Fia-sensei finished her explanation of the situation in Lilia’s office.
As a result... the scene could only be described as absolute carnage.
"Let go of me, Fia-sensei! I—I’ve already reached my limit!!"
"You can't, Lilia-chan! As a doctor, I can't overlook you swallowing that much stomach medicine at once! You have to follow the dosage instructions..."
"I can't deal with this unless I take it!!"
"It’s not alcohol! Taking it isn't going to calm your nerves, you know!?"
After learning the truth about Fia-sensei being the Demon King and losing consciousness several times, Lilia had pulled several different brands of stomach medicine out of her drawer. A Doctor Stop was issued the moment she tried to down the lot of them.
And so, a struggle ensued: Lilia was desperate to gulp down her medicine, while Fia was just as desperate to stop her.
As for me, I couldn't find an opening to intervene, so I simply watched the chaos unfold while sipping the black tea Lunamaria had brewed for me.
And no, it wasn't because I was too terrified of Lilia to speak up. Definitely not.
"...Ah, this tea is a little different than usual. It’s delicious."
"Why are you relaxing in rest mode?! Kaito-san!!"
"Hieee!?"
...Crap. Words of escapism accidentally slipped out, and Lilia’s target shifted instantly to me.
With tears in her eyes, Lilia marched over and, in one fluid motion, seized me by the collar.
"Guh..."
"What is the meaning of this?! I know! I know perfectly well that this incident wasn't your fault, Kaito-san! But don't you think there’s a limit to how much a person can take?!"
"L-Lilia-san... I can't... breathe... you're choking me..."
"Really, what on earth is wrong with you?! Why is it that, in less than half a year since you arrived in this world, you keep attracting one outrageous disaster after another?! I already told you I was at my breaking point!!"
"..."
"Where are you even aiming for?! How much of this world's deepest secrets do you have to drag to my doorstep before you're satisfied?! There’s still more, isn't there?! You're definitely hiding something else, aren't you?!"
I was shaken violently back and forth by my collar. While I was filled with a profound sense of guilt... Lilia-san, please, calm down... I’m seriously hurting... I’m going to pass out.
While taking the full brunt of the onslaught from the weeping, shouting, and completely overwhelmed Lilia, I turned a pleading gaze toward Lunamaria.
"...These cookies are delicious. I’d like a second helping!"
"As you wish, Phantasm King-sama."
Hey, you moron... why are you relaxing and eating cookies like everything is normal? I need help here... I’m actually going to lose consciousness!?
"L-Lilia-chan... calm down, it’s not like Miyama-kun meant any harm..."
"I don't want this anymore! Kaito-san is scary!! Kaito-san is bullying me!!"
Fia-sensei tried to intervene, but her voice didn't reach the panicked Lilia. Sobbing like a child, Lilia began to shake me even harder.
"Lilia-chan, listen! Miyama-kun’s face is turning blue... let go for a second... er... Gravity Fall!"
"Fugya!?"
With Fia-sensei’s incantation, Lilia was slammed into the floor, and I was finally, albeit forcefully, released.
As I gulped down oxygen with ragged breaths, Lilia—who had taken a face-plant into the carpet—was once again unconscious, her eyes spinning in her head.
"...I am truly sorry."
"N-No, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’m always causing trouble."
After being revived by Fia-sensei’s healing magic, Lilia seemed to have regained her composure. She bowed her head deeply in apology.
Well, given the sheer mountain of incidents that had led to this point, I certainly couldn't complain. If anything, I was the one who should have been groveling.
For a while, Lilia and I went back and forth with "No, I'm the one who's sorry," and only after we had both calmed down did the conversation resume.
"...I apologize for losing my head, Fia-sensei. I understand the situation now."
"Y-Yeah... although, are you okay, Lilia-chan? Not just with this, but your life in general..."
"...Do you have any effective stomach medicine?"
"U-Ummm... is it stress? You became a Duke so young, so I’m sure it’s a lot to handle, but you really shouldn't rely on drugs so much."
"...No, it is stress, but the career isn't the cause..."
"Hmm?"
Lilia muttered with distant eyes—eyes that looked like they had attained a state of total, hollow resignation. Fia-sensei tilted her head, clearly failing to grasp the nuance.
Yes, I’m sorry... it’s pretty much all my fault.
"Still, to think that not only the First Hero but even the Demon King was alive... my common sense has been ground to dust over these last six months."
"A-Ahaha... sorry for the shock."
"No, Fia-sensei is not at all to blame. I know your character well, and I have no intention of raising a fuss about things that happened a thousand years ago at this late stage."
"...Thank you."
The now-composed Lilia gave a gentle smile, accepting Fia-sensei’s past, and Fia thanked her with a look of genuine relief.
"...Well, setting that aside... Kaito-san, I have another matter to discuss with you."
"...Eh?"
"My intuition is screaming. I am certain Kaito-san is still hiding something... specifically, I felt a magic power of an entirely different magnitude during the earlier commotion. What was that?"
"...U-Ummm."
"Ah, I was curious about that too. Miyama-kun, who was that person? An existence with that kind of terrifying power... I've never seen anything like it before..."
Both of their gazes locked onto me.
Ah, right... even after finishing the explanation about Fia-sensei, I still had one more thing to account for.
Specifically, Eden-san. I had given Lilia the barest of summaries, but to Fia-sensei, she must have seemed like a monster from another dimension.
But how on earth was I supposed to explain someone as overwhelmingly "intense" as Eden-san...?
Realizing that the conversation was far from over, I opened my mouth to begin the explanation.
Dear Mother, Father——Lilia-san went into a bit of a tailspin, but she eventually accepted the truth about Fia-sensei. Now all that's left is to explain Eden-san, but... I really don't know how to put it. Since she is, technically, the God of the world we came from——it’s hard to say she’s a sick and terrifying person.
The Duchess's Magnificent Trail of Stomach Pains
- The Hero Summoning she oversaw resulted in the first accident in 1000 years.
- Kaito got lost on his first day and returned after befriending a mysterious Demon.
- Kaito was invited to a dinner party by the world's largest merchant guild.
- Kaito brought back tea leaves from a God.
- He accidentally encountered a Supreme God, who almost never visits the Human Realm, and piqued her interest.
- She learned the Demon Kaito befriended was actually the Underworld King.
- The Underworld King started frequenting the mansion.
- She learned that the one who gave Kaito a Blessing was the Creator God.
- Kaito met the Death King and returned home as her friend.
- The Death King started frequenting the mansion.
- During the Treasure Tree Festival, Kaito befriended the World King.
- Kaito befriended the God of Fate.
- Kaito befriended the Emperor of the Arclesia Empire.
- Kaito returned with a fortune in gold and a Behemoth.
- The War King started frequenting the mansion because of Kaito.
- Kaito befriended the Dragon King.
- Kaito's friend turned out to be the Phantasm King.
- Kaito's acquaintance turned out to be the First Hero.
- Kaito tried to give her the patent for the calculator.
- Kaito became lovers with the Underworld King.
- Kaito became lovers with the Death King.
- Kaito met the God of Life in the God Realm.
- Kaito's pet underwent a Super Evolution by eating the Fruit of the World Tree.
- Kaito received a Black Rank invitation.
- Kaito befriended the Calamity God.
- Kaito befriended the God of an Otherworld.
- Kaito became lovers with the Phantasm King.
- Through an incident Kaito was involved in, she learned a close acquaintance was the Demon King. ← NEW
It’s mostly Kaito's fault.