Chapter 94: Visit of a Friend 2

“Delicious! As expected, Sakuraile’s shop is amazing!” “Fufun, isn’t it, isn’t it.” “No, why is Tifa bragging…”

Luca eating Miso Butter Corn Ramen in front of me, and Tifa sitting next to her with a smug face. The next day, following Tifa of Minuet Queendom, Luca, the First Princess of Prelude Kingdom, arrived. Just like yesterday, I welcomed her, but Tifa was there too, and going with the flow, I ended up summoning ‘Horakuen’ again. Or rather, I think Tifa just wanted to eat again. Actually eating Curry Rice next to Luca.

“Glad to meet you two again.” “Umu. I am happy to meet Estelle too.” “Have you been well?”

Estelle next to me exchanges greetings casually. You’ve grown, Estelle… Before, you were super stiff… Conversely, the ones stiff are Bianca and Ritsu at the counter seats. Well, suddenly being with two princesses might make them nervous. Plus their edgy guards are here too. Bianca is giving Estelle, who talks familiarly to the two, a look saying ‘Oi, is this okay…?’. Worrying too much.

“Heard things were rough over there in various ways. Reached Minuet too, you know? Magic Sword disturbance, Spirit Tree incident and such.” “I heard too. That Sakuraile cured the curse disease and prevented it from spreading to the world. And purified the undead army too.”

Sounds somewhat exaggerated though. Probably has dorsal fins and pectoral fins attached, not just tail fins… In this world, the further you go, the more information differs from truth. Can’t this telephone game stop somehow…

“That is right! Lady Sakuraile resolved everything!”

Hey, wait! What are you doing exaggerating, Estelle, who was close by!? Preventing the curse disease was thanks to the Traumerei parent and child, and the undead army was thanks to the Knight Commander General and everyone too! I spent time conveying accurate information to Tifa and Luca and clearing misunderstandings.

“Fumu. Not entirely lies then. You defeated the Black Knight or whatever, and you saved the elves, right?” “Excessive humility becomes sarcasm. Sakuraile should brag confidently.” “No, I don’t intend to brag but…”

Troubling if strange rumors spread. Especially since a ‘Saint’ or whatever is coming from Gospel Kingdom.

“Come to think of it, heard Imperial Family guests are coming from Allegretto Empire unusually.” “Yeah. Fourth Imperial Princess and Ninth Imperial Princess, seemingly. Ninth Imperial Princess is same age as us. Majesty asked me to host. I beg you two, just don’t fight…”

Because I’m the one mediating… Don’t think children’s quarrel would lead to war or economic sanctions, but.

“Relax. I won’t do anything unless they pick a fight from their side.”

Does that mean if they pick a fight, you’ll buy without hesitation? Can’t really relax.

“Since same age, wonder if we can get along?” “Don’t know… Imperial nobles basically look down on us…”

I can’t give an optimistic reply to Luca‘s question. Sister of that Ore-sama Prince… That alone is a minus image. Hope she’s not a high-handed princess or something. But what bothers me a little is, that Ninth Imperial Princess doesn’t appear in the game at all… If same age as protagonist Estelle, she should undoubtedly be entering the ‘Academy’. Is there a reason not to introduce a convenient character like an Imperial Princess…? Well, the Ore-sama Prince appearing in spin-offs has no shadow or form in the main story either, so not impossible… maybe?

“By the way, at ‘Autumn Cooling Party’, other dishes of Sakuraile will appear too, right? Looking forward to it!” “Sweets! Are there sweets!?”

Not my cooking, but my shop’s cooking though. When I tell Luca expecting sweets that there are, her eyes started shining even more.

“Ah, right, remembered.” “? What?”

I presented a notebook in front of Luca who tilted her head. Similarly handed to Tifa and Estelle.

“What’s this?” “Otherworldly notebook. Quite different from ones here, right?”

Luca flips through—parapara—and is surprised. This notebook from the pawn shop is an ordinary university notebook with nothing special. But compared to notebooks in this world, the difference is obvious at a glance.

“First time seeing such pure white notebook. Plant paper?”

