Master and Slaves

"Please show me the way."

"Understood. This way, please."

The maid raised her head and began walking down the corridor. I followed her.

She switched to polite language probably because she was older than me.

It seemed we were heading toward the hall.

That meant the banquet was being held there.

I could already hear the loud, lively voices of many people from ahead.

"Please enter from here."

The maid stopped at the side near the stairs and clapped her hands.

"The hero who slew the Demon Lord, Sir Hiroyuki, has arrived."

My title seems to have grown.

As soon as I took one step down the stairs, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the hall.

Looking down, I saw a large crowd of elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies clapping while looking in my direction.

This was the first time I had ever received this much attention.

My body stiffened from nerves, but I forced it to move and carefully descended the stairs so as not to miss a step.

When I reached the final step, the applause grew even louder.

"Silence."

I was at a loss, but King Rudolf, who had somehow appeared beside me, raised his right hand and stopped the clapping.

The hall, which had been so noisy moments ago, fell completely silent.

King Rudolf looked around at everyone, paused for a breath, and began to speak.

"My people, you have truly done well in the three-year war against the Demon Lord Geizer."

King Rudolf stood in the center of the raised dais in front of the stairs and surveyed the venue.

"Some of you have lost family in the previous battles. Some have lost friends. However, this summoned hero has avenged them."

Once again, all eyes were on me.

"Let us now honor the hero who slew the Demon Lord — the benefactor of both the living and the heroic spirits. Tonight is a welcoming banquet for the hero. Though it may be sudden, please enjoy yourselves."

As soon as King Rudolf finished speaking, applause erupted again.

Then music began to play.

After that, I stood at the front of the hall, inwardly fed up while smiling and responding to the endless stream of people coming to greet me.

"Being the guest of honor is tough, isn’t it?"

Just when I thought the greetings were finally over, I turned to see who was speaking and found Baldo, the Vice Commander of the Royal Guard Knights.

Unlike the armor he wore earlier, Baldo was dressed in noble attire.

"Haha, ’clothes make the man’ really applies here."

"Hahaha. You flatter me."

He was probably the person I could talk to most comfortably here.

It looked like I wouldn’t be bored.

I took a glass from a tray carried by a boy.

It contained a red liquid.

Probably wine.

After smelling it and confirming it was exactly that, I was about to drink.

"You shouldn’t drink that. You’re exhausted — drinking something this strong will make you drunk badly. Here, try this instead."

Baldo took the glass from my hand and offered me a different one.

It contained liquid of the same color.

"It looks the same though..."

"It only looks that way."

As Baldo turned around, he accidentally bumped into a maid who happened to be passing by, spilling all the wine he had taken from me.

"I-I’m terribly sorry. I’ll bring something to wipe it right away..."

"Ah, I’m fine. I didn’t get any on me. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Lord Baldo."

After greeting him, the maid walked deeper into the hall.

"Are you already drunk?"

"Hahaha. It seems so. Well then, please enjoy the banquet."

With that, Baldo left in high spirits.

I had no idea what he was trying to do.

I brought the glass Baldo gave me to my lips.

It was wine after all.

It had a strong astringency but a smooth taste.

It was good, I suppose.

Well, I’m not really a good judge.

Next to approach was the Court Magician, Mateus.

He was wearing the same outfit as when we met in the audience chamber.

Didn’t we already greet each other earlier?

"Sir Hiroyuki, are you enjoying the banquet?"

"Not yet. I just finished the greetings."

"Hohoho, I suppose so."

Mateus held a glass in one hand and laughed pleasantly.

How old was he?

White hair and a white beard.

Deep wrinkles were carved across his face.

However, his back was straight and his legs looked strong.

He was a bit shorter than me.

Fairly tall for people here.

His loose robe made it hard to tell his build, but his face suggested he was thin.

Putting it all together, Mateus’s age was... still hard to guess.

"Mateus, pardon me for asking, but how old are you?"

I asked anyway.

Maybe I was tired, or maybe I was already tipsy.

I was saying whatever came to mind.

"I turned 67 this year."

Oh, he’s pretty old.

I thought lifespans were shorter in this era... but right, magic exists here.

Does that mean the average lifespan in this world is longer?

"How old are you, Sir Hiroyuki?"

"21."

"Hoh, I thought you were younger... My apologies."

"No, no. I get that a lot."

My baby face makes me look younger.

Recently, I was shocked when a part-time job customer thought I was a high schooler.

Wearing glasses makes me look more mature, though.

Oh, that reminds me.

"Mateus, are you knowledgeable about magic items?"

I remembered the glasses I found in the Demon Lord’s treasury and asked him.

"...Magic... items... you say?"

"Uh... yes... things with magical power...?"

"Ah, enchanted objects. Yes. If I cast the same spell I used in the audience chamber, I can tell most things about them."

Oh, right.

Come to think of it, he did cast magic on the Demon Lord’s sword, Destroyer.

"Yes. Actually, I brought various things from the Demon Lord’s treasury, but I don’t know how to use them. I’d like you to examine them."

"If that’s the case, it’s no trouble at all."

"Thank you. Also, I’d like to ask you about magic itself?"

