As Aeris-sama’s figure disappeared from our sight, Emilia walked closer.

“Lumina-sama, it’s about time that we leave.”

“W-wait just a moment…”

As thanks to the wonderful time we had spent, Aeris-sama had given the tatami to me. At first, I was really thankful to this gift. However, as soon as my nervousness disappeared, I realized that my legs had gone numbed from sitting too long. So the real reason why he gave me the tatami was because of that. He knew that this was gonna happen.

He’s a really considerate guy huh

“Lumina-sama?”

Emilia asked me with a voice full of worry.

“Why the hell are you still sitting there huh? Did you like the gift he gave you?”

Carlos approached me from the side.

“J-just w-wait…”

Shin who was observing from the side noticed the reason why I couldn’t move.

He then approached me with a really big smile.

“Don’t move her just yet!”

“““ ?”””

Everyone, including Gen. Mayers, floated a question mark because of Shin’s words.

“I know the real reason why Lumina can’t move from her spot.”

Shin raised his finger as he walked.

Don’t tell me this guy’s planning to…

“D-don’t come… a-any closer…”

With a desperate voice, I tried to stop Shin. Hearing my voice, the people around me floated even more question marks. The looks they gave me were signs that they wouldn’t help me because they were curious.

“I wonder if I was born to hear this voice~”

Shin stared at the sky as he stopped in front of me.

“S… s-stop.”

When he returned his gaze to me, he showed me a really satisfied smile.

“If I ever die because of this, however, I’m sure it'll be an honorable death.”

He then placed his index finger on one of my legs and moved it.

“Unn… Kuh…. P… plea… se… kya~!”

As he moved his finger on my leg, I felt a very weird sensation because of his finger. Because the sensation was enough to make me scream, which would make me lose face, I desperately tried to stop it. As a result, instead of a scream, I was letting off moans.

Also, because the sensation was too much, I collapsed on the floor and started wriggling on top of it as I moaned.

“Ufufufu”

Shin covered his nose with his free hand as he continued to move it.

“… s-sto… muu… puw..ease…”

Tears started forming from the corners of my eyes as I did my best to stop my voice from leaking out. I moved my eyes to search for help, however, everyone was solidified in shock as they stared at me.

“Stop it you pervert!”

“Gyaa!”

Eclara appeared from behind Shin and shot him a fireball.

“Haa… Haa…”

Since the source of my agony had disappeared, I weakly lay on top of the tatami and breathe deeply. When I had regained my composure, I glared at everybody.

“Why didn’t anyone help me?”

When I asked that question, everybody, including Gen. Mayers, looked away with a really red face. As I glared at them one by one, I heard a really creepy laugh from Liza. Feeling disturbed by it, I decided to ignore that laugh.

“Are you okay now, Lumina-sama?”

Eclara held out her hand and asked me a question.

“Un, the tingling sensation has disappeared. Thanks.”

I gave Eclara my thanks.

“No, I should be the one who should be thanking you.”

Why!?

“Cough* Then let’s go to the fortress. I think there are still a lot of things we need to do.”

Gen. Mayers spoke in trepidation as he faced his back to me.

“Un…”

When he started walking, I followed him behind. Emilia and the others then followed right after me.

* * * *

Gen. Mayers guided us towards the meeting room inside the fortress. Inside it, I saw 10 people seated on the seats near the round table. Gen. Mayers then sat on a vacant seat and urged me to sit beside him.

The instant I sat, the atmosphere around the room became tense and the people started whispering with one another. When I looked around, I noticed that Emilia and the others were stopped by the soldiers near the door. I then thought that maybe it was part of the military protocol. As such, I didn’t insist on letting them in.

“Oi, what are you doing?”

Carlos stared at the soldiers that stopped him from entering.

“Do you know who I am, huh?”

I spat out a sigh as I realized what was gonna happen if they continued to stop him. Gen. Mayers also had the same thought as me and told the soldiers to allow him to enter. He then walked towards the round table and arbitrarily sat on my left with a scowl. When I stared at him, he moved his gaze towards the other side.

“Let me in! If that shit can get in, why can’t I?”

This time, the one who was stopped by the soldiers was Shin.

“S-Shin… I think this is a bad idea….”

The girl with blond hair tried to stop Shin as she grabbed his arm and weakly tried to pull him away.

“Why?”

