GIYAAAAAA!


    A goblin with a longsword slicing through his neck fell down with a ssh of blood.


    ''''Phew.''''


    Leticia made sure the rest of them had fled, then wiped the blood off her sword and sheathed it.


    This was the road to the city of Metekal.


    It was Leticia who had even yed the role of an escort while apanying the slow-moving caravan due to therge luggage.


    It''s not a bad idea to do this. You need to experience actual fighting once in a while, otherwise your skills will be lost.


    After checking the safety of her surroundings, Leticia murmured.


    This is the real journey. It''s been too easy until now. It would be hard to take that party''s fighting style for granted. ......


    With that thought in mind, Leticia got into the wagon.


    ''''Great, great, great! That''s amazing, Leticia-sama!''''


    In the back of the carriage, a small girl was pping her hands.


    Her name was Kate. She is the only daughter of the merchant who leads this caravan.


    The tiny and innocent part of her reminds me of the girl I was with just recently.


    Perhaps that''s why, before long, Leticia had also started to talk to her without hesitation.


    ''''It''s amazing. To be able to defeat three goblins by yourself. I''ve never seen such a strong nobleman before!''''


    It''s not a big deal.


    ''''Again, your humility. There aren''t many people as good as Leticia-sama in the Metecal Adventurer''s Guild. I am envious. Both your skills and your judgment in battle.


    You''ll cower in the dark when you meet my people if you''re this surprised.


    Are you with Lady Letitia?


    Yes. These are my best friends who were with me just recently.


    Do they have great fighting skills, too?


    ''Yes. All that man has to do is swing his sword and people will fly through the air.


    ...... Yes?


    ''At long range, the mes will pound the enemy. If you get close enough, you''ll smash through their armor with your bare hands. And they are so skilled that they can even destroy the water-retaining capacity of the enemy''s skin with their cleaning tools.


    ...... Lady Letitia, I see you like to joke around too.


    Yes, yes, of course I''m kidding.


    I shouldn''t have done that. It was a secret.


    It''s Leticia''s bad habit to want to brag about her friends. Leticia unintentionally begins to stroke Kate''s head, which isughing, ''no swoon''. Kate''s face stiffens at the unprecedented situation of being patted on the head by a nobleman. Still, Leticia continues to stroke Kate''s little head to cover up.


    ''...... Oh dear?''


    Leticia found herself exploring the bag tied around her waist with her free hand.


    Something round and hard touched her fingertips.


    Inside the bag is a small crystal ball. A skill crystal.


    Kate didn''t believe me, but Letitia also received one cheat skill like Nagi and the others. Nagi made it for me before we left, even though he said it was just a rare and not a great cheat because he made it by himself.


    It was a skill thatbines the ''Shield Attack'' that strikes the enemy with a shield and the technique of cooking eggs──and Leticia recalls Nagi''s exnation. Nagi listened to Letitia''s request and made a skill for defense.


    I haven''t installed that yet ...... somehow, but I feel like my rtionship with Nagi will change if I use it.


    To Letitia, Nagi''s cheat skills are those of a ve. But Letitia is Nagi''s best friend. And yet I was somewhat strangely hesitant to install this ...... something. It''s not that I don''t like it, but.


    I trust you, Mr. Nagi.


    You''re not going to be able to get a good deal more than just a good friend. She''s not a ve or a wife.


    So, I''m going to take this as a good luck charm, in case you are in a real pinch.


    ...... Lady Letitia, I think we''re done here.


    Kate''s face stiffened after receiving the unstoppable ''Viscountess Petting''.


    ''''Oh my God, I''m sorry. Did I have such a scary look on my face?


    No, sir. I''ve never been patted on the head by a nobleman before, so I''m very nervous. I''m sorry. Lady Letitia.


    I''m sorry too. Yes, we''ll make up for it, Kate.


    Then Letitia took Kate''s small hand in hers.


    ''I''ve been around people who don''t care about their status or anything else, so I guess I''ve been influenced by that too.


    Yeah, what is it?


    ''Yes, I would love to have you meet ...... you someday. They are the most wonderful people you will ever meet. It doesn''t matter if you are a ve, a nobleman or someone from a distant country, they are my friends, regardless of status or position. Our paths may be separate and far apart, but our hearts will always be ...... the same.


    ''Huh?　Isn''t Lady Letitia going to return as soon as she finishes her business at Metecal?


    There''s a thing called ........................ mood, Kate.


    Embarrassed, Letitia brushed back her blue hair.


    ''''I''m just worried about my friends. In the name of the Viscount''s family, I wille to you at once if anything happens to them. They are the best friends of Letitia-Milfe.


    Letitia dered, looking at the sky from the carriage that was still parked.


    ''Ah, just as well. Letitia-Milfe-sama?''''


    Yes?


    One of the cavalrymen appeared in front of Letitia.


    He was carrying arge sack on his back. On the bag is the official continental coat of arms. And the symbol of a letter.


    It was a mail-horse, carrying more urgent letters than a mail-horse.


    ''No, I heard your name. One of the letters I''m carrying to Metekal is addressed to you. It is from Mr. Ayne-Cl, who lives in the port city of Irgafa. Would you like to receive it here?


    Well, that''s Aine.


    Leticia took out the medallion of the contract from her pocket.


    Along with the crystal, he hung the Viscount''s coat of arms along with it. He showed it to the rider of the mail horse and pulled out a thick envelope from a bag tied to his saddle.


    "Thank God you''re here," he said. "Thank God it''s in my father''s hands, it''s a mess.


    You''re saving me the trouble. Good day!


    ''Yes, sir!'' said the post horse, getting into the spirit, and rode off.


