Chapter 60: Order From TheQueen

「You hear me? You definitely have to win.」 (Patra)

「...」 (Hind)

The first thing she said after opening her mouth was this...

I mean, she's beautiful, you know? I get why the people from the BBS were crazy about her.

From her refined and sensual body came an aura of seductiveness.

She also wore a thin dress, it was quite lascivious.

The name of this queen was Patra・Adenium・Sala.

I was listening to her talk while kneeling slightly away from the throne.

「Hind. As the representative of the Sala country, you have to attain victory without fail.

「In addition to the championship prize from Grado, I'll provide you with a reward myself.」 (Patra)

「I believe I haven't said yet if I was going to participate or not though?」 (Hind)

However, her personality was that of an arrogant and self-important woman.

It wasn't just at the level of being proud, I even entertained the thought that she considered herself to be the most important person in the world.

Her traits were the very picture of a queen, if we couple that with her outward appearance, I guess she would be irresistible for people that like that sort of thing.

After looking at the official bulletin board, we tried to return to our guild home but I was the only one that was forcefully dragged by a soldier from the royal palace.

To think I would be subject to an enforced event inside an online game.

Being fanned by the court ladies, she informed me of this while sprawling on her luxurious couch.

She's so refined...even though I'm here dripping with sweat from the heat.

「Is that the end of your business with me? In that case, I'll take my le-」 (Hind)

「Wait. I still haven't heard your answer, haven't I?」 (Patra)

「There's no one in this world that could guarantee you victory. Please, don't ask for the impossible.」 (Hind)

「Even then, isn't declaring you will win the way you men show your dependability? So pathetic...」 (Patra)

「If you are going to say that, wouldn't it be better for you to not rely on visitors and train your own soldiers?」 (Hind)

「You should be aware that that would be impossible, right?」 (Patra)

「Hah...」 (Hind)

It seems like a faction that wanted to push for the reduction of the army was really getting in her way...

However, she seemed to want to let them be until she has full power over them.

That's related to the careless way of handling the 『Basilisk』.

Thus, she took responsibility for the failed subjugation and exiled the faction from the royal capital.

That created inconvenience for the people and merchants...but this queen, it seems like she didn't even think she had done anything bad.

Thanks to me knowing of that part, personally, I can't bring myself to like this woman.

「The reorganization of the Desert Owls has just begun. We can only rely on the only visitors that are in this royal capital, which means all of you from Migratory Bird.」 (Patra)

「I wonder why you are telling me all this...since the guild master is Yumir, you should-」 (Hind)

「I'm quite interested in you after all.

「To the point where I would like to make you into a caged bird instead of a migratory one...」 (Patra)

She slowly stood up and the queen caressed my chin with seductive movements.

I felt my spine shivering...in a good and bad way.

I don't know what perfume she is using, but as she approached me, a sweet and alluring fragrance was coming from her.

It was tiring to not lose my mind.

「Well, if that's the case, the masked man from my party is handsome, so you could-」 (Hind)

「I'm no longer interested in the beauty of someone's outer appearance.

「I've grown tired of looking at beautiful things.」 (Patra)

When she said that, the queen pointed with her chin towards the court ladies that were waiting for her in a tiresome manner.

After that, she pointed at all the work of art that decorated the room.

Finally, she pointed at a big mirror...wait, she then made a face that implied she was the most beautiful in the world!

I can't take anymore of this woman...

There's probably a reason only I have such high likability with the queen.

Summarizing it simply, the source should be the flow of the conversations from Claris-san→Yaido-san→queen.

It first started with Claris-san and how she talked about me to Yaido-san.

This was the first step, after the quest, Yaido-san told the queen about me...

Given that situation, it created a chain reaction because both of them had a high level of confidence in me and there is the possibility that it raised the likability to a certain extent without me having to do anything.

I don't mind Yaido-san, but I'm honestly not very happy about my likability with the queen.

Additionally, per Claris-san's suggestion, we had a specially made full length mirror presented...well I should say we gave it to the royal palace as a present and maybe that had some influence.

The mirror the queen just pointed at seems to be it.

If she has the mirror here, it probably means that she took quite a liking to it.

「Well, for the time being, I'll think about who should participate from our guild.

「That is probably the best course of action, so please excuse me.」 (Hind)

「That's quite the cold reply. Oh well. I'll be going to watch the matches, so don't embarrass me.」 (Patra)

「Eh-」 (Hind)

She's coming? Oh, she is, I see...

However, this is another topic that the BBS will get fired up about.

I'm curious if the other rulers will come. If it would be possible, I'd like to see them.

At the same time, maybe the players that were content with coming to the desert will decrease after seeing her? I had that kind of worries.

While I was absorbed in those thoughts, she returned to her couch and let out a big yawn as if she was telling me that the conversation was over.

That being the case, I bowed and took my leave from that place right away.

The moment I exited the royal palace, Yumir and Selene-san, who had been stopped by the entrance guards, rushed up to me worried.

Even though I wouldn't be this tired if they had been with me...she definitely did it on purpose, that queen.

