CH 94

“O–i, Milia–“

“Ah! Lain, is Aria alright?”

I left the sewers with Aria on my back and arrived at the meeting place to see Milia.

The meeting place was in front of the Margravine’s mansion.

This was the only place I knew of in the royal capital.

She was already waiting for me when I got there.

Hearing my voice, Milia rushed over.

When she realized I was carrying Aria on my back, she looked towards her with worry.

“Aria seems well.”

“Yeah, she’s just fainted.”

Milia seemed to have calmed down, seeing Aria’s peaceful sleeping face.

Her external injuries were also healed when I cast healing magic on her.

The reason why I knew of this place was because the deacon told us to come here when we arrived at the royal capital.

Since he had ultimately come as a representative, we had to officially see the Margravine to obtain a formal permission for entry into the royal capital.

According to schedule, she should have reached the capital today.

Before leaving, we were told we could meet her if we came here.

We decided to come here first once we reached the royal capital.

I had confirmed that this was the exact location as well.

“It’ll be fine now that Lain is with us.”

“It troubles me that you think so highly of me.”

Being told so with serious eyes, I scratched my cheek in embarrassment.

I can only do what I can do.

“Still, I did end up getting involved in a dispute.”

“It couldn’t be helped.”

We were told to come here straight away, but I ended up coming here after a dispute.

I may get scolded for this.

But Aria would have died if I hadn’t done that, so I had no regrets.

That reminds me, I made a big hole in the sewer.

I’m really grateful that the sewer is a relic from the ancient magician civilization.

In any case, I managed what I could using magic, but I wasn’t sure if it was completely fixed.

I broke it without checking if there was anything on it, after all.

Besides, even if that place was isolated, I still ended up making a lot of noise.

…W-will I really be fine?

“For now, let’s enter the mansion.”

“Y, yeah.”

It’s too late to change things now.

I entered Margravine-sama’s mansion after Milia.

“Who goes there?”

As we reach the front of the gate, the gatekeeper stares at us with suspicious eyes.

He was staring at us since the time we were talking earlier, so I expected him to say that.

I would have done the same if some people were loitering around the mansion I was guarding.

“We are residents of Margravine-sama’s territory. We received a moving license from Deacon-sama, but were told to come here as soon as we reached the capital.”

“Mm? Ah, I recall hearing about that.”

Hearing Milia’s remarks, the gatekeeper’s attitude softens.

It seems that Deacon-san had made the necessary arrangements ahead of time.

“Do you have an introductory letter?”

“Yes, here.”

Milia takes out the letter from her pocket and hands it over.

“Mm. Wait here.”

The gatekeeper confirms the seal along with the sign, then hands it back to Milia.

He must have realized it was real.

The gatekeeper made us wait outside as he entered the hut inside the gate.

There must be some bookkeeping stuff in there.

He came back almost immediately.

“Hm, I’ve confirmed your identities. There should be only two, so why are there three of you?”

“This is Aria, who came to the royal capital to participate in the martial arts tournament. She got involved in an incident, so I brought here here.”

“What? That girl is Aria? Get inside for now.”

“?”

We walk inside as prompted by the gatekeeper.

He was acting strangely all of a sudden.

No one should have known about what trouble she went through.

The gatekeeper stops in front of the hut right beside the gate.

“We have been looking for her. Right now, several people from the mansion are out looking for her.”

The gatekeeper blurts out those words.

Apparently, he also vaguely heard that Aria was in trouble.

Milia pats Aria’s head, softly.

She must have also realized too that something shady had taken place.

“Well, I suppose it’s all good now that you came. Wait here for a moment.”

“? What is it?”

“I’m going to call a servant. I can’t let you appear in front of Margravine-sama in such a dirty state, can I?”

Come to think of it, we came to the mansion in the same boots we traveled in.

Come to also think of it, common sense was that even if you’re told to come at once, you should change into appropriate clothes at an inn first.

Milia also lowered her face in embarrassment.

In her worry for Aria, she probably forgot about all that.

I suppose I shouldn’t have run off saying “Aria’s in danger”, first thing as we entered the capital.

“Well, I believe we can take care of that, so you should all wait here. I’ll let my superiors know.”

The gatekeeper went towards the mansion, after smiling gently.