Matching their reputation, the Tristan Duchy’s dinner boasted great quality.

The living room was small, but even if that was the case, the food here was of a high quality for sure.

The tagliatelle tasted savory thanks to the salt added to it.

Its long and wide pasta went well with the meat sauce. The spicy sausage that was peeled, crushed and fried in olive oil, alongside roasted cherry tomatoes added to its flavor and color.

Without a doubt, this dish held a great harmony of taste—

“Are you trying to run away from reality like that?”

“...”

As I had my head stuck in my plate, as if trying to analyze the molecular structure of the food, such words struck me.

The one who said those words was a woman wearing a ponytail that was sitting next to me. She propped her chin on her hand, a smile hanging on her face.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Beatrix from the Kilgore Marquisate.”

“...I’m Dowd from the Campbell Viscounty.”

I said while giving her a nod.

She was Eleanor’s extremely close acquaintance, the Student Council Secretary.

Beatrix Elfin Kilgore.

From what I heard, she was here for the ‘Harvest Festival’ held by the Tristan Duchy tomorrow.

As for the festival, I heard it was something like a big holiday in the Duchy, basically, an event that they always held around this time of the year.

Since the Tristan Duchy, the territory that was considered as one of the pillars of the country, considered this period of time as important, most of the well-known nobles were attending it.

…There’s also a rumor that the Empress will attend this year.

As I let my mind wander like that, Beatrix continued without dropping her smile.

“It’s our first time meeting each other in person, right? I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Then, she continued, her smile still on her face.

“...If only the situation wasn't like this, we would’ve had a proper conversation.”

“...”

Beatrix whispered while stealthily stealing a glance in a certain direction. I followed where she was looking at with my gaze.

From that direction, there was a liquid-nitrogen-like coldness that didn’t seem like it would go away.

Across the wide table, the two people that I didn’t want to meet each other the most in this situation were sitting side by side.

Eleanor and Iliya.

Those two were the main causes for the ice-cold atmosphere that had been going on.

“Can’t you stop them? You caused this, didn’t you?”

Beatrix whispered those words as the stiffened muscles on her cheeks trembled.

Well, she was correct, I should stop them.

But the problem here was…

“...If I were to do that and said something wrong, the situation would get even worse.”

“Fair enough.”

“...”

Honestly, my priority in this situation was to wait and see.

Besides, even if I wanted to step in, this was not the time to.

“...”

But, seriously…

What the hell is wrong with those two?

Since they hadn’t openly clashed with each other recently, I thought they were getting along better, but look at those two now!

[Aren’t you being too complacent?]

…Pardon?

[All this time, they’ve been cooperating without complaints because they didn’t want you to get caught in the crossfire. They had never been on good terms, at least that’s how I’ve seen it.]

‘...’

[As long as they have a common purpose, they can cooperate with each other, but none of them would yield if what they’re fighting for is the ‘initiative’ over you.]

‘...’

Understandable.

Even in the original game, both of them had an ill-fated relationship with each other that went on for so long. Here, they hadn’t been fighting because they had other important matters to deal with. It made sense that they didn’t get along easily.

[Moreover.]

Caliban continued with a smile.

[There’s no way Iliya would stay calm in a situation where she thinks that the person she likes has been ‘stolen’ by that Lady.]

As Caliban said so, Eleanor, who had been silent, opened her mouth to say,

“So,”

Eleanor, who was creating such an atmosphere, said in a firm voice without even sparing the shiny steak in front of her a glance.

“What brings you here?”

The atmosphere she exuded sent a shiver down my spine; I couldn’t imagine her acting like this if it was just the two of us.

Hearing that, Iliya, who also hadn’t been touching her food as she looked at Eleanor expressionlessly, raised her chin.

She challenged Eleanor with her gaze before letting out a silent smile.

“Well, it’s the Harvest Festival, so, I’m sightseeing?”

“...Stop with ridiculous excuses. It is pathetic.”

Eleanor replied coldly.

“There’s no way anyone from the Kendride Margraviate would show up peacefully during the Harvest Festival. You think so too, don’t you?”

“Well, Student Council President, I am the Hero now.”

“...What?”

“I’m trying to say that such a ‘simple’ political reason makes no sense to me. Since I’m the Hero, I can go to wherever I want to go.”

“...”

Hearing Iliya reply to her in a relaxed voice, Eleanor furrowed her eyebrows.

By simple political reason or something, Iliya meant that as someone who had gotten the Hero Title, she was in the position where she could ignore the ‘Tristan Duchy’s status.

