Chapter 1671 – Re: Founding Festival ③

Early in the morning on the day of the Hydra Kingdom’s Founding Festival, Lilia, who had been invited to the ceremony, came to the designated place by teleportation using her special magic tool.

Although there was still some time before the start of the Founding Festival ceremony, she visited the place early because she had to make preliminary greetings. Even so, it’s not necessary to arrive the day before unlike back in Archlesia Empire, so it’s somewhat carefree……

[……Unnn?]

[What’s the matter, Lili?]

[Ahh, no, it’s just that the air around feels somewhat tense…… I have a bad feeling about this.]

Lilia, accompanied by Sieglinde as her guard and Lunamaria as her aide, has come for a visit as a trio. Upon arriving in Hydra Kingdom, a rather dubious expression immediately appeared on Lilia’s face, prompting Sieglinde to ask her about it…… However, Lilia herself didn’t seem to understand the cause of her uneasy premonition and was unable to give a proper response.

[Fumu…… Luna, do you feel anything?]

[No, not really…… If Lili’s the one having a bad premonition, could it be that some unexpected event may occur or there could be a chance encounter with a high-ranking individual?]

[Please stop with the unpleasant assumptions. Well, I also have this hunch, but I don’t really have a specific basis for it…… For the time being, shall we go and greet King Laguna?]

She felt somewhat uneasy upon not being able to find a clear answer, but even though couldn’t shake off the unpleasant feeling, she quickly regained her composure and headed into the royal castle.

The guests, including Lilia, were given a magic tool that would allow them to teleport to an area near the castle, and since the castle was just a stone’s throw away, they would soon arrive there.

And it seemed like they arrived at a good moment in which Laguna was ready to meet them, as they were led directly to the room where she was staying.

After they saw off the guide who left with a bow, Lilia knocked on the door before entering the room.

[……Excuse my intrusion. Your Majesty Laguna, I have come to greet…… you?]

[……Ohh, young Lilia…… Young Lunamaria and young Sieglinde are also with you huh…… I’m glad you came, welcome.]

[U- Umm, Your Majesty Laguna? Are you alright?]

Signs of exhaustion were clearly evident in Laguna’s face that Lilia couldn’t help pointing it out, and even at a glance, she was completely worn out.

However, such a thing raises doubts in Lilia’s mind. Lilia was well aware that Laguna is the strongest in the Human Realm and was among the few powerful beings in the world as a whole.

Even if she were to fight relentlessly for three days and three nights without rest, Laguna possessed overwhelming physical strength to the point where she wouldn’t get tired that much. Therefore, Laguna’s current exhaustion seemed more likely to be mental rather than physical…… That said, considering Laguna’s cunning that belied her appearance from living for a long time and her mental strength, it was unimaginable that she would be so exhausted in the presence of Lilia that she couldn’t even keep up appearances.

[……Ahh, my bad. I’ve shown you quite an unseemly side. Well, last night, I went through a rather mentally challenging situation…… Haha, as expected, even I couldn’t help being thoroughly exhausted. Ahh, we were exchanging greetings, right?]

[……Your Majesty Laguna, my apologies, but I have a very bad feeling about this, so I’d like to leave and not attend……]

[Whoa there, young Lilia, that’s an extremely rude thing to do…… Young Lilia and I, we are close buddies, aren’t we? Please don’t speak of such unsympathetic words.]

[No, it’s just that attending this event is, well, my instincts…… or rather, my stomach is reacting very quickly, so I have a bad feeling about this.]

Convinced that her earlier bad premonition wasn’t mistaken, Lilia felt like returning to her mansion and shut herself in as soon as possible.

The hardships she had endured up to this point were like a premonition warning her. If she stays in this place, she will get into a situation that will lead to her stomach getting a lot of hurting……

In response to Lilia’s words, Laguna rose from her seat with a gentle smile on her lips, and placing her hands on Lilia’s shoulders, she firmly grasped them.

[Hahaha…… I shall not let you escape…… For such a time when it really matters, I definitely want young Lilia to be here.]

[Geez, you saying that “for such a time when it really matters” really makes me anxious though!? Seriously, what in the world is going on!?]

[…………Do you want to know?]

[I don’t want to know! Please let me go home!!!]

Laguna restrained Lilia, who was still desperately resisting, with all her strength. Such a thing is possible because both of their strengths are somewhat evenly matched, but for Lilia, it also means that her escape route has been blocked.

Laguna and Lilia usually engage in a sparring match once a month. They have a fair amount of interactions and are on good terms, making their current relationship quite comfortable. However, in a sense, this familiarity may be causing Lilia an unexpected disaster.

Thereupon, with a gentle smile that only made Lilia feel shivers, Laguna spoke.

[……I heard that Shallow Vernal-sama is going to be here for the Founding Festival.]

[……………………..]

The moment she heard those words, Lilia absentmindedly looked at the distance, her face dyed with despair. The fact that one of her hands unconsciously pressed down on her stomach was perhaps, in a sense, inevitable.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [If things are like that, it’s likely that the Gods are going to arrive the day before and set up tight security and precautions…… Ahh, wait, so that’s why Lilia had a bad feeling the moment they arrived huh……]