    ''Is this from your friend?''


    Yes. A letter from some of my best friends. Kate.


    Letitia sat down next to Kate.


    Letitia patted Kate''s head as she looked down, saying it was not legal to peek at a nobleman''s letter, and Letitia cut the seal on the letter.


    The letter appeared to be that of his best friend, who was with him a few days ago.


    While smiling at Aine''s still tightly written letter, Leticia ran her eyes over the letter.


    ''Leticia, how are you?　Nah-kun has more ves.


    ............ As usual, Nagi is making more ves to breathe.


    Letitia sighed involuntarily.


    Utterly and utterly, that person who is my best friend ispletely ...... already.


    ''''The port city of Irgafa is calm now that the festival is over.


    ''''Come to think of it, there''s a ''Sea Dragon Festival''. I wonder if the maidens were able toplete the ceremony safely: ......


    "Something happened to Iris, the miko, that nearly destroyed the festival, but Nai-kun solved it for me.


    ──────── Huh!


    ''So, the ve that was added is a tiny, very pretty girl, though I can''t tell you exactly who she is. Letitia helped with that girl, didn''t she?''


    I know, I know, I know, I know who you are, and that''s what I''m saying!


    It''s a good thing that Nay-kun and the others are fine, even though the suspicious knights are raiding the port city and the port city is on the verge of civil war. So don''t worry about Letitia. But you know ...... Aine is ......


    From there, Leticia closed the letter, skipping over a series of sentences that were too embarrassing to read in front of young Kate.


    ''............ Well, well, I''m d to hear you''re doing well.


    Before she knew it, the carriage was in motion.


    Leticia looked up at the sky as the pleasant vibrations rocked her.


    Beyond the blue sky, Leticia''s best friends are doing well. They seem to be getting into trouble, but they''ll be able to handle it, if they''re the ''Chi-t'' guys.


    The new ve──Iris-Hafeumea is also fine. She was struggling with the mission of a maiden, but I''m sure she''s be morefortable with Nagi. Because Nagi, who came from far away, must have that kind of power.


    ''''You look happy, Leticia-sama.


    I got a letter from a good friend.


    If you''re a good friend of Lady Letitia''s, they must be wonderful people.


    Of course!　He values justice and never gives up on his friends. My best friend was like that: ...... Oh my goodness, he left me a letter.


    Letitia unfolded thest piece of paper that was stuck to the bottom of the envelope.


    There was only a short sentence on it.


    ''P.S.. Nah-kun gave me a ''yukyuu-kyuka'', so we''re all going on apany trip (vacation).


    chance


    Letitia stiffened.


    Her cheeks twitch. Her hand holding the paper begins to shake and tremble.


    Travel. A vacation. A retreat.


    Party trips. Comfort trips. We would all just rx and enjoy each other''spany.


    "What the hell is that?" ──────────


    A scream emanates from Letitia''s throat.


    ''Vacation.''


    "Company trip


    "Taking vacations.


    I don''t know what the rest of it means. But it sounds like a lot of fun.


    "We''re all in this together ...... and it''s just me ...... and I''m out of the loop.


    I''m aware of that.


    I know that if it''s a trip to treat the ves, I know I''d run it without Letitia.


    Since it''s Nagi-san, it''s meant to give Aine and the others who are tired from the Irgafa civil war a break.


    This is something that can''t be helped.


    I get it!　I totally get it!　In my head.


    But my feelings won''t go away. Why?　Why?


    Why don''t (...) I (?????) go on a (???????) trip (??????) with everyone else?


    What should I look like when we return from running errands at Metecal and everyone is happily talking about their travel memories?　Do I justugh and ask?　Why did you do that to your best friend?


    Of course, if Aine and the others enjoyed it, Leticia is happy and warmed up to them, but that''s another story. The one who decided to leave the party temporarily is Leticia herself, but that''s another story!


    O-No-Re Nagysa ──────n！！！！！


    Lady Letitia?


    Even Kate''s frightened voice next to me was deafening.


    Come to think of it, the same thing happened in aristocratic social circles. When Letitia was only six years old, she was the only one who wasn''t invited to a party in the countryside when she scrutinized a baronial girl who was bullying a baronial girl for her status. Even though they were equal in rank, the other Viscount''s family had a longer history and more say than Letitia''s family.


    After that, whenever she met with other nobles in social circles, for some reason, the topic of the rural party came up, and Letitia hadpletely be a ''bloke'' as they called it in Nagi''s world. The trauma of that time came flooding back and swirled through Leticia''s mind. What should I do? What should I do?


    Oh, my God, I can''t stand it!


    Get the horses!　Give me a horse!　I''m heading to the Mishl recreational area right now.


    Lady Letitia, calm down!　Soon. We''ll be in Metecal soon!


    That doesn''t matter!　I''m going on apany trip to the Nine Confessional Princesses Outside!　Yes!　Let go of me! I won''t be the only one left out!


    Lady Letitia is at home, isn''t she?　To be free. That''s why I was able to get out of the party: ......


    Ugh. ......


    Leticia dropped her fist, which she raised, with no effort.


    Come to think of it, it was.


    Nagi-san, Aine, even Cecil-san and Rita-san hade back, shaking off the ''it''s still good'' that they had said. Leticia is one of the noblemen. I know that even if we continue our journey, the procedures and forms are important. That''s why I came back, pretending that I was unrealized. But... But...


    You will remember, Mr. Nagi.


    Letitia shouts out to the eastern sky.


    ''At best, enjoy your vacation with Aine and the others!　I''m definitely going to be a part of it, too: ────────────────────!


    Letitia-Milfe''s exmation echoed through the streets.