"Understood. Actually, I also have something I wish to discuss. Let’s see... Tomorrow morning, I’ll send a messenger. I have to attend the royal audience in the afternoon, so only the morning is possible. Is that alright?"

"That would be a great help."

What I wanted to ask was about summoning magic.

In other words, whether I could return to my original world.

I had planned to ask the person who taught Tiria summoning magic, but as the Court Magician, he was probably the greatest mage in the country.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask.

"Well then, excuse me."

It seemed he had finished his business.

Mateus quickly left my side.

He then went over to Baldo, who was surrounded by women, and started talking to him.

During today’s audience, those two didn’t seem to get along.

Well, you can’t really judge people’s relationships from just that.

After that, I had no one to talk to and spent the time eating while feeling bored.

Weren’t I the guest of honor?

Yet no one tried to talk to me.

They just watched from a distance.

Can’t be helped, I guess.

I’m an unknown person of uncertain origin.

I wandered around for quite a while after that.

I was satisfied with the delicious food, and watching the nobles and ladies around me didn’t get boring.

That girl is cute, That guy is unpleasant — observing people was entertaining.

I learned a few things.

First, there were many beautiful women here.

Whether noble or maid.

Nobles probably have good bloodlines for beauty.

The maids were likely chosen for their looks too.

Second, Baldo was very popular.

He was surrounded by women almost the entire time.

They kept glancing this way — maybe thinking Aren’t you jealous?

...Maybe I should add him to the "unpleasant" category.

Finally, old man Mateus was surrounded by men the whole time.

Is it that kind of preference? Or just work talk?

Must be tough.

Clap! Clap!

While I was people-watching and wandering, loud clapping came from the front of the stairs.

The music stopped, and silence fell over the hall.

"Everyone, thank you for attending this sudden banquet. Originally, I wished for you to continue enjoying the festivities, but to avoid interfering with your duties tomorrow, we will now conclude the banquet. Is this acceptable, Your Majesty?"

Chamberlain Johan asked King Rudolf for permission to end the event.

"Mm. I also have an audience tomorrow, so I shall retire here."

"As you wish. Then this concludes the banquet. Thank you as well, Sir Hiroyuki."

Johan responded to King Rudolf’s approval, bowed to me, and gave his thanks.

Applause filled the hall.

"This way, please."

The same maid who had guided me at the beginning of the banquet led me back to my room.

When I finished climbing the stairs and stepped into the corridor, the applause stopped abruptly.

I felt all the strength leave my body.

Phew. I really can’t get used to being the center of attention.

Following the maid, I returned to my room.

"Master!"

"Sir Hiroyuki!"

When I opened the door, Cathy and Tiria were sitting on the floor talking.

As soon as they saw my face, Cathy quickly stood up and bowed, while Tiria turned toward me and bowed so deeply that her forehead touched the floor.

"Thank you."

I thanked the maid who had guided me and entered the room.

She bowed once more and left down the corridor.

"Ah, it’s fine. Sigh. More importantly, you two didn’t have to sit on the floor. You could have used the sofa."

I raised my hand to stop them and plopped down heavily on the sofa.

"No, we couldn’t do that."

The two looked at each other, then turned to me. Cathy answered.

"Sigh. Well, whatever. Sorry, but I’m really tired. I’m going to sleep first."

My attitude was quite arrogant for a guest.

But I really was exhausted.

I’d probably fall asleep the moment I got into bed.

"Understood. The bed has been prepared, so please use it."

"Sorry about that. I’ll do just that. Oh, and tomorrow morning I think a messenger from Mateus will come. Sorry, but please handle it."

"Understood."

"Ah, right. How were Tiria’s feet?"

"Yes. There were many cuts, but she treated them herself. I performed the massage."

"I see. Thank you. Good job, Tiria. Then I’m going to sleep. Good night."

I kissed Tiria’s forehead as she looked at me, then left the still-frozen Tiria and entered the bedroom.

As soon as I got into bed, I lost consciousness.

"Sir Hiroyuki, Sir Hiroyuki."

Someone was shaking me.

Was it Yuki?

I was still sleepy.

I didn’t want to wake up yet.

"Just a little longer... let me sleep, Yuki."

"?"

The shaking stopped.

Good, she’s letting me sleep.

I sank back into drowsiness.

"Sir Hiroyuki. Please wake up, Sir Hiroyuki."

My body was shaken again.

Can’t be helped.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Everything was blurry.

Right, my glasses.

I reached toward the pillow.

They weren’t there.

While doing that, my vision gradually focused.

What I saw in front of me was...

"Cathy...?"

"Yes. Breakfast is ready, so I woke you."

"...Thank you."

My mind slowly cleared.

That’s right. This isn’t Japan.

I’m in the royal capital Torrestia of the Kingdom of Torres.

This isn’t even Earth.

I got out of bed and put on the cloth slippers on the floor.

I was used to this from overseas travel.

While putting on the slippers, I saw fully naked Tiria curled up asleep on the floor nearby.

"..."

After finishing with the slippers, I picked Tiria up, carried her to the bed, and laid her down.

"Sir Hiroyuki."

"Ah, sorry. She’s tired too, so let her sleep a bit longer."

"...Understood."

With Cathy’s permission, I left the bedroom and sat down at the table where breakfast was laid out.