I’d hoped the crowd would have thinned out during the last hour and a half, but the entrance to the temple was still swarming with nobles and priests. It took a bit of effort just to find Lilia and the others.
Since the majority of those gathered were high-ranking nobles and clergy, the crowd wasn't rowdy or disorganized like a festival mob, so it wasn't impossible to navigate. However, the sheer density of expensive-looking silks and finery meant I had to stay on high alert to avoid bumping into anyone. By the time I reached my group, I was already a little drained.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Welcome back, Kaito. Good work today," Lilia greeted me with a gentle smile.
The number of people arriving was still on the rise, so we decided to head toward the carriage before it became impossible to move. We talked as we walked.
"Huh? Kaito-senpai, what’s that in your hand?"
"Oh, this? It’s some black tea Shiro—I mean, the Goddess—gave me."
Because I’d been focused on regrouping, I was still holding the small jar instead of putting it away in my Magic Box. When Hina asked, I gave her a casual answer as we navigated the path.
For some reason, both Lilia and Lunamaria, who were walking just ahead of us, came to a dead stop.
"...Kaito? I’m sorry, what did you just say?"
"I said I received this jar from the Goddess..."
"...Mr. Miyama, just what exactly did you do to become so favored by a Goddess upon your very first meeting?"
"Well, I mean... we just had some tea and chatted for a bit..."
""Tea with the Goddess!?""
Apparently, my casual remark was utterly beyond their comprehension. Lilia and Lunamaria stopped moving entirely and spun around to stare at me, their eyes wide with shock.
Wait. I think—no, I definitely failed to read the room with that explanation.
"...Luna... how many times have we visited this place? Forget having tea, I’ve never even had a proper conversation with her..."
"My Lady... please, keep your composure. This isn't a failure on your part. I believe Mr. Miyama’s social aptitude is simply far beyond the norm."
"Ah, no... I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration. We really did just talk for a little while."
"Mr. Miyama, to have a personal interaction with a Goddess is an act that signifies a high degree of trust from the God Realm. In noble society, where connections are everything, that is practically a form of divine authority in its own right."
"..."
Wait, what?! This is turning into something way more intense than I expected!
No, no, they’ve got it all wrong. The only reason I got along with Shiro was because of that little girl Demon’s influence. If they start thinking I have some incredible communication skills, I’m in trouble...
Even Lilia was looking at me with a newfound sense of reverence. I had to clear this up, and fast.
"No, Lilia, it’s a misun—"
"Well, well, if it isn't Duchess Albert."
"—derstanding?"
Someone interrupted at the worst possible moment.
"Quite the coincidence, Count Ducas."
"We haven't spoken since the party last night. Has the Duchess also come to receive a Blessing?"
"Yes, we have just finished."
The man who had appeared at such an unfortunate time was apparently a Count named Ducas.
Judging by his incredibly gaudy, glittery outfit, he was the quintessential image of a pompous noble. He was also quite large—mostly horizontally. My first thought was that he looked like some kind of human-Orc hybrid.
"Mr. Miyama, I can guess what you're thinking... but he is a pure-blooded human."
Lunamaria whispered to me, as if sensing my internal monologue.
So he wasn't a demi-human; he was just that heavy. Honestly, a man of that size probably needed to worry about his health. Combined with the density of the crowd, his presence felt incredibly oppressive. It wasn't my place to say anything upon a first meeting, but he really needed to cut back on the fried foods.
"I see the princesses of the otherworld are with you as well. My, what a lovely sight."
""...""
"The beautiful Duchess Albert is a given, of course, but I imagine the young ladies from the otherworld must have looked quite becoming in their ritual robes. It is a true shame I wasn't here to see it."
Count Ducas turned his attention toward us. Completely ignoring me, he directed a greasy, leering grin at Aoi and Hina.
Ugh... the smile made it even worse. He looked like a giant bullfrog. I could feel Aoi and Hina physically recoiling. To be able to direct a gaze that so transparently broadcasted one's own desires was, in a twisted way, almost impressive.
I couldn't just stand there and let him leer at them like that, so I took a step forward, interposing myself between the Count and the two girls.
"Hmm?"
It was the expected reaction. The moment I entered his line of sight, the Count’s expression soured into one of pure annoyance. He really was a simple man, driven entirely by his impulses.
That said, he was still a Count. If I glared back at him, it would only cause trouble for Lilia. I forced a polite smile and bowed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Count. My name is Kaito Miyama, one of the summoned people from the otherworld. I apologize for the interruption, but I realized I had yet to introduce myself."
