Almost an entire year had passed, and Kiyotaka was training with a sword in an area away from the mansion, sweating. Beatrice was sitting on a stool, drinking tea nearby. Kiyotaka sat down on a log and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.
Kiyotaka: (I'm getting closer to something. I don't know what, but I can feel it.)
Ichika walked over.
Ichika: [Onii-sama. We have a visitor.]
Kiyotaka turned to face Ichika.
Kiyotaka: [A visitor?]
Ichika: [Oh, you're staring, Onii-sama.]
Kiyotaka: [I'm holding normal eye contact with you.]
Ichika ignored this in favour of teasing him.
Ichika: [Oh? Does Onii-sama want to give me a chance to be promoted from younger sister to mistress?]
Beatrice: [Must you continue to act in such a way, I suppose? It isn't fitting for someone given the role of little sister to Betty's contractor, in fact.]
Ichika smirked.
Ichika: [Speaking like that to your Auntie isn't very fitting either.]
Beatrice: [Betty may acknowledge Kiyotaka as Betty's father, but Betty doesn't acknowledge you as Betty's auntie.]
Kiyotaka patted Beatrice's head.
Kiyotaka: [I'm glad you feel that way.]
Kiyotaka then walked over to Ichika.
Ichika: [Praise for me too, Onii-sama?]
Kiyotaka grabbed her cheek, pinching her.
Kiyotaka: [Don't make me demote you to bratty younger sister.]
Ichika: [Ow ow ow. Okay. Okay. I'm sorry.]
Kiyotaka: [Alright. Let's go.]
Ichika: [By the way. Can you get the Sadistic Clown to teach me how to fly?]
Kiyotaka: [It's his job to teach you whatever you want for a year. You can tell him to teach you whatever you want to learn.]
Ichika: [He always acts more urgent when it comes from you.]
Kiyotaka: [I'll handle it. Right after we deal with the visitor.]
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Kiyotaka arrived at the entrance to the mansion and saw a dragon carriage.
Mimi: [Woah, it's Mister!]
Mimi rushed towards them.
Mimi: [How've ya been?]
Mimi jumped at Kiyotaka, but Ichika caught her by the collar as she sagged in disappointment.
Ichika: [Do you know this kid, Onii-sama?]
Kiyotaka: [A former colleague in the hunt for the『White Whale』. She's from Anastasia's Camp.]
Ichika: [A little thing like you? Kinda cute.]
Ichika looked down at Mimi, who was sweating.
Mimi: [Mister... she's giving me a dangerous look.]
Kiyotaka: [Don't worry about it. You'll be fine. I promise she won't hurt you.]
Mimi: [You sure?]
Kiyotaka: [It's just her eyes.]
Kiyotaka took her from Ichika, putting her in the same position.
Kiyotaka: [See? My eyes are the same. It's not intentional or anything.]
Mimi shivered a little as Kiyotaka then put her down, and they walked inside.
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Kiyotaka changed into his Knight's Uniform and then walked towards the meeting room to see Ram on the way.
Ram: [You're here, Ayanotaka.]
Kiyotaka: [Am I late?]
Ram: [You can make it up to me later.]
Kiyotaka: [Alright.]
Ram smiled as she opened the door, as Garf was standing there.
Garf: [Yo! Ya sure took your time, boss. Come on in. Watchin' the princess welcome our visitor ain't nothin' short of comedy!]
Ichika waited outside as they went in.
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They walked into the meeting room to find Joshua waiting, as Emilia smiled at seeing Kiyotaka enter.
Emilia: [Kiyo. You're here! This is Joshua.]
Joshua stood up and bowed to him, slightly holding his hand to his chest.
Joshua: [It's an honour to meet someone of the same esteem as my elder brother.]
Kiyotaka: (Oh no. Not another brother complex. I don't want to deal with this. Well, thankfully it's not my problem.)
Kiyotaka: [You're Julius's younger brother, correct?]
Joshua: [Uh... Um, yes.]
Kiyotaka: [There's no need to be nervous.]
