A short distance away, up a gentle slope, stood a building that looked exactly like the kind of extravagant mansion a European noble would live in. It was so enormous that I didn’t even feel like counting the windows, and breathtakingly beautiful. Yet unlike the solemn temple, it radiated a gorgeous yet somehow sturdy, practical atmosphere.

Connected to that mansion by a red-brick path was the plaza we were currently in. Probably about the size of my middle school’s sports ground. The ground here, however, was paved endlessly with neat square stones—no dust in sight.

Beyond the plaza lay an ornamental garden lined with trees different from the forest, plus several small single-story stone buildings. And—

“Good work out there! You’re back awfully quick!”

“Good work. No particular reports from the second or third squads yet.”

I have no idea where they came from, but two teenagers who looked my age snapped sharp salutes in front of Isaac the moment he stepped out of the light circle. One was a short, hyper girl bursting with energy; the other a quiet boy who was her total opposite.

Both wore the same stand-collar uniforms, but unlike the others theirs were white with refreshing light-blue piping. The dark-blue trousers were probably chosen because pure white would show dirt too easily.

Isaac gave them a single nod, then gestured toward me—still being carried by Sieghart—with one hand.

“We recovered a girl who was being used as a body double for the target in our search sector. Judging by her condition, it is highly likely someone is actively assisting the target’s escape. Seiad, relay that to each squad captain and confirm their situations. Soleil, escort her—Miss Nagi—to the baths.”

The two whirled around at the orders, and yep, of course they were ridiculously cute too. Being able to move freely this time around, plus all this eye candy—this dream was seriously spoiling me rotten.

The slim, tall boy had sleek short hair and sharp eyes both in a dark chestnut brown. The color alone was comforting, but he was so beautiful it was intimidating, and the moment he saw me he openly grimaced.

…It didn’t hurt my feelings or anything. I just kinda wanted to drop to the ground and dogeza right there. Because right now I was the polar opposite of hygienic—practically a walking biohazard. Sorry for grossing out a pretty boy.

The girl, meanwhile, barely came up to the boy’s chest. Tiny and delicate, yet radiating pure genki energy.

Fluffy bright-orange hair cut neatly at jaw level, big slightly-upturned aqua eyes like a curious kitten. Super vivid and adorable, and somehow the stiff uniform looked perfect on her.

The instant she registered my appearance, she grabbed her own plump cheeks with both hands and screamed.

“Eeeeeeeeeek!! Blood everywhere! All torn up! What did they do to a girl!?”

An amazing volume that made my ears ring. She came dashing over, hands flapping frantically, face pale.

“I-injuries! To the infirmary, quick—!”

Sieghart, having deftly shifted me to one arm, silently bonked her on the head. …It made a pretty solid thwack. You okay?

“Ow—! What the heck, Sieghart-san!”

The girl clutched her head and yelled. Sieghart replied flatly,

“Look closer, Soleil. She’s not injured.”

“Eh? Oh, really…? But she’s so covered in blood you can’t even tell!”

The girl puffed her cheeks in a pout—and it was insanely cute. My fingertips tingled with the urge to poke them.

She must have an unbelievably sturdy skull, because she instantly brightened again and chirped,

“Well if she’s not hurt that’s good! But being bloody and ragged is still totally not okay! So—bath time!”

“…That was literally your order from the start.”

Whether she heard Sieghart’s grumble or not, the girl flashed me a huge grin.

“Hi! I’m knight apprentice Soleil Barrel. Call me Soleil!”

“Ah, yes. I’m Nagi. Nice to meet you—hey, could you put me down already, Sieghart-san!?”

Maybe because Soleil greeted me so normally, embarrassment suddenly hit me like a truck. Having my first meeting with a cute girl my age while being carried by a ridiculously handsome guy I just met? Mortifying enough to make my vision spin.

But Sieghart’s arms didn’t budge an inch.

“You were hit with a restraining spell when they abandoned you in that forest. I felt the residual traces of a body-paralysis spell when I touched you. You’ll probably have trouble moving for a while, so give up and let yourself be carried.”

“…Ehhh.”

Now that he mentioned it, my body had felt unnaturally sluggish ever since I woke up in the forest. If it were the usual me, I’d be thrashing wildly right now—and then tumble out of his arms and earn myself extra injuries. Sadly, I do not possess the motor skills to land gracefully.

While I stared into the distance, Soleil led the way and I was carried toward the baths deep inside the giant mansion.

(Hmm… Is this whole building one giant maze?)

The place was so ridiculously complicated that stupid thoughts like that popped into my head. According to Soleil, the mansion was Isaac’s personal property and simultaneously the Mage Knight Order’s headquarters.

“By the way, you totally don’t have to remember this, but the captain’s full name is The Right Honourable Isaac Cain Lord Livingston of Elphinstone!”

My eyes went round at the absurdly long name that tumbled out of Soleil’s mouth. Sieghart added calmly,

“My apologies, I forgot to mention. This is the city of Lilburn, the heart of Elphinstone territory, which borders the Hayes territory where you lived to the north. This mansion is Reddington Court—the secondary residence of the lord of Elphinstone, Count Livingston.”

I went completely deadpan.

(Information overload! You can’t just dump that much on me at once, my brain can’t process it!)

I was honestly impressed my own mind came up with such detailed settings. Where was it pulling all this from? My own imagination was starting to scare me a little.

Come to think of it, I said, finding it a bit odd,

“The captain’s a noble even though he has those amazing muscles?”

For some reason my completely arbitrary image of nobles had been “elegant bundles of refinement,” so I’d assumed huge muscles and nobility didn’t mix.

After a brief pause, Sieghart muttered,

“I think it’s fairly normal for martial nobles to be well-trained. Though I’ve never seen anyone with muscles as perfect as the captain’s.”

Soleil’s big eyes sparkled as she clenched both fists excitedly.

“Right!? Those muscles are insane! Insanely trained, perfect heft, yet still supple and flexible—flawless muscles that fuse beauty and practicality! A work of art! The absolute pinnacle of manly chests!!”

“What exactly are you saying.”

(Ah. Sieghart-san just tsukkomi’d.)

So Soleil was a muscle lover, and Sieghart was the quiet type who unexpectedly delivered straight-man lines.

“Muscles are men’s romance!”

“Oh? Then what’s women’s romance?”

Soleil went silent. Apparently she didn’t have much insight into female romance. For some reason, I felt like we’d get along great.

Eventually the apprentice knight girl gave a firm nod and declared with a super serious face,

“Being able to eat all the delicious food you want and never gain weight!”

“That’s not romance, that’s just a wish.”

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