"...Hoh. My apologies. You were so drab that I took you for a carriage attendant or some other servant."
Wow, he went straight for the insult. The sheer blatantness of the snub was almost refreshing.
Fortunately, I was used to people wondering who the hell I was, and after meeting people like Acht, a mere glare from a noble didn't feel intimidating at all. I kept my smile in place and replied.
"I apologize for my unremarkable appearance. I am but a youth from a world with no ties to high society, so I hope you can forgive my lack of proper etiquette."
"...Hmph."
I wondered where the concept of "noblesse oblige" had gone. I could tell he was irritated, but he could have at least acknowledged the greeting.
However, since I was being perfectly humble and polite, he couldn't exactly shove me aside just because I was blocking his view of Aoi and Hina. After shooting me a look of pure loathing, Count Ducas clicked his tongue and looked away.
In the end, he didn't even bother to return my greeting. He exchanged a few more perfunctory words with Lilia and then waddled off. He was like a walking caricature of a corrupt noble.
"That was splendid, Mr. Miyama."
"...He was certainly easy to read."
"As you might have guessed, the Count is a notorious lecher. I heard he was relentlessly trying to corner Miss Kusunoki and Miss Yuzuki at the party last night as well."
"Being that honest with one's own desires is almost a talent... Anyway, are you two okay?"
"Y-Yes. Thank you, Kaito-san."
"Ugh, I really can't stand that man..."
The "Bullfrog Count" had clearly been a source of significant stress for them; they looked visibly relieved as they stepped out from behind me.
That grin of his really was something else. Even as a guy, it made my skin crawl; it must have been a nightmare for the girls. Lilia, who had handled him with professional calm, really proved why she was a Duchess.
"Unfortunately, the men who flock to my Lady are almost all of that caliber," Luna remarked.
"Please don't remind me, Luna..."
"At this rate, perhaps we really should rely on Mr. Miyama's ability to attract good fortune."
"Ugh, I’m so jealous of Kaito."
I remembered hearing about this before. Even though Lilia was royalty, her transition from the knight order to being a Duchess meant she struggled with networking. Horizontal connections were the lifeblood of the nobility, and while Lilia had a direct line to the throne, her time in the military had left her with very few powerful allies in social circles.
"In other words, Kaito-senpai is a beckoning cat!" Hina chirped.
"Hina, what is a 'beckoning cat'?" Lilia asked.
"It’s a lucky charm from our world. A statue that’s said to invite wealth and people—basically, it brings good luck to its owner."
"I see! So, if I pray to Kaito..."
"That won't grant you any divine favors, I promise!"
Thanks to Hina’s unnecessary suggestion, Lilia actually clasped her hands together in prayer and looked at me. It’s not going to work, Lilia!
Of course, she wasn't being entirely serious. She gave a little self-deprecating laugh and started walking again. I was about to tease Hina for starting the whole thing when I noticed something.
Hina’s fingers, which were currently clutching the sleeve of my jacket, were trembling slightly, despite her bright smile.
That’s right... I tend to forget, but she’s the youngest of our group.
The anxiety she was hiding behind her cheerful facade must have been greater than anyone else's. Thinking back, I’d heard her crying quietly on our first night here...
Seeing that, I decided to pretend I hadn't noticed the trembling and lowered my voice.
"If someone like that shows up again, just hide behind me. I might not be the most reliable guy, but... well, I’ll figure something out."
"!?"
I left it at that. I pretended not to notice how her grip on my sleeve tightened as I adjusted my stride to match her smaller steps.
I couldn't say anything cool like "I'll protect you," but even a coward like me is still a man and the eldest of the three of us. I have to show at least a little backbone every now and then. If it helped ease her anxiety even a little... I could put in some effort, even if it was out of character for me.
"...Thank you... Also, Senpai... you were really cool back there..."
Despite the trouble, we managed to leave the temple grounds. Just as the crowd began to thin out, the air around us suddenly grew frantic.
"She’s here! The Goddess of Time has arrived!"
The shout went up, and the roar of the crowd intensified instantly.
Why now? Seriously... why?
"My Lady, it seems Mr. Miyama’s luck is already providing results."
"...No, even I wasn't asking for something this overwhelming..."
Dear Mother, Father—first a Goddess, then a bullfrog, then a beckoning cat, and now a Goddess again. It seems that since coming to this otherworld, I attract trouble like a magnet.