I left Big Lorry at my Japanese residence and brought Silver, the white horse I had left at the orphanage in the royal capital to look after, and a carriage (a custom-made small carriage made on Earth).
Usually, I kept Silver at the stable, but this time I moved him to the orphanage since he would probably be transferred several times.
The people at the stable would be surprised if Silver disappeared and reappeared too often.
In that respect, the children at the orphanage wouldn't be surprised by something like that now.
Well, for a long period of time, it would be safer to leave Silver in the care of a professional who will take care of him, feed him, exercise him, and detect early signs of illness, so I can't leave him in an orphanage forever, but for a short period of time, it's fine.
The children had always said that they wanted to take care of them, but it was impossible.
"Okay, let’s go! We have been riding this carriage all the way from our country. We stayed at inns in post towns all along the way. The reason we don't have an escort is because we have the divine protection of the goddess, so there is no need for an escort. Isn't it nice?" (Mitsuha)
"Yeah!" (Sabi-Colé)
Okay, the word of mouth is perfect!
"Then, our destination is the central core of the enemy's capital! We're off!!" (Mitsuha)
"I came because I was called by the king of this country. Yes, this, the invitation!" (Mitsuha)
"...Huh? ...Haa..." (Gatekeeper)
At the main gate of the royal castle, I said that and handed the invitation to the gatekeeper... the one given to me by the king of this country, and he stared at me with a shocked look on his face.
...Well, wouldn't someone who was invited by the king come in a small carriage without an escort, and drive themself?
No, the person who was invited was Sabine-chan, they might think I was just a coachman.
Anyway, take the invitation I'm giving you and quickly check what's inside, Golua!!
"Ah..., eh..., yeah!! Shhh, excuse me! I'll call a guide right away, so please wait for a while! ...Hey, don't be rude and serve them! Please explain about this town!!" (Gatekeeper)
"Huh? Whaat?" (Other Gatekeeper)
The gatekeeper read the invitation I handed him, said this to the other gatekeeper, and ran off somewhere in a hurry, still clutching the invitation.
...Well, they can't just guide me around like this, so they have no choice but to contact someone higher up quickly.
I'm sorry that the main gate has stopped functioning, and a line is starting to form behind us...
A few minutes later, someone came to pick me up.
...No, it's really fast, isn't it?
They probably never expected me to come so early, so they probably didn't do anything to prepare...
Ah, now that I think about it, the thieves were properly ambushing us even at such an early stage.
Well, maybe they weren't just waiting for me, they were just doing their job and attacked us if we walked by.
No, it doesn't matter!
Anyway, we were guided into the royal palace by the person who greeted me.
We had to wait.
Well, we're an aristocrat from another country who came all the way.
Also, since we were guests personally invited by the king, the person in charge of reception would rush over.
...But just because the viscount of a lower-ranking country had arrived, there's no way the king himself would come in a big hurry.
When he had free time in his schedule.
I guessed it's like that.
Well, it's not like the commoners of this country would be granted an audience, and they wouldn't have to wait several days.
...Or rather, if we couldn't wait until the evening to see him, we would just go home.
Of course, not at the inn. To my country.
If you call someone and say they don't want to meet, then you don't have to meet.
I didn't come here to see the king.
What? Are you thinking of making them wait for a long time and reminding them of the hierarchical relationship?
I don't know, that's it.
If this was a formal meeting between a female countess and His Majesty the King of another country, I would be respectful. In that case, I would be acting as a noble of Kingdom of Zegreius.
But this time it's different.
The king of a certain country just called it out on a whim.
...The "Lightning Archpriestess", a user of the secret art of "crossing" who was favored by the goddess...
So, if they treated me with a disrespectful attitude, I would treat them accordingly.
If they wanted to complain to my boss, they should go to the temple and complain to the goddess.
Hmm, I'm getting hungry now.
Okay, let's go home!
"We're going home~" (Mitsuha)
"Yeah!" (Sabi-Colé)
"...Here we are." (Mitsuha)
What?
When all three of us left the waiting room, there was a maid waiting in the hallway...a lady-in-waiting? ... guided me.
Hmm?
The two soldiers who were standing together, I didn't know if they were watchmen or escorts, they didn't react.
I thought I was going to be held back, but what is this?
There was no way we were going to have an audience at this timing, right?
What does it mean?
I just obediently followed the maid...
I arrived at the bathroom.
Is that so?
The only place the customers in the waiting room want to go is the restroom!!
I guess that's why the soldier was expressionless and pretended like he didn't know anything...
...Yeah, I understand.
No.
No, no, no, no!
That's an understandable response, but what we wanted to go to now was not the bathroom, but where my carriage was.
Okay, I can't just leave here and go to the carriage... I guess I can't just go there.
If I did that, this maid would be held responsible and would be in big trouble.
That's a little too sad.
Besides, if we were to wander around the palace on our own, we'd probably be taken back to the waiting room right away.
Since I knew where the carriage was, I could teleport from inside the waiting room...
Will the soldiers on guard be held responsible?
I don't know, that's it.
It seemed like they didn't want to meet up with me, so it would be a good idea to leave a letter saying we were heading home.
You might be mistaken for saying "I'm going home today" or "I'm going back to the hotel," but they didn't know about this.
Let's spread the word to the surrounding countries that we came all the way because we were invited, but were left alone without even meeting them, so we returned home.
If we do that, they won't be able to invite or invite anyone again.
Hmmmm.