Basically, she was telling Eleanor that she ‘wouldn’t back off’ anymore.

“...In our bet...”

Eleanor said in a cold voice.

“All of us have agreed that the winner will take Dowd with her.”

“I’ve never agreed on that bet in the first place.”

“...”

“Am I wrong? I didn’t even know there was something like that.”

That was…true.

I heard from Caliban that she told all of the Devil’s Vessels and left Iliya out, so she was kept in the dark about it.

“So…”

However…

Her following words showed that it was so much worse than that.

“Stop talking like you’re in charge of Teach, because it’s starting to get annoying.”

The moment she heard that, Eleanor’s eyes shot flames.

“Do you want to fight?”

She said, her tone filled with anger.

But Iliya replied to her with a smile.

“Right, I’ve been curious about that.”

“What?”

“In the past, I might have acted differently, but now, I’m already this strong. I can go up against you now.”

“...You.”

“What about you, Lady, aren’t you curious too? About how far we can go against each other, I meant.”

“...”

“Why don’t we make a bet while we’re at it?”

Iliya’s eyes also shone furiously.

“If I win, I’ll completely take Teach away from you. What do you think?”

The next situation happened in a flash.

Eleanor grabbed her sword as she jumped out of her seat, Iliya immediately grabbed the handle of the Holy Sword as if taking on the challenge, Beatrix also stamped out of her seat to stop Eleanor, and the servants lining up near them also freaked up and were about to get up.

When a crazy person stepped in.

I mean, me.

System Message

[ A moment of danger has been detected.]

[ Determined the situation as life-threatening. ]

[ Skill: Desperation raised to EX-Grade. ]

At the same time as such a window popping up,

I lifted my hands and climbed up the table.

I knew what Desperation said, I could die if I was hit by these two at the same time.

But I did it because I was sure that these two would never harm me.

In fact, upon seeing me, Eleanor and Iliya stopped moving at the same time, looking perplexed.

“...Don’t fight.”

I said while breaking out in a cold sweat as I looked at them alternately.

“Seriously, please. Don’t fight.”

“...Dowd, get out of the way.”

“Right, Teach. Don’t interfere now and—”

However, these women didn’t seem like they would stop.

Their body language suggested that they wanted to duke this out and they wouldn’t take no as an answer.

“You know...”

That was why…

I closed my eyes tightly and made a remark.

“I hate violent women.”

“...”

“...”

After hearing that, their faces went blank at the same time.

The look on their faces seemed like they were wondering what the fuck was I was talking about, but I put on a thicker skin and added more to my previous remark.

“I’ll hate both of you if you guys fight.”

“...”

“...”

Upon hearing that,

Eleanor and Iliya let go of their sword handles while giving each other a scary glance.

And as soon as both of them sat obediently, Beatrix, who had been watching, looked as if she was dumbfounded.

(…You calmed them down with something like that?)

I could hear Beatrix mutter as such, sounding as if she found it ridiculous.

It was a sound transmission through magic. She probably had set it so that Eleanor and Iliya wouldn't be able to hear it and only I would hear it.

Beatrix was a student of the Magic Research Department. This was supposed to be something that was hard to do, but she did it so easily.

(How much do those two like you…?)

“...”

(I think you might be a crazier playboy than rumored…)

“...”

Please don’t say something like that.

●

After that…

Thanks to what I just said, the situation seemed to calm down considerably.

Eleanor and Iliya still glared at each other at times, but at the very least they didn’t seem like they’d exchange blows like they did earlier.

[Thankfully that was all that happened.]

What do you mean?

[You know, if the Lady knew who took your first time, she’d go batshit crazy too just now.]

…What, you knew?

[I could tell based on your reaction. Iliya said you’ve lost your virginity, but despite me always being with you, I was unaware of it. That meant you’ve been squeezed dry someplace where I couldn’t see. Based on the circumstances, there was only one being that was able to make that happen. The punk inside the Lady’s body.]

‘...’

[Seeing your reaction, I got it right, huh? Anyway, like I said, you should be thankful that things didn’t get worse because of that.]

Should I really be thankful about it, though?

I got his point, but that meant I’d have to live with a bomb that could explode at any moment now.

[It’d be better than getting it to explode right away, no?]

…Yeah, I guess.

I thought while looking around the living room, which was filled with silence.

Anyway…

I got to prevent a big fight from happening, which was good and all, but...

“...”

