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Volume 3 Chapter 10.5

Translator: Reflet
Editor: Weasalopes

　Tatsuya and Mio pointed out some odd aspects of their plan, and the priestess princess procession simply grimaced in response. They were full aware that having someone wear a maid outfit in a situation other than housekeeping was a bit of a stretch. As they were figuring out how to explain that part, octogals sprang out from the pot hanging from Douga’s waist.

「Elf～」

「Big bust～」

「Maid～」

「Priestess～」

「What kind of eroge is that～？」

「Shut your trap！」

　Tatsuya immediately snapped at the octogals (he was secretly thinking the same thing in his head). It wasn’t her fault, but the maid outfit with Artiem’s affinity was just dubious.

「So when’d you even meet these people？」

「The beginning of April～」

「We snuck over here hiding in Chem-chan’s luggage～」

「Ran into Elle-chan at the castle～」

「Dispose of body～」

「Seriously, what body are you trying to dispose of……」

　As usual, one of the octogals brought up disposing of a body, and Tatsuya, exhausted by the minute, questioned them politely. He knew they wouldn’t get anywhere if he kept commenting, but the thing is, the conversation might not advance unless he commented. How troubling.

「Well do not worry. We have not hindered the job in any way with this little joke.」

「Why is it that I feel totally worried right now？」

「Ahahahahaha……」

　Artiem laughed drily at the flow of conversation with an indescribable expression on her face. Usually she was the victim, but when it came to the octogals and Aranwen, she couldn’t help but feel responsible. The elf’s personality was doing no favors for her.

「Oh, someone’s here y’all.」

「Okay okay, hide hide.」

「Ka～y.」

「We’ll be back～」

　Sensing footsteps approaching them, they urged the octogals to leave immediately. Once the octogals complied and went off somewhere, a rigid-looking man who appeared to be approaching middle age called out to them. This was Sergio, the queen’s retainer sent to greet them.

「Terribly sorry to interrupt. Her Highness is ready. We’ve prepared tea, so please come this way.」

「Understood.」

「Got it.」

　Sergio had probably noticed the octogals, but since they already came out here once, they’d probably just keep coming out again as much as they wanted anyway, so the group didn’t overthink it too much. To ensure they weren’t punished from the get-go, the group decided it was best to run it by the queen and her retainer when the time was right. Just the mere fact that the were thinking about things that didn’t matter all that much showed the group didn’t dislike the octogals.

　Then they were taken along a rather unfamiliar path for about five minutes and guided into a small, slightly desolate room in a rather remote area.

「Welcome, welcome. I am Misheila, Queen Misheila. I apologize for having you come inside a place like this, but there are some matters to discuss that are a bit difficult to address in public. It’s rather inconvenient, but please do understand.」

「We’re honored to be here. Please don’t worry.」

　After glancing at the guide for permission, Douga responded to the queen on behalf of everyone there, since he was still supposed to act the part of Aearis’ grandfather.

『Hey, ya got a minute？』

　Clearly perplexed that the woman who came every day to dominate the food stands and make Haruna sing for her was the queen, Hiroshi spoke to everyone via the telepathic party chat.

『What’s up？』

『Is that seriously the queen, y’all？』

『From the way Doul was acting, yes, I think she’s the real deal.』

『Is there an issue with that？』

　The Japanese members attempted to keep a straight face with Hiroshi’s sudden question, but they couldn’t entirely hide their growing bewilderment. And then Hiroshi dropped another bomb to add fuel to the fire.

『I think she’s probably Alvan, y’all.』

『……Wha？』

　Only Haruna could even respond to Hiroshi’s blast. The other three didn’t even understand what he was saying, their movement completely stopped.

「It seems that you youngsters have something you want to say.」

「Ah～、I mean, we’re not totally up for discussin’ it at the moment……」

「Oh, do not worry. There are none here who would disclose anything.」

「Still, I’m kinda scared, so I’m gonna write the question on paper and make sure it burns up once yer done readin’ it.」

　Hiroshi said in a roundabout manner as he took out memo paper and a ball point pen from his pocket and began to write out the question as he made a simple enchantment on it. He folded it in half so that only the queen could read it, getting permission from the retainer to hand it directly to her.

　As she took the paper into her hands, the queen looked momentarily surprised before smiling awkwardly and hiding that surprise. Left out of the loop, the retainer and priestess princess’s group could only judge that Hiroshi had dropped an unbelievable bomb. But the paper had already burned up and no one else could ever know what was on it.

「Unbelievable. I never thought someone would realize that. I suppose such amazing feats are only natural to the guests from the unknown continent.」

「So I was right?」

「Indeed. And I affirm your question. But do not worry, for I am most definitely the real queen. Sir Doul and Lady Elle, you can testify to this, no？」

「Aye. This lady be Her Majesty in the flesh.」

「I do not know what sort of question was asked, but I can guarantee that Her Highness Misheila is the most respected personage in this country.」

　The Japanese group only showed more confusion on their faces at Douga and Aearis’s affirmation. Grimacing at the way this was going, the queen decided to change the topic.

「It seems things have gotten a bit complicated. I will ensure anyone else is out of the vicinity after tea is served, so do please wait a bit.」

「Ah～、I’m real sorry for makin’ things complicated.」

「Nay, it was my inexperience that exposed me. If I were in your position even I would try and confirm.」

　The queen said confidently as she smiled, ordering the lady in waiting to carry the tea over.

「Now then, how about you all take a seat？」

「Thank you, we shall oblige.」

　The group obeyed and sat down, not really paying attention to ranking. One factor was that it just took too long to figure out the order and the queen would probably tell them to just sit down anyway, so thanks to her magnanimous nature things proceeded smoothly.

「Well, we had you come all this way. Teacake is one of our country’s proud specialties. Then again, despite having enough raw material, we still hardly produce any and cannot come out with many finished goods.」

「These are local specialties？」

「Indeed. Well, you shall soon see why.」

　The queen said, looking forward to the guests’ reactions as the teacakes were carried over. Not long after, the lady attendant silently pushing the cart over picked up plates with small dark pieces (about a mouthful each) on them, placing them along the table in front of everyone.

「……Eh？」

「……This isn’t what I think it is, is it……」

「Hold up! Isn’t this bad!?」

　Tatsuya and the others went pale as they saw what was placed in front of them. But there was one man who reacted more drastically.

「……」

「H-Hiroshi-kun……、A-Are you, ok……？」

　Haruna had anticipated this, but not this much. She timidly called out to Hiroshi who was next to her. However, filled with terror at what was before him, he did not respond to her in the slightest. More accurately, his reaction had already begun at the point when the maid had brought in the cart.

「……Is it、not to your liking？」

「We understand that you prepared such precious treats for us out of the goodness of your heart. We also ate this variety of dessert quite often back home, and the majority of us quite like it.」

「……You have this in your hometown, too?」

「Yes. So some people, on occasion, have met with a terrible fate because of these treats……」

　The queen indirectly realized she had stepped on a land mine. Everyone present completely froze as they looked at the plates of chocolate in front of them, with Hiroshi’s pupils dilating and his face deathly pale all the while.