“All the people that are sitting there are all high ranking people if you make a ruckus here…”

“Do you want to give trouble to your master’s family, Shin?”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“…”

When Eclara rebuked him, Shin became quiet and stopped forcing his way. The guards near the door then closed the entrance with a thud.

“Well then let’s begin the meeting.”

Gen. Mayers met the eyes of every person inside and decided to start the meeting the moment all the attention focused to him.

“Earlier, this child, Lumina Chis Chem, negotiated with the elves.”

A person with white hair slammed his fist on the table.

“What nonsense! Are you saying that that unknown group of people from earlier was elves!?”

“They were elves. The research I made yesterday and the observations I made with my eyes today proved that they really were elves.”

“So are you saying that the great barrier that’s protecting our country is weakening is true?”

Gen. Mayers made a strong nod as he met the eyes of that person.

“Do you think I’ll believe that load of bullshit?”

“It is a fact. The culture they have and the language they spoke matched what were in the books that described the elves. Even their appearances were different from us.”

“If they have a different language, then how did that girl negotiate with them!?”

Another person from the round table spoke his doubts.

“They have a magic device that allowed people of different language to communicate with one another without problems.”

“You aren’t lying, right? Are you sure you aren’t just using the excuse of that unknown group to create another coup d’état?”

“If the people that are on top still refuses to believe the facts I presented to them, then I’ll use that card.”

“Do you know that the second time you attempt another coup d’état, the King won’t show you any mercy.”

“The next time will be successful.”

Gen. Mayers spoke to them in a really strong voice filled with ambition.

“My colleagues have already presented a lot of nobles about the facts relating to the relic and the barrier. Even at this moment they are doing their best to convince the upper echelons.”

“Pfft, colleagues? All of you are only a bunch of traitors. Do you think anyone will believe the words you people say?”

Gen. Mayers clenched his fist as the people in the round table ridiculed him.

“Even though you’ve witnessed that unknown group of people you still refuse to believe our words?”

“I’m leaving. Ever since you betrayed the four families, you have become a fool! You keep spouting nonsense about the barrier falling and the threat of an invasion looming near us. I refuse to listen to another word that comes out from your mouth.”

“I agree, you, the prime minister, and the upstart merchant have become fools ever since all of you decided to ally yourselves.”

When one of the people, I formerly thought of as his aides, stood up from the round table, the number of people that left started increasing. From the 10 people that were here earlier, only 3 remained seated.

“Haaa, it seems like they’re still obstinate about it.”

Gen. Mayers spat out a very heavy sigh as he made a really weak smile.

“I’m sorry that you had to see such a miserable sight, Lumina-sama.”

For some reason, he apologized to me. Because I got an apology even though he didn’t do anything to me made me feel really bad.

As such, I replied:

“Was that really a miserable sight? The face you made as you met their insults was very heroic. It looked very admirable in my opinion.”

The people that remained stared at me blankly. Feeling embarrassed, I closed my eyes and started thinking of happy thoughts to dispel my embarrassments. However, it only failed.

““““ Hahahahaha””””

The people, except Carlos, started laughing as they held their stomachs.

Did I say something funny? Huh? Are? I was pretty sure I was complimenting him? Why did they laugh?

My cheeks became flushed as I started to think of a way to escape from the embarrassing predicament.

“I didn’t expect such words to come out from your mouth, Lumina-sama.”

“What did you thought I was gonna say?”

I tilted my head as I probed him.

“Nothing… nothing…”

Gen. Mayers waved his hand as he stopped himself from laughing.

“Being beside you makes me feel young again.”

Gen. Mayers made a very satisfied smile to me.

“Okay then… even if I get ridiculed by others or get shot down, I’ll do anything to make the peace talks happen, Lumina-sama. You don’t need to worry about the danger of it failing.”

I gave him a wry smile.

“I don’t care if it fails. Just be careful with your plans. Even if it fails, as long as your still alive, we can always redo everything.”

“Hahaha! Well said! Are you sure you're really 12 years old?”

“Yes.”

When he finished laughing, Gen. Mayers then talked to me about the plans he had in mind. I, along with Carlos, listened to him intently as he gave us a briefing of how it was gonna happen.

Honestly, I really wanted for half of his plans to fail because it included causing riots. However, because it was only one of the many plans he had thought up, I couldn’t really stop him. As such, when the meeting ended, I left the meeting room and headed towards the room I was given.

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep on top of my bed.

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LOL