The atmosphere of the place was still suffocating.

The air between Eleanor and Iliya specifically made me feel like I was walking on thin ice, it was so cold that I could feel my whole body shivering.

Both of them were sipping on the tea that was just served as the dessert without looking at each other. But, as someone who was stuck in here with them, I could clearly feel that they were putting each other in check like crazy while keeping me tied down in the middle.

It was suffocating even though I had gotten used to reading this kind of atmosphere recently.

[Well, anyone with a brain can tell that they only agreed to stop fighting in front of you.]

“...”

[Which meant, they must be plotting to hold a battle between themselves when you’re not around.]

I knew that…

I swear, I felt like I was about to die here…

Eleanor with two Fragments and Iliya with the Holy Sword—This was the moment when they became equal in power. If they were to fight for real, one of them would definitely get seriously injured.

Both of them still had a major power-up event left, but their growing rate was extremely high at this point, so the damage they’d cause to the surroundings would be no joke.

…Since I can’t let them fight…

I had no choice. It was the time for me to do something.

First of all, I had to at least create an opportunity for them to have a conversation with each other by…!

“Ah, over there.”

When I gestured to the attendant on stand-by in the corner of the room, they approached me with deft steps before lowering their head to ask what was it that I needed.

Then, while smiling awkwardly, I told them…

“I’m sorry but is there anything simple for us to enjoy? Like cards, or board games.”

I knew what I had requested didn’t fit such a dazzling and luxurious place at all, but the attendant just nodded without a single hint of bewilderment—The gesture made me feel touched.

“Will the things prepared by the servants in the resting room suffice? Though, there is something a little…customary that you could pick, though…”

I noticed how the servant’s voice trailed off, causing my smile to turn bigger.

Something customary in Tristan Duchy would be something like cards used for gambling at best.

“Ah. sure, get that. Thank you in advance.”

The attendant bowed their head and disappeared with deft steps. Beatrix then glared at me dumbfoundedly.

“Cards or board games? Here? Right now?”

“I mean, it isn’t like we have anything else to do anyway, no?”

It would be better than to do nothing in the middle in this suffocating atmosphere at least.

In that sense…

“...Let’s do it all together.”

I asked the two women, the source of this atmosphere.

Please…

I beg you, just accept…

_ _

“...No, thank you.”

“...Same here.”

They answered while glaring at each other.

I could feel it in my skin that they had no intention to get closer with each other, but…

“Come on, you two, don’t be like that.”

I still tried to persuade them desperately.

In order to make them stay still at one table, I used all my conversational skills, spewing out words that I barely used throughout my life.

…It’s working…!

When I saw both of them eventually pulled the chairs and sat facing each other despite their faces clearly screaming that they didn’t want to do this, I exclaimed as such in my heart.

“You persuaded them, hm?”

As they did that, Beatrix, who had been watching the sight from the side, said so while letting out a chuckle.

(I heard about your reputation from Eleanor herself, but I guess not everyone can be a playboy. Your skill at walking at that delicate line is exceptional to say the least.)

Then her voice echoed only in my ears.

She must’ve used the sound transmission again.

“...”

I sighed inside as I glared at Beatrix.

Did you really need to say that?

(I mean, it’s fascinating to see.)

Beatrix replied while chuckling.

(As far as I’m aware, you’re the only person in the whole world who could control Lady Tristan with a single sentence. You can be proud of it a little, you know?)

“...”

Was that a compliment or a curse?

As I muttered as such inwardly, the four of us had already seated at the table, facing each other.

Soon after, the attendant brought in a board game and placed it in the middle of the table.

Then…

As soon as I read the words written on the cover of the board game, I instinctively felt that something had gone terribly wrong.

『 ♥ Big Snake Pit Love Love Life Game ♥ 』

『 Who are going to become a partner and how? Steal your opponent’s partner and make them completely yours! 』

『 For the couple who win first place, a Mana Stone ring will be created on the spot for them to wear together! 』

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Maybe…

Everyone at this table was wondering how the fuck did such a board game was picked out of every board games in the existence.

I was also thinking the same thing as I turned my gaze at the attendant while breaking in a cold sweat, asking him what the hell did they bring in with my gaze.

“...I remember telling you that it was customary…”

They said, as if it was an acceptable excuse, in a voice that sounded as if they were in a difficult position too. Then, I asked in a trembling voice.

“...Is this all that you have?”

“...This is all that we have.”

“...”

Such words…

Started a catastrophic silence on the table.