“Thus, we will commence the first emergency meeting of the Element Masters.”
“The agenda concerns the matter of Chrono taking the princess of Avalon to bed while we were away.”
“No, no, no, wait, hold on a second!”
The lounge, which was supposed to be filled with pleasant souvenir stories, has now transformed into a dangerously tense zone.
Opposite me, seated in a chair, are Lily, who has transformed into a girl while wearing a white pun robe, and Fiona, who for some reason is still holding ‘Ainz Bloom’ despite being indoors, both standing with a striking presence. Both of them seem fired up enough to take on a Rank 5 Monster right now.
However, there are no strong monsters around here, and I am the only one sitting in the chair prepared in the center of the room, facing the two of them.
Since I am seated, my eye level is about the same as Fiona’s. It feels as if my height has shrunk, no, essentially it means there’s a sense of intimidation.
“Well, I will wait. Until Chrono spills everything.”
“Hey, Chrono, you’re going to tell us the whole truth, right?”
In her eyes, Lily implicitly suggests that even if he lies, they’ll know immediately through telepathy. This is terrifying.
What the hell is going on?! Is a new trial beginning already?!
What’s with this overwhelming presence? If I’m going to be thrown into this hell, I’d rather be fighting Greedg at least.
“Chrono?”
“Uh, um, well, this is—”
So, I stuttered, sweating nervously, completely flustered as I spoke. I told them everything.
Meeting Nel, learning magic, teaching cooking, participating in the ‘Cursed Weapon Gladiatorial Tournament,’ winning, injuring and healing my right arm. And the battles at Ischia Castle.
As Fiona said, I spilled everything, all of it.
What could I say—something amusing, and yet something I was proud to share with the two of them?
I never expected to be recounting such a tale with this kind of feeling…
“—And that’s how I became friends with Nel.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“I see, so that’s how it was.”
“I’m glad the two of you understand—”
“Chrono, you’re too defenseless.”
“Chrono-san, you’re far too defenseless.”
Why do I get the feeling that even though I thought all misunderstandings had been cleared up, I received an entirely unexpected response? Moreover, both of them gave the same reaction as if they had coordinated it. Their gazes remain cold.
“W-wait, what do you mean I’m defenseless?”
If anything, it’s Nel who’s defenseless. She has approached a guy like me from the very beginning without any caution, and most importantly, the physical distance is very close. There’s barely ten centimeters of personal space.
“That won’t do, Chrono. You need to be more wary of women who come close.”
“Yes, you never know what their ulterior motives might be.”
“Actually, isn’t that more about women’s caution…?”
With a thud, Fiona’s staff hits the floor. Please stop, Fiona, that’s scary.
“Listen Chrono, women are monsters.”
What kind of theory is that? But Lily’s eyes are unwaveringly serious.
“With a man like Chrono, you’d be a prime target.”
I wonder if that’s a compliment. Given Fiona’s condescending gaze, it doesn’t feel that way at all.
“But I don’t really have experience being particularly popular.”
Today, during the parade, the prince Nero, the white knight, was being cheered by women, which should represent what true popularity looks like.
Despite practicing with Mia, the absolute silence and the absence of any cheering were clear indicators that I did not capture any hearts from women. Rather, it seemed like they were completely put off.
“I know Chrono’s charm better than anyone, but—”
“No, I also know Chrono-san’s charm.”
“Even objectively speaking, Chrono possesses a considerable amount of appealing traits as a man.”
R-really…? From my viewpoint, those compliments seem rather hard to believe. Could it be that I’m just being biased?
“First, your kindness. I could even say you are excessively kind.”
“You allowed me to make friendly fire and forgave me without getting angry.”
Well, while I don’t consider myself particularly short-tempered, I can definitely lose my cool, and when I do, I’m capable of killing without hesitation. I’ve killed countless soldiers from the crusaders and those masked guys from the experiment facility.
Also, Fiona, even if I don’t get angry with friendly fire, I am still scared.
“And you’re strong. There aren’t many who can defeat Chrono.”
“You could eat my friendly fire and still be perfectly fine.”
I am confident that I won’t easily lose. If it’s a fight against an apostle or the combination of Lily and Fiona seriously fighting together, I would be done for.
Moreover, Fiona, I feel pain when I take damage too. Don’t get the wrong idea.
“You’re tall, and your physique is trained to the point that Spada knights can’t compare.”
“You have a great body, Chrono-san. You could even strip right here if you wanted to.”
I have always thought that my height was the only point I could boast about as a man ever since I was a high school student. Though, because of my face, it just enhances the terror and intimidation.
Besides, my physique was forcibly shaped by my experimental life. Right now, I’m not training at all; rather, I’m focusing on researching magic. That’s why I’m a black mage.
