I arrived at the venue where the Esto Trading Company's founding ceremony was being held.
It must be quite a large trading company, as the crowd was swarming like a festival was taking place.
"This is impressive."
"Indeed."
"Let's go in. The Princess will likely be seated at the front in the place of honor."
When the security guards blocking the entrance demanded invitations, Kaiden pulled out two invitation cards from inside his robe.
"You may enter."
The guards let us through without hesitation after seeing them.
That must be magic too.
If only I were a bit smarter, I could have become a mage as well.
"Kaiden. This way."
When Kaiden stumbled from being jostled by the crowd, I took the lead and grabbed his wrist to pull him along.
"I apologize, Dian. With the event in progress, it would be inappropriate to use magic here."
"That would cause trouble. Just follow me closely."
Despite my confident words, there were so many people that our progress toward the front row was painfully slow.
This is seriously no joke!
But no matter how large a trading company might be, it's still just a private business.
For a mere private company to invite the Second Princess, the Imperial Security Director and highest authority in the Imperial Castle, and for her to actually accept?
Suddenly, I recalled what Kaiden had said.
He mentioned that she was so busy attending events like trading company inaugurations that it seemed like the Imperial Castle would collapse.
Hmm... that's right...
"There she is."
Looking in the direction Kaiden pointed, I could see the Second Princess conversing with people.
Just like Ismera, she had a tall, slender figure with silky silver hair, and scars covering half her face.
It was such a distinctive combination of features that you could spot her immediately even if she were thrown into the middle of a battlefield with armies clashing around her.
"She seems to be having an important conversation. Let's wait a moment."
Following Kaiden's suggestion, we retreated to a corner and waited for the Princess to finish her conversation.
The Second Princess spoke with a smiling face, occasionally patting her conversation partners on the shoulder.
Every gesture and expression exuded an overwhelming presence befitting a princess of the nation.
Behind the Princess stood a young man wearing the Imperial Castle's formal attire, likely her personal adjutant.
I think he was the one who guided us when I came to the Imperial Castle with Linus before.
The adjutant was carefully surveying the surroundings as if providing security, and our eyes happened to meet.
After staring at my face intently, the adjutant whispered something to the Princess.
The Princess paused her conversation and turned her head toward me.
When I slightly bowed my head, the Princess smiled and gestured with her hand.
It seemed to mean that we should wait a moment.
"Let's wait. If you're bored, shall I perform some magic?"
Before I could answer, Kaiden had already cast an illusion spell.
"Professor Dian."
This time, Ismera and Kirrin appeared before me wearing something like string bikinis.
"Oh my, ahem!"
Kaiden quietly laughed and changed the illusion.
And this time it was Rormane...?!
"Hey, you...!"
"I'm sorry."
As Rormane disappeared, I unconsciously sighed and wiped my forehead.
It was because seeing Rormane's uniquely dull yet chilling eyes made cold sweat run down my back.
"I see you're still afraid of her."
"Of course I am. You are too."
"Yes, I am."
At that moment, the Second Princess walked toward us.
"Dian. What brings you here? And with Mage Kaiden as well?"
"Greetings, Your Highness."
When Kaiden greeted her, a somewhat mischievous smile appeared on the Princess's face.
"Have you met the Chief Mage of the Imperial Castle?"
"I have. Seeing him after so long, I was overwhelmed with joy."
"I can imagine. So, what brings you two here?"
"I've come to make a suggestion regarding the competition, taking the liberty to seek your audience."
"Hmm, I see. The competition. Tell me."
"Let's use illusion magic for the competition."
When the Princess gave him a questioning look, Kaiden cast a spell.
Immediately, our surroundings transformed into a dark corridor of some facility.
"What is this?!"
As the startled adjutant grabbed his sword hilt, the Princess stopped him.
"It's illusion magic. Be at ease."
After seeing the background that was indistinguishable from reality and a virtual guard standing with his back to us, the Princess nodded.
"I understand. Adjutant. Your sword."
Taking the sword from her adjutant, the Princess walked forward with clicking steps and beheaded the guard without hesitation.
As the head fell and blood exploded like a fountain, a look of satisfaction appeared on the Princess's face.
"Remarkably realistic."
"Indeed. How about using illusion magic instead of straw dummies, Your Highness? Kaiden has also agreed to help."
"Not bad. No, I quite like it."