Kiyotaka sat down next to Emilia as Beatrice sat on his lap. Joshua looked stunned for a second as he sweatdropped.
Joshua: [Um... might I ask what standing that child has in the mansion?]
Beatrice: [Is there a problem with Betty, I suppose?]
Kiyotaka patted Beatrice's head.
Kiyotaka: [She's my daughter.]
Joshua looked to Emilia, then Kiyotaka, then to Emilia and back to Kiyotaka with a shocked expression.
Joshua: [Is... that so?]
Garf: [So what? Do you have a problem with the boss bringing his daughter along?]
Joshua shook his head vigorously to ensure they knew he meant no disrespect. Kiyotaka beckoned for Garf to come close, which he complied with. Kiyotaka went on to grab his ear, pulling on it.
Garf: [Ow ow ow.]
Kiyotaka: [Don't be rude, Garf. He's an important guest discussing important matters on behalf of his Lady's camp. It's only natural he'd ask.]
Garf: [Ow! Boss! Okay. I'll be polite.]
Kiyotaka let go as Garf backed away, and Emilia stifled her laughter at the sight. Joshua then looked at Kiyotaka.
Joshua: [I heard rumours that Kiyotaka-sama was a Spirit knight like my brother.]
Kiyotaka: [Yes, I am. I use Spirit Arts to cast magic, and I am also contracted to this spirit.]
Kiyotaka gestured to Beatrice.
Joshua: [But then... wouldn't that make her older than you, Kiyotaka-sama? How could she be your daughter?]
Mimi: [Beako is Miss and Mister's baby.]
Kiyotaka: [Ah yes. At the Sanctuary, I gave Lia a kiss, and then when I came back, I had Beatrice in tow.]
Joshua looked even more confused as Beatrice looked annoyed and Emilia blushed.
Beatrice: [Betty wasn't a baby, I suppose!]
Emilia grabbed Kiyotaka's ear.
Emilia: [Don't go startling Joshua, Kiyo. And you're making fun of me over that again? It's been a whole year. Besides, you yourself told me babies don't come from smooches.]
Kiyotaka: (She's adorable when she gets mad.)
Kiyotaka smiled and winked at Joshua.
Joshua: [...]
Kiyotaka: [I apologise for my confusing words. Beatrice is someone I consider my daughter. She is not biologically related to me and Lia.]
Joshua sweatdropped as Emilia let go.
Kiyotaka: [What have you come here for?]
Joshua: [I have come at the behest of Anastasia Hoshin-sama.]
Garf: [Hey now. Ya shouldn't go wastin' Boss's time. He doesn't care about fancy speech. He likes it when ya get to the point.]
Joshua: [I apologise. I'll get straight to the point. Anastasia-sama wishes to invite Emilia-sama to the『Watergate City』of Pristella.]
Emilia: [The『Watergate City』of Pristella?]
Joshua: [She's inviting Lady Emilia to a party out of goodwill, as well as to inform you that she has found what you are looking for.]
Emilia: [What I was looking for...?]
Kiyotaka: [They've found the mana crystal for Puck.]
Joshua: [Yes, it is apparently in the hands of a Pristellan merchant.]
Kiyotaka: (Puck... that furball will be making a return, huh?)
Kiyotaka: [Was there something else you wanted to talk about?]
Emilia: [Eh? There was more?]
Joshua: [Um, yes... It's embarrassing to ask, but... Is it true that you're my elder brother's equal, Kiyotaka-Sama?]
Kiyotaka: [You're basically asking if I'm stronger than Julius, right?]
Garf: [Of course it's Boss!]
Kiyotaka: (He's not wrong, but my answer should stay more in line with the facts.)
Kiyotaka: [Hm... I suppose I'm about as strong as Julius now, but a fight between us wouldn't go well for either of us. Even if one of us were to win, I'm quite sure the other would be inflicted with life-threatening injuries. Even still, I believe I have a slight edge over him currently.]
Kiyotaka: (Well, it'd probably be best to hide the fact that if I died, I'd『Re: Birth By Death』and then have a more favourable battle with him. It would only take two Re: Births to get a comfortable win. I've had time to get stronger, so it's not like I'm helpless anymore.)
