Magic Gems Gourmet

To the roots of the visible flakes.

The immediate permission to speak with Riord was not in itself a big surprise to Leonard.

Rather, I was surprised just after Ein had suddenly spoken.

Therefore, when the seat was established in the castle of the iron kingdom, it was restoring its calmness.

Looking at that Leonard, Marco,

"You're used to it. Soon... if you're going to be the Prime Minister, you'll have as much of a resemblance as Ein-sama."

"... looks like it."

Leonard smiled bitterly, and the two exchanged a cool smile.

Beyond their gaze are two men sitting on an old, small round table. One is Ein, and the other is Riordan, a dwarf with a noble attitude.

An artificial light still shines through the window, illuminating the grey, marble-like interior.

Riordo, who had been summoned, did not appear to be unexpectedly overwhelmed, but stared at Ein sitting face to face drinking tea.

Ein noticed that, and he said, "Yeah? said, looking at Riordo.

"You can drink that."

Ein's words were tea prepared for Riordo. The tea was brewed by the servants of this castle, but not by Marco.

Both the tea leaves and the cups were definitely brought from Ishtarika.

Did you think it poisoned you? Ein unexpectedly opens her mouth.

"It doesn't contain poison, so I want you to drink it with peace of mind"

And so.

"... ahhh. Then I'll take it."

Riordo grabbed the cup and suddenly grabbed it.

Once, I let everyone know that I swallowed up and down my throat for swallowing.

(It's gonna be hot.)

Ein watched the situation, wondering if he was burned.

Oops, there's such a thing as tea, isn't there?

If so, how about a substitute?

”...... if it's free, I can get you another one”

You're getting a little better now, smiling and stronger.

Still disguised, Ein peeked at the loose end of the hood, keeping an eye on Riordo. Marco brewed a new cup of tea in his cup, and this time he began to drink it slowly.

You didn't call me to buy me tea, did you?

“Sure, but I'm glad you calmed down.”

This time, Ein's health was worse.

That said, it's not so much an expression, it's just a small discomfort in your heart---or a strange feeling that you hung the wrong button on your neck.

Everything changed because Riordo's attitude changed the other day.

A man who behaved like such a fool would have looked like a different person.

“What do you want to talk about? I'll go first, but if you want to probe your stomach, hit the other one. That's where the stupid Giddo comes in."

"Um... the Queen's escort is stupid?"

"From the general's point of view, I must be stupid." But I'll declare here that it's Giddo who's really stupid. "

It doesn't seem to be just a word of disagreement or disagreement.

In addition, it didn't seem like it was due to a difference of position, and it was irresponsible... it didn't seem like it was kicking a fool's ass without any basis.

That didn't seem to overlap with the discomfort that Mutton had mentioned.

"Why do you think he's stupid?"

"What are you going to do when you hear that? If you want to let the Queen go, I can tell you as much as I want."

"I'm sorry, but I can't decide on my own."

"Then you have to give up." I have an old Dwarf flair, too. I'm not going to talk about this anymore. "

But Ein knew Riordan's loyalty.

On the other hand, there is also thinking.

It might be my ambition to make myself king by using a queen who has returned to my country as a puppet while making her appear to be a queen.

Riordo's belly was carefully searched for, rather than looking for the right answer in a straightforward way.

(Though....)

In any case, the queen should be executed without returning to her country.

The chatter further troubled Ein.

So, for a moment, Shannon's power grew in my brain.

With her power, I feel like I can find out Riordan's true intentions.

But Ein quickly changed his mind to "no."

It is not an opportunity to use it now. It would be troublesome if I used it...... He looked at Riordo's face, and remembered when he first met Marco at the Demon King's Castle.

― ― ― The conversation, which could not be said to have had significant results, ended with an uncomplicated discussion.

Then everyone leaves this room, leaving Ain and Marco behind.

When they were alone, Marco evaluated Ein's judgment earlier.

“It was premature to use your power over there, so I think Ein-sama was right.”

Even in the midst of uncertainty, Ein and Marco could not ignore Riordan's strong loyalty to the Queen.

I was also convinced that it was a mistake, which led to this conversation.

“In view of the relationship between the two countries, I don't think we need to do anything yet.”

"Yeah, I know."

Shannon's powers are evolving under Ein.

However, no one has ever tried to be sure that the original effect is fading.

After all, these two were afraid that Riordo would be over-effective as a remnant of the "Poison of Enchantment" and "Curse of Loneliness".

Marco is a valuable individual who has personally experienced the strength of the effect.

Ein is also an individual who has witnessed the effect many times.

(As Marco said, it would have been bad if Riordo's mind had been disturbed by this.)

If this suggests that the Riordan anomaly was caused by Ishtarika, including Ein, then the inhabitants of the Iron Nation were undoubtedly subjected to inhumane practices.

In fact, Ein does not intend to use it forcefully because the harm is so great.

"That's why I feel like I'm getting a lot confused"

”Hah--somehow, it seems that there are many thoughts in this narrow country”

And Riordan says he's not talking about the former counselor.

For once... I couldn't help but ask. It was easy to ask if Riordo had been approached because the former counsellor had a prominent appearance.

But I don't think Riordo has anything to do with it.

When the queen was opposed to the man, she was by her side, but otherwise she was always there to protect her.

So, what did that man do in this country?

It's hard to imagine that I went out of my way to find a place like this, walked around, and left without doing anything but sightseeing.

He set something up and then he left the land.

It didn't touch the inhabitants of this land, but it was just something... Is it limited to the uncomfortable feeling of living in an Iron King's hammer?