The Princess handed the sword back to her adjutant and looked at Kaiden.
"Lord Kaiden."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I recall sending several messages to you from the Imperial Castle."
"That did happen."
"You didn't respond with even a single word then, yet now you've suddenly come out of the Magic Tower. May I ask why?"
"Because Dian requested it."
The Princess's half-smile widened at Kaiden's straightforward answer.
"I see. You seem to hold quite special feelings for Dian."
"We've overcome hardships and adversities together. And Dian is also my savior who led me back to the world."
"Indeed. If that's the case, it's only natural to help, putting everything else aside."
Kaiden answered with a slight bow of his head.
"I approve the implementation of illusion magic for the competition. And while we're at it, what do you think about transforming the entire evaluation venue with illusion magic?"
"That's possible."
"Good, Lord Kaiden. Let's do that. Although it came through Dian, I appreciate you helping the Imperial Castle now, regardless."
"I'm helping Dian, not the Imperial Castle. Once the competition ends, I'll return to the Magic Tower."
"Haha. As you wish."
The adjutant showed signs of discomfort at Kaiden's somewhat bold response.
However, the Second Princess showed no reaction and simply smiled.
# # # # #
After Dian and Kaiden left, the adjutant whispered to the Second Princess.
"Your Majesty. Is this acceptable?"
"What concerns you?"
"Mage Kaiden. Until now, he's been hiding in the Magic Tower, never responding to the Imperial Castle's summons, yet he suddenly appears."
"It's fine. Kaiden is someone who has no interest in anything but magic."
"Then why would such a person involve himself in matters outside of magic...?"
"You heard him. It's because of Dian."
The Second Princess said, watching Dian walk away.
"Dian is a member of the Demon King Assassination Task Force. So is Kaiden. Having entrusted their lives to each other, he can grant such requests."
"I see..."
"That's also why Dian, who disappeared for ten years, willingly became an Academy professor at Lord Linus's request."
"How curious indeed."
"What is?"
The adjutant spoke with a contemplative expression.
"During the war, numerous special task forces were active, but most didn't end well. They were annihilated or driven to extreme situations, becoming worse than strangers to each other. Yet for some reason, Lord Linus's Demon King Assassination Task Force maintains an amazingly strong mutual trust."
"I wonder about that too. Let's go now."
The Princess and her adjutant left the venue, fending off people who were trying to approach them just to make their presence known.
# # # # #
"Wooooow! This is amaaaazing!!"
Kirrin, her ears standing straight up, was making a commotion with her strange shrieks.
"Oh my goodness! What on earth can't Dian accomplish when he sets his mind to it?! This works perfectly! That works perfectly! Everything works perfectly! Everything just clicks!"
"Please stop, Principal. Let's maintain some dignity."
At that, Kirrin drooped her ears and glanced sideways at Ismera sitting beside her.
Right now, instead of killing Kirrin with her glare, Ismera was staring at the table with empty, hollow eyes.
It's probably because I confidently went and successfully got approval from the Second Princess.
"The competition is tomorrow, right? So I had an idea."
Kirrin said, watching Ismera's reaction.
"To cheer everyone up, I'd like to treat the kids to something delicious tonight. Would that be okay?"
"That's fine. But let's eat at home instead of going out. It would be terrible if something happened while we were out."
"Ah, right, right. Then I'll come to your house, Dian. I'll bring various things. Will Professor Ismera... be there too?"
But Ismera didn't answer. It seemed she hadn't heard rather than ignoring the question.
"Yes. Professor Ismera will be there. She's always at our house at that time."
"Oh, really...? Even... in the evening...?"
Kirrin stammered slightly, appearing somewhat flustered.
"Hmm, I wonder why Professor Ismera would be at Dian's house in the evening..."
"She's there to supervise the students' evening study sessions. What are you thinking? She doesn't sleep there, you know?"
"What? Oh, um. That's a relief then."
I don't know what's such a relief, really. How clueless.
"By the way, isn't that mage Kaiden coming?"
"He went back to the Magic Tower."
"Why? I wanted to treat him too."
"That would be unfair to the others. And he's also shy."
"I see... Well, can't be helped. Let's eat together, just us. It's a party, a party!"
The Dark Elf was all smiles, while the Pure-blood Elf looked like a rotten leaf.
What a rare sight indeed.