「Are you OK, Hind!? Did they do anything to you!?」 (Yumir)

「No, not really. I'm fine, nothing happened.」 (Hind)

「You are making quite the unpleasant face though...」 (Yumir)

「I'm not good with her type. It's like she slowly throws her opponent out of their own pace...」 (Hind)

「The moment I took a glance at her, I thought that she was like a snake. Exactly like a Basilisk.」 (Yumir)

When Yumir said that, I was about to unconsciously start venting.

It's true that it fits her perfectly...especially the way she talks and her gaze that coils around you.

It's just that, the royal guards are still close by. They could tell her that we were laughing at her.

I held back my desire to laugh and started proposing we head back to the home.

Having returned home, we relaxed in the breakfast nook, where we could talk.

Both of them were at the table and I was preparing a light meal to recover our hunger gauges while telling them in detail about what the queen had told me.

「...With that being said, it wasn't like it was anything bad.

「She just told me that she would give me a reward if we won as the representatives of the desert. Though she did pressure me.」 (Hind)

「I wonder why, when it comes from her mouth, I get these lewd vibes from it?」 (Yumir)

「Ahaha...she's quite sexy after all, the queen...」 (Selene)

「As one would expect, it can't be something like that...this is an all ages game after all...」 (Hind)

「Eh, you didn't know, Hind-kun? The NPCs will change to a certain extent depending on the age and sex of the player, you know?」 (Selene)

「Really!?」 (Hind)

I had no idea.

Now that she mentioned it, a while ago the queen looked at me and crushed my dependability as a man.

...Well, even then, her reward will probably be something ordinary.

While we talked, my hands didn't stop making the food.

I peeled the skin off the broad beans and garlic and kneaded them with eggs into a paste.

Additionally I used breadcrumbs, wheat flour, cumin and salt...and shaped it into an oval.

I sprinkled it with sesame seeds and dropped it onto the oil heated at low temperature.

「If it's from the opposite sex, there's the chance that...the likability could turn into love right?」 (Selene)

「In that queen's case, I could feel a warped desire of owning me though?

「I couldn't feel such a bittersweet emotion at all.」 (Hind)

「...Muh...in that case, Claris...」 (Yumir)

「What's wrong, Yumir? It's quite rare to see you making such serious face.」 (Hind)

「It's nothing!」 (Yumir)

「It hurts! Why are you hitting me!?」 (Hind)

I waited until it rose up.

Once both sides were golden brown, I took the completed product and placed it on a plate.

Yup, it has a good fragrance.

「Alright, the Taameyyas are done. I didn't have enough spices, but I think the shape came out well.」 (Hind)

「Ooh! Fried food is the best! Thanks for the food!」 (Yumir)

「Thanks for the food.」 (Selene)

We took a bit while they were still hot.

While it was lightly seasoned, the spices made them delicious.

The outside came out crispy...these broad beans are fluffy like potatoes.

「Yup, these are tasty Hind-kun! You are also skilled at cooking. So skillful.」 (Selene)

「Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad that you find them tasty.」 (Hind)

Even then, the flavor is inferior to Yaido-san's Taameyyas...

Next time I see him, I'll ask him for the trick as long as it doesn't become a hindrance to his business.

It feels good eating something from your hand while walking around like this.

Like the croquettes you'd buy on your way back from school.

They are not that hard to make, so I might make them in real life too.

「Mogogoga? Mogogo?」 (Yumir)

「Finish eating before you talk. You fool.」 (Hind)

Having stuffed her mouth with a Taameyya, Yumir tried to say something.

However, no matter how long I've known her, I have no idea what she tried to say.

「Gulp. Now that I think about it, what are we going to do about the next event? Who's going to pair up with who?」 (Yumir)

「Ah, right. Given the number of people in our guild we can make 2 pairs...」 (Hind)

When I looked at Selene-san, she put the Taameyya she was holding on both hands like a squirrel down and waved her hand sideways in front of her face.

I guess I should have expected it, she's bad at dealing with people.

To begin with, she would stand out a lot if she advanced to the next round.

Let's leave it with Selene-san not participating.

「What about Riizu...?」 (Hind)

「Won't she participate if you asked her? However, she would say that she won't pair up with anyone other than you.」 (Yumir)

「That would be no good. In terms of balance, I don't think we would win with two rearguards. Attacking quickly with two vanguards would be better.」 (Hind)

「Fumu. In that case I-」 (Yumir)

「Wait just a moment! De-gozaru!」 (Tobi)

「「「?」」」

The voice that resounded throughout the room was none other than Tobi's.

However, we could hear the voice but we couldn't see him.

The three of us looked around the room and...suddenly, a partition of the wall from the room rose up with a sound.

Like that, the wall was pushed out and rotated.

When it did, Tobi appeared while clinging to the other side of the wall.

Hey...hey!

「I have listened to your talk!」 (Tobi)

「"I have listened to your talk" my foot! You said you would consult with everyone when you made mechanisms!

「What would you do if the strength of the building decreased!?」 (Hind)

「I couldn't hold back my curiosity! I'm reflecting right now. That's why, forgive me!」 (Tobi)

「This guy...!!」 (Hind)

Since I couldn't see any sign of remorse from his words, I looked at the last Taameyya that Tobi was trying to reach and-

「Eh!? Where's my portion!? Hey!」 (Tobi)

While moving my hand quickly, I ignored his voice and tossed it into my own mouth.