Tifa also looks at the notebook surprised. Parchment exists in this world, but plant paper is also used normally. However, whether due to raw materials or technology gap, paper this white doesn’t exist. Quality as paper isn’t that bad, but inevitably becomes dull colored paper like straw paper. Also discolors yellow with sunlight etc. By the way, this university notebook is very popular with Father and in the Royal Palace too. The drawback is currently not enough numbers can be gathered. Only few were sold at the pawn shop. Wish I could summon a stationery store.

“And, this is a colored pen. Like this…”

I draw a deformed cat quickly—sarasara—on my notebook with a highlighter pen. This highlighter was also a five-color set at the pawn shop. Colors are Red, Blue, Pink, Green, Yellow.

“Ooh! Beautiful color!” “I’ll give you that notebook and pen, so try drawing something you two. Something from Prelude and Minuet would be nice.” “Understood. Will draw.”

From there, Tifa and Luca‘s silent drawing time began. What Tifa is drawing is… Sphinx? Huh, were there Sphinxes here too? No, not on Earth though. …Ah, come to think of it, in the route where Tifa appears as Villainess, Sphinx statues sat at the left and right of the underground labyrinth entrance protagonist Estelle challenges. Like a landmark of Minuet Queendom. Luca‘s is… what is this…? Gate?

“This is?” “Prelude Arc de Triomphe.”

Arc de Triomphe, huh. Seems Prelude has a large triumphal arch. Feels like France’s Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, but Luca‘s drawing is, um, unique and hard to understand. However, just as the Royal Capital church resembled Cologne Cathedral and our territorial capital resembled Mont Saint-Michel, I feel Prelude‘s triumphal arch resembles Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile. Nine Goddesses said something like referencing Earth too… Maybe gave such revelation to the creator. The two spent time finishing drawings filling the notebook. Incidentally Estelle is also drawing in her notebook. …Wait, is that perhaps me…? Drawn as a super beautiful girl though… W-Well anyway, setup complete. At that timing, I deliberately raise my voice.

“Ara ara~? Sorry, Luca. That notebook seems to be the one meant for Estelle.” “Eh?”

Closing Luca‘s notebook and showing the cover. On bottom right, small ‘Estelle Klein Euphonium’ was written. On the other hand, Estelle‘s notebook has ‘Lucariora de Prelude’.

“Ah, this one too~”

The notebook with my cat has Tifa‘s name, and Tifa‘s notebook has my name written.

“Forgot I wrote names of everyone to give to on the notebooks.” “What, careless indeed.”

At the timing Tifa replied with a wry smile, I take the action I’ve been thinking about all along.

“Since rewriting names is awkward, let’s exchange notebooks. Will be a memory of today.” “Ooh, that is good. Then this to Sakuraile.”

Receiving the notebook from Tifa, handing the notebook I drew to her in exchange.

“Then, this to Luca-san.” “Nn. Here, Estelle.”

Following me and Tifa‘s notebook exchange, Estelle and Luca similarly exchange notebooks. Watching that sideways, I wore a smirk—niyari—at the corner of my mouth. Just as planned…! With this, the flag ‘Luca scribbled in Estelle’s notebook’ is raised. In the route where Luca becomes Villainess in ‘2’, Luca, instilled with lies by game’s Sakuraile, believes Estelle is a bad woman seducing her brother and does various harassments. Among them, there is a still of ‘Scribbling in Estelle’s notebook’. Normally couldn’t ask Luca ‘Scribble in Estelle’s notebook’, so ended up doing this roundabout way, but well, result all right. If I said ‘Scribble in friend’s notebook’, normally would get ‘Why?’. With this, can clear without much doubt. Rather, receiving Estelle‘s drawing, Luca is happy. Or rather, that notebook will undoubtedly be shown to the capture target brother… Saying ‘This is Sakuraile!’. Wrong, I’m not such a beautiful girl…! If I ever meet the brother who saw the exaggerated drawing in the notebook, won’t he be terribly disappointed…? In this world, naturally no photos, so for example in matchmaking profiles (tsurigaki), sending one’s portrait to the other party is common. And naturally, with strong desire to look good to marriage partner, some exaggerate portraits greatly. To the point of ‘Who is this?’. Seems often results in ‘Eh!?’ upon actual meeting. At this point, it’s marriage fraud… Well, even if Luca‘s brother is disappointed, no problem for me though. Anyway, with this I think one in-game event is cleared. New store Get! While excited for tomorrow to come quickly, I enjoyed the reunion with friends after a long time.