And let’s just ignore Fiona’s casual sexual harassment comment.
“And then, as for my face—oh, yes, I think I’m really handsome, but it’s a matter of preference.”
“Yeah, if a child saw you, they’d probably cry.”
“Whoa—so that really is the case, damn it!”
Even Lily seemed unable to follow up on my fierce-looking face.
Oh, how nostalgic it is to remember the times when Shirazaki would look down and tremble in fear every time she faced me.
Really, Lily and Fiona—and even Nel—must be in quite a tolerant pattern regarding appearances. Since I stumble at first impressions above all else, things like this are truly appreciated.
“Anyway, Chrono has this much charm on the surface. For women from Spada who love strong men, he’d particularly be well-received.”
“Of course, both Lily and I aren’t staying with Chrono-san just because of those factors.”
Oh, I get it, Fiona. I understand that both of you are special to me as well.
“But not all women can understand Chrono like me and Fiona do.”
“Meaning you never know what ulterior motives they might harbor. Chrono-san, if a woman approaches you, you’d kindly respond without any caution, wouldn’t you?”
Th-that… While I try to be mindful of not being rude, after all, I am still a man. I wouldn’t feel bad if a woman spoke to me.
“And once Chrono becomes friends with someone, he wouldn’t so easily abandon them, right?”
“There’s a risk that those affections of Chrono might be exploited.”
Even if I have those affections, I believe I can only respond within the bounds of common sense. Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean I would casually lend out large sums to them or act as a co-signer or engage in criminal activities.
“Well, I understand what you two are trying to say. There are definitely not just good people in this world.”
Rather, in this other world, villains seem to be rampant. Of course, I’ve also encountered good people and also faced partings.
“Yes, yes, Chrono understands that much as common sense, right?”
“But Chrono-san, you’re still defenseless.”
Wait, how did we circle back to that? What exactly did I do that made me defenseless!?
“I’ll say it clearly, that princess Nel from Avalon is suspicious.”
“…Huh?”
With a serious expression, Lily asserts this, and against my better judgment, a foolish sound escapes me.
“See, Lily-san? Your caution level was zero after all.”
It’s just me who doesn’t understand the meaning. What exactly do Lily and Fiona find suspicious about gentle Nel?
“But that might be understandable. After all, Chrono, you’re not originally from this world.”
“Right, in Japan or whatever, it seems there are no nobles or slaves.”
“…Could it be that the fact that Nel is royal is the problem?”
Both of them exhale simultaneously, a synchronized sigh—a perfect combination. What could be the answer?
“That’s exactly it. Forming a relationship with someone of the highest class like royalty in a twisted form that isn’t recognized by those around you is a very dangerous situation.”
“Eh, but Wil—”
“That’s fine.”
“That person is fine.”
What kind of difference is that in their reactions? Is this also a matter of popularity? And by the way, Lily just referred to him as “that person”…
“Prince Wilhart is a person you can trust. He may have a bit of imaginative quirks and symptoms of delusion, but despite that, he can still distinguish between fantasies and reality.”
“Telepathy is truly a useful ability.”
So, Wil’s gray matter had somehow come under Lily’s telepathic check without my knowledge. I should keep this a secret, just between the Element Masters.
“But as for that princess… I couldn’t gauge what she was thinking at all. She must possess some telepathic abilities as well.”
“Ah, not as much as Lily, but—unless I make direct contact, I can’t read emotions—”
“Have you touched her?”
“Huh?”
“Did you touch Chrono-san?”
The intensity in Fiona’s eyes when she asks this is quite serious. Her usual drowsy eyes are slightly widened, and her golden irises are sparkling with intensity.
At the next moment, she emanated an aura that seemed ready to unleash a fire attack magic spell with her long staff.
“Well, I did hold her hand. Thanks to that, I was able to learn ‘Strength Enhancement’ and it also served as the basis for awakening the First Blessing. You see, it’s amazing, this ‘Magic of Fire’—”
“That’s not the issue…”
In what seemed like endurance against pain, Fiona quickly turned her face away, leaving those strained words.
“Calm down, Fiona.”
“…I’m sorry.”
What on earth shocked her so much? Fiona hid her face behind her signature triangular hat, concealing her expression.
I am a bit taken aback by the rarely seen flustered side of Fiona—moreover, the memory of the time when the ring I gifted to her broke and she kept smashing it with her staff while looking like a killer, sends a chill down my spine.
“There’s a chance that Chrono’s memory was pried into at that moment.”
There’s no way Nel would trample on someone’s privacy like that. However, I’m the only one who can believe that about her.
“But that’s something I can’t verify anymore. Just be careful from now on—especially with other telepaths besides me.”