Joshua looked shocked.
Kiyotaka: (He's in shock that his brother is being upstaged. I don't really feel that way, though. Julius and I... apart from『Re: Birth By Death』are pretty much equals.)
Joshua: [I see. It's incredible that you became so strong after only a year of joining the knights.]
Kiyotaka shook his head.
Kiyotaka: [I had extensive assistance from Wilhelm『Van』Astrea, the『Sword Demon』in my training.]
Joshua: [Oh, wow. Wilhelm-sama?]
Kiyotaka: [Yes.]
Garf: [So ya came ta tell the Princess that she's invited to a party and ask the Boss whether he's stronger than your brother? Ya shoulda said that all from the start. You took up a lotta time. Even if the Bambeem gets better over time, there's gotta be a limit, ya know.]
Mimi: [Bambeem? Mimi loves those! They're yummy!]
Mimi jumped on Garf, hugging him.
Mimi: [Wanna eat some together?]
Garf: [Uh, sure...]
Mimi: [It's a promise, 'kay?]
Kiyotaka: [Thank you for the invitation, Joshua. We'll discuss things. Please wait for our response.]
Emilia: [Since you're here anyway, why don't we all have some Bambeem?]
Mimi: [Yay!!]
They walked out of the meeting room.
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Joshua and Mimi were leaving.
Mimi: [See ya, Garf. Gonna be waiting in PriPri! Don't take too long, 'kay?]
Kiyotaka: [Looks like you've made a friend.]
Garf: [Um, yeah, boss.]
Kiyotaka: [Or perhaps more?]
Kiyotaka patted Garf on the shoulder as he walked back towards Emilia. Garf began blushing.
Garf: [It's not like that, Boss!]
Garf sagged in embarrassment as Kiyotaka put his hand on Emilia's shoulder.
Kiyotaka: [Let's go talk. Just you and me.]
Emilia nodded as they walked to the mansion.
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Kiyotaka was sitting with Emilia.
Kiyotaka: [Are you feeling alright?]
Emilia: [I want to see Puck. I still... have so many things to talk to him about. So many questions.]
Kiyotaka held her hand in his.
Kiyotaka: [When Puck returns, you can talk to him. So let's just focus on getting him back first, okay?]
Emilia slapped her cheeks.
Emilia: [You're right. I can't be a dunderhead and get all mopey like this. Puck wouldn't like it.]
Kiyotaka sweatdropped.
Kiyotaka: (Same as always.)
Kiytoaka then pondered something.
Kiyotaka: (Could Anastasia have an ulterior motive? Hm... No. I don't think so. Unless she would consider something about Gluttony in regards to Wilhelm, but it would be better for her to go to the Crusch and Felt Camps for that. There's nothing else I can think of, so I think I can rule out any ulterior motives.)
Kiyotaka: [Let's go inform Roswaal.]
Emilia nodded as they left the room.
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They stood in Roswaal's office speaking to him.
Emilia: [I'm sorry, I'll be away at such a crucial time.]
Roswaal: [Oh, don't fret. I will respeeect your wishes, even if it is at a buuusy time, with all the meetings with the western nobles.]
Frederica sighed.
Frederica: [You truly haven't learned your lesson, have you, Master?]
Ram: [Agreed.]
Roswaal: [Oh, you're both being sooo harsh.]
Frederica: [But of course.]
Roswaal: [I would be worried, but since Kiyotaka and Garfiel are going with Emilia-sama, it should beeee fine. Negotiations should be easy with Kiyotaka. Besides, with Garfiel there, if anything goes wrong, there shouldn't be much that both he and Kiyotaka can't handle.]
Emilia: [I feel like that'll be really problematic, so I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't come to that!]
Kiyotaka: [It won't come to that. Don't put thoughts like that in Lia's head, Sadistic Clown.]
Roswaal turned to Ram.
Roswaal: [Any wishes to go with Kiyotaka-Kuuun?]
