conquered the desires of the heart, which is enough to show that you have transformed! You have become people worthy of my trust!"
Satou Kazuma's face was filled with a serious expression, and his tone became serious too.
"So, Kazuma-sama, you didn't forget about us?"
"Of course not, how could I do such a thing! This was just a test, congratulations! Welcome to our camp!"
----
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