“Speaking of which, Lily-san, you once tried to probe my mind too, didn’t you?”
Having regained her calm, Fiona casually points this out. Of course, Lily elegantly brushes it aside.
In any case, it was negligent of us to not realize ahead of time that Nel had telepathy and to have ended up in a situation where she could read our thoughts. If she were as powerful as Lily, who could read minds simply by standing in front of someone, I could only equip myself with mental defense magical tools—if that.
But still, it was thanks to Nel using telepathy that I could comprehend contemporary magical techniques…
“Chrono seems to trust that princess to some extent, but the problem is that it’s not a matter confined to just the two of you.”
That’s the “twisted relationship not recognized by those around” that Lily mentioned earlier.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that I completely forgot about that until now… I’m known in the School of the Gods as either the ‘Evil Tentacle Man’ or ‘Black Nightmare Berserker’…”
Who would be convinced that a man with such clearly dangerous titles is friends with the lovely princess? If I were on the outside looking in, I would think, “What a ridiculous situation.”
“Even if you didn’t have that infamous, ill-fated reputation, there would still be great resentment simply because a mere adventurer got close to the princess of Avalon.”
Indeed, that reaction is easy to imagine. I can’t believe I hadn’t considered this before; I’ve been foolishly neglecting to reflect on these issues due to my own failure to comprehend.
As an excuse, it could very well be that my loneliness from not having Lily and Fiona around caused me to unconsciously lean on Nel’s presence.
“Hey, Chrono, while I was away, were you bothered by anyone? If so, let me know right away; I’ll take care of them.”
“Yeah, I’ll blow them up.”
“Ah, no, that’s not necessary for now.”
Now that I think about it, right after the dining hall incident, both of them were extremely furious. While I appreciate their care for their comrades, there’s a slight fear that they could very well go on a rampage, and I’m genuinely scared of it.
For now, if the level of harassment was limited to thumbtacks in my shoes or doodles on my desk, I would keep it to myself. Well, there are no desks or shoes in the School of the Gods anyway.
“But still, the biggest concern is not knowing what kind of trouble that princess might cause Chrono.”
“Trouble? Rather than being bothersome, I have mostly received help from Nel.”
“No, you see, since Lily-san couldn’t uncover her true intentions, we have no idea what she’s planning. Even if she has no intention of putting Chrono-san in a trap, there’s a worst-case scenario where her mood could suddenly sour or she could harbor grudges, and that could lead to a disrespect charge and execution.”
H-here it comes… mortally dangerous disrespect charges… so that possibility really exists…
“Even outside of that, with her royal status, it’s easy to ruin the life of an adventurer.”
In my mind, I can picture Nel shouting, “I said to step back! I will execute you for treason!!” at the arena.
Certainly, she could bring about someone’s demise, not to mention ruin, with just an order spoken flippantly.
I can’t help but wonder if someone like that Chris character will be okay.
“If she is of a mind to do so, it will surely happen. And even if she doesn’t mean it, there’s a high chance people around her will misinterpret things and escalate it further.”
“Well, if I were to be made a wanted criminal by Avalon, then I wouldn’t just be fighting the Crusaders anymore.”
“T-that’s… bad.”
“Yes, it’s very bad.”
“It’s bad.”
Oh no, I had never harbored a sense of crisis this severe until now. I am beginning to feel the weight of Nel’s royal status in its true essence. Could it be I was merely viewing her status akin to a wealthy classmate?
“That’s why Chrono is still inattentive to social rank.”
“There are proper boundaries regarding royals or nobles. If Chrono-san becomes close with the princess like he would with us… that would be bad.”
I finally understand why the two of them were so furious, or rather, not furious but incredibly serious.
“I apologize for causing you unnecessary worry due to my negligence.”
At first, I thought they mistakenly believed I had brought a woman to bed while they were away and that I was in trouble… Dammit, what a foolish misunderstanding.
Lily and Fiona were simply worrying about me.
“It’s okay, as long as Chrono understands.”
“And from now on, we will be by your side, Chrono-san, so please be assured.”
The kind smiles returned to their faces.
“Thank you. I’ll be more careful from now on as well.”
Thus, having truly felt the preciousness of my party members, the first emergency meeting of the Element Masters came to a close.
For those hoping for a chaotic scene, I truly apologize. While it seemed there would be chaos, Lily’s plan was actually to guide Chrono to avoid Nel while simultaneously raising his favorability and trust in himself.
May 3, 2013
With the opportunity for publication knocking, I’ve started a report on my activities. I’ll be promoting the book, but I also intend to share behind-the-scenes stories of the Black Demon King that I couldn’t convey in the ‘afterword’ this far. I would be grateful if you could check this alongside the main story.