Ram: [Ram will stay with Rem. It wouldn't be responsible for Ram to leave everything at the mansion to Rem.]
Roswaal: [Beatrice. Take care of them okay?]
Beatrice: [You don't have to tell Betty that, I suppose!]
Kiyotaka: [Also. Before we leave, you should teach Ichika your Flight Magic.]
Roswaal: [Um... yes, I'll make time to teach her. Her time is almost up, by the way.]
Kiyotaka: [Still a month left. We'll be leaving for Pristella in 2 weeks. So get her everything she needs to learn the Flight Magic and teach her the basics.]
Roswaal: [You're taking her with you?]
Kiyotaka: [It's a beautiful city, and I only have a month left to spend time with her before she goes back to Pricilla. Besides, she's very capable, so she'll be helpful.]
Kiyotaka: (Ever since Ichika has received tutelage from Roswaal, her magic abilities have increased a massive amount. Soon enough... she'll catch up to Roswaal... maybe even surpass him. At least in single casting spells. Right now... only Roswaal or I would be able to put a stop to her if necessary.)
Roswaal nodded as they left.
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Kiyotaka met Ram outside.
Ram: [Are you going to miss me, Ayanotaka?]
Kiyotaka held her cheek and pressed her forehead to his.
Kiyotaka: [I am going to miss you. Don't forget that fact.]
Ram smiled.
Ram: [Then come back soon.]
Kiyotaka smiled.
Kiyotaka: [I'll be back before you know it.]
Ram: [You better.]
Kiyotaka: [I'll see you when I get back.]
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Garf was running alongside a dragon carriage. Ichika was at the reins with Beatrice next to her. Kiyotaka and Emilia were inside.
Kiyotaka: [Alright. On the way, we should review the Royal Selection.]
Emilia: [Go ahead.]
Kiyotaka: [At the beginning, everyone was either seeing the winner being Anastasia Hoshin or Crusch Karsten. Our camp and the others were seen as fillers. But now that we've received accolades from defeating the『Sin Archbishop Of Sloth』, 『White Whale』and supposedly the『Great Rabbit』.]
Emilia: [Supposedly?]
Kiyotaka: [No one was there to confirm its defeat.]
Emilia: [I see.]
Kiyotaka: [It's alright. Even with that, our reputation has seen an impressive increase. Currently, we're in second. Behind Anastasia's Camp. In third is Crusch, and in fourth is Pricilla. And in the last... Felt.]
Emilia: [We're in second?]
Kiyotaka: [It's because no one remembers Crusch. Because of that, the credit for the death of the『White Whale』split between us and Anastasia. Crusch got a bit of credit, but with everyone's memories... being gone... and out of the three camps left, ours had the best accolades.]
Emilia: [Oh...]
Kiyotaka: [It's alright. We've made progress using our own strengths. We'll make it to first place eventually. Besides, I actually think it's remarkable that Crusch has recovered so well.]
Emilia: [You're right.]
Kiyotaka: [However, Pricilla's camp has gained some recognition. After inheriting her late husband's domain, she quickly allied with influential figures who were shaken by the unstable political climate. With her looks and charisma, she's now revered as the『Sun Princess』, gaining momentum with each day.]
Kiyotaka: (How many husbands is that now? 8?)
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: [The last place has also grown quite a bit, too. She's begun recruiting people who are held back because of their attitudes and status or troubled pasts.]
Emilia: [Wow.]
Emilia then put her finger to her lip while looking up.
Emilia: [Anastasia's being backed by the massive Hoshin company, right?]
Kiyotaka: [That's right. They have quite a lot of resources on hand.]
Emilia: [Hm...]
Kiyotaka: [It's alright. There's still a long time before the Royal Selection is over.]
Emilia: [You're right.]
Kiyotaka: [We should almost be there. Ichika. What can you see?]
Ichika: [Zzz.]
Beatrice: [Wake up, you fool!]
Ichika: [Huh? Uh... Woah! A huge city!]
Kiyotaka looked out the window. He could see the massive city on the horizon.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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