Chapter 171: That’s Not Right
’First question! You’re not human!’
"Puhaha, hahaha! No, I’m definitely human."
’Nnnn~! It’s not a lie~!’
"Galt, Raide was human."
"...What kind of reaction are you asking for?"
Tetrin shook both hands in frustration, and the queens, princesses, Felica, and Karinal sitting on both sides laughed at him with troubled expressions.
The male group sat opposite us, and next to me were Roy and King Adom.
While pouring wine for the minister sitting beside him, King Adom said, and the minister turned a shocked expression toward King Adom.
This was the time for Tetrin’s riddle-solving questions.
They had their own rules for this, and apparently they could ask up to ten questions.
...Even during games, I had been asked all sorts of questions.
I didn’t know how they were doing it, but apparently they could tell if the answer was a lie or not.
They only seemed able to do it during questions, and I had been told they couldn’t tell during casual talk.
I thought they were using too much effort for a riddle, but to them it was a precious entertainment to spend the long time.
Tetrin pointed at me with a frustrated look and said,
’Because it’s weird! Why does a human know the name of the fairy village AND the name of the first generation?!’
"That’s because it’s the words you used to call them."
’But still~! Still~!’
He shook both hands violently, and at the same moment his chest shook violently, causing his gaze to shift away.
Fairindal was the name of the fairy village, and Terto was the first fairy that appeared in the Overworld.
These two words, "Cheers" and "Come," were the method to call them according to the fairies and the fairy trees.
Until he learned that, the way to call them was simple—if you were having a banquet with the fairies, the fairy king would invite the fairy trees to come.
From there, you became close and were taught the words, and that was the method used in the game.
Moreover, the favorite food of the fairy trees was alcohol, so they must have collected wine from all over the place...
When I looked away from Tetrin, I noticed Princess Retia was making a face as if she wanted to ask something and our eyes met.
"Princess Retia, what is it?"
"Raide-sama...?"
"...Tia, I can’t get used to it right away. Can’t you please forgive me?"
"What do you think, Sister?"
"Don’t forgive him. If we don’t correct him when he uses stiff words like this, it feels like he’ll keep speaking stiffly forever."
"...No, that’s not it, Retia."
"Looks like Sister hit the mark, Your Highness."
"See? Retia?"
Wrong, no, not wrong, but... I couldn’t endure the pressure of the Queen’s gaze, so that was why?
I let out a small, tired sigh, and King Adom smiled wryly at me while lightly patting my shoulder.
Tia and Retia were the names the two princesses used for themselves during the time they were hiding when the war broke out.
Because they couldn’t call themselves princesses with a loud voice while running away, I suggested it, but... they had really taken a liking to it.
After returning to the capital, they had avoided being called that, but it seemed impossible now...
The pressure from the two queens’ smiles was terrifying, and I respected King Adom, who could withstand it.
I let out another small sigh, and in my peripheral vision I saw Roy looking at me.
When I turned to him, he had a face as if he wanted to ask something, so I tilted my head and asked.
"Roy, what is it?"
"Raide-sensei, I have something I want to ask."
"Hmm... Good. What is it?"
"It’s about the title. Sensei said I don’t have enough talent for it, but I don’t think so. I think Raide-sensei has enough talent to receive a title... but..."
I see, that’s what had been bothering me all this time.
Felica smiled wryly at Roy’s question, and Karinal nodded slightly in agreement with him.
I glanced sideways at King Adom and the minister for confirmation, and both of them were drinking while making eye contact that said "it’s fine."
I took a sip of the wine in my glass, smiled wryly, and asked.
"Roy, what does a noble protect?"
"Huh? ...The country and the people."
"That’s right, the country and the people. But I want to protect the people I care about first—my lovers and friends."
"Then, even more so, the title..."
"That’s right... For example, imagine a hundred villages and one peasant house being attacked. Which one would you help if you received the title?"
"...The peasant house that’s in the most danger."
"Would a noble who protects the country and people abandon one hundred people?"
Roy’s face turned blank as if he had realized something, and he looked down dejectedly.
That’s right, nobles are supposed to protect the country and the people. Even if there are a few you want to help, you have to choose the majority.
I think it’s possible to handle it well, but I’m aware that I don’t have that skill.
Because I had experienced war, I knew villages that had been abandoned to defend cities, so I didn’t want the title.
Honestly, I wanted to devote my life to saving the people I cared about more than the country or the people.
I smiled wryly at Roy’s reaction, placed one hand on his shoulder, and continued in as bright a voice as possible.
"I’m aware my thinking is extreme, and I have various thoughts. But I can only choose the minority. I have no intention of choosing anything but the minority."
"If you become a noble... you won’t be able to protect the people you care about?"
"No, that’s not right. I am an extreme individual, not the others. I said I don’t have enough talent. Roy is still a student. Think and explore about it now. Look around—you have the best teacher right here."
"...Calling the royal family teachers, that’s only Raide-sensei, right?"
"Kuhahahaha! Calling us teachers, that’s too funny, hahaha!"
"...No, Adom, isn’t this a pretty good idea after all?"
Roy looked up at me with a troubled smile, and King Adom laughed happily.
The minister seemed to have thought of something and crossed his arms with a difficult expression... I can’t help but respect someone who thinks about things that connect directly to work.
In reality, there were nobles who protected both sides, and I wanted the royals and students to learn that in school life.
If we were thinking about the future, even if he didn’t receive the title, it was a necessary way of thinking, so I explained.
Then Roy pondered for a moment, nodded firmly with a serious expression.
"Raide’s class can’t be copied. I’m hard-headed too."
"If you say that, I’m the same, Felica. So learn from various people and organize it your own way. I think so."
"Are they teaching lessons like this at the academy...?"
"...It’s too advanced."
"That’s what I said. Only Raide’s grade."
Felica smiled wryly at the two princesses and explained the situation, and the two princesses smiled in astonishment while looking at me.
...It wasn’t that advanced, right?
While we were talking like that, time passed quickly, and the two queens left for their rooms with happy expressions.
King Adom and the minister said they were going to drink more in their rooms and left the garden laughing, "Well, it’s the young ones now?"
I muttered to myself that they had only wanted to say that.
The only one left in the garden was Tetrin, who hadn’t let me leave, so I laughed at the endless questions until the sky grew dark.