But Ein immediately shook his head and shouted, "That's impossible."

"Starting from the Golden Route, Shuzeid and Strom." He always made people into toys and insulted people's way of life. And yet, I don't think I'd be satisfied with the Iron King's hammer. "

Knowing the sincerity of Ein's words, Marco nodded quietly.

In front of Marco, Ein takes his seat with enthusiasm.

"I want to find out exactly who that man came into contact with in this country. Everyone is already moving, but I think we should allocate more personnel."

At the beginning of the walk, he opened the door, and Marco, who continued later, immediately said, "I understand."

But Ein couldn't stop thinking that she was doing something too far away.

If I wanted to, I could use Shannon's power to force him to listen. However, it also threatens to leave major sequelae for those who are forced to ask.

If you just want to hear a short answer, like when you asked the Queen, that's fine.

However, it is only natural for me to be unable to fit in with such a small thing. By using that power for a long time, I may destroy the ego of the person who exercised it, as Marco did before.

― ― ― This is unacceptable for Ain, and I'm not at the stage of forcing her to do that.

This was particularly true in view of the future relationship with the iron country.

◇◇◇◇

As soon as Ein went out of the castle, the female dwarves looked at her and called out to her.

Although they were surprised by Ein's status as a general, they were not surprisingly disgusted, but treated Ein with a normal attitude on the surface.

"Oh, I still remember that."

Of course I do.

"If such a person comes, I won't be able to forget him. I'm not saying that he was attractive as a man, but he was the kind of man that was written in the artwork in the castle."

"But that's what you like outside, isn't it?" I don't know if it's true or not.

Ein was talking to them about the former counselor, as expected.

Everyone remembers the beauty of the silver hair that the man makes, and they can still think in detail about his appearance.

He also exchanged words with the girls, saying that it was a strange time while he was staying.

Even though you're a stranger, it was easy to talk about.

"That's right! Woah... you mean it's coming in my heart?" You've come to understand us a lot, and we've been enjoying our conversation together. "

"You were a much better man than my husband."

It's a characteristic of that man that Ein knows well.

When I was talking to that man, I couldn't help but feel an intimacy that was stinging in my heart, without making me wonder and disgust at first.

Ain smiled indescribably bitterly at the features.

But don't you think it's okay to be nice, General?

Haha, thanks.

After a light mouthful, Ein really coughs up.

"I want to hear from him who he was talking to, whatever he was talking to."

”... even if you say so, right?”

"I see... I was talking to Her Majesty at first, but there's Riordan, isn't there?"

"That rough man, he didn't want to bring anyone close to him, so he was thoroughly protecting the Queen with his guards." So when it comes to the people they were talking about, people like us..... "

Ein heard it and sighed.

I didn't think I'd get much dubious information, that's the tip of the arrow.

If you insist, I wonder if it's Lil.

All of a sudden, Ain's name came out.

That's exactly the name of the sidekick who is currently in the capital of King Ishtarika and is under house arrest with the Queen.

"Ahh! That's right! Lil often came to the castle town, and how did you shop for that person's meal?"

"There was such a thing... somehow that person became a guest, and Lil-sama was taking care of her, right?"

Oh, I'll tell you a little more about that story!

The women continue to talk while being surprised at Ain, who is approaching the taste of food.

It was like a well meeting, with such lightness.

I'm sure that's what Lil-sama's oniisama asked me to do.

"Um... her brother?"

Oh, don't you know the one who waved his fist in front of the General?

"--- Giddo?"

"Yes, but you're my cousin." Lil-sama was taken care of by Gido-sama from an early age, so she's like a brother and sister in that relationship. "

Whoa, a frankly surprised voice leaked out from Ein's mouth.

I never saw a verse like that.

He would have been surprised, for he hadn't seen them many times when he interrogated them in the king's city.

(Well, that's a good one.)

Giddo is a knight of the queen, and although he hasn't heard of it, he is probably the boss of Riordo.

Riordo said he was the deputy guard, and Gideon said he was the guard.

Through that gido, even if Lil, who was in a close position, was treating the former counselor, there was nothing uncomfortable about it.

By the way, this is a different story.

Ein suddenly mouths what he noticed.

"Why is it so easy for me to talk to a stranger?"

Asked, the dwarf women shrugged their shoulders in pain.

And with a sneaky voice, you keep saying you don't want to say it too loudly.

"It seems that the men have complaints... but we are helping our children..."

"I see... when I see the children laughing with their belly full,"

Ishtarika's gratitude for the supplies conceals an inexplicable emotion.

This was not a bad omen for Ein or Ishtarika, but Ein secretly frowned when she heard the words that followed.

"--- Her Majesty is dear to us, but we must be more grateful to those who fill our bellies."

…… and….

It was a word that contained natural emotions, but it didn't seem to be the result of someone trying to discredit the queen.

The word "usurpation" of the throne, which Marco was talking to, naturally crosses my mind.

(It bothers me a little)

It's as if everything was planned to be like this.

It was as if someone had set it up to get away from the Queen.

These have made Ain decide to take a new course of action.

“Thanks for talking to me. Well then, I'm leaving."

Ein leaves immediately afterwards under the women and rendezvous with Marco, who was waiting for him nearby.

Then he said,

"Marco, hurry to the capital--no, I'll contact Krone and the others."

I see you have some ideas.

“Yeah, I had to listen to you.”

Looking at Ein's back a few steps ahead, Marco followed without saying anything.

If you look at the back, you'll see that you don't have to worry about anything.

Therefore, I thought that the best future would come if I worked for him, and I followed the great lord I thought I was.