Evil Avalon

Chapter 102-Star on the stage

(TL:By Rafael,valhallatls.blogspot.com)

Accompanied by Kunoichi-san and Kirara-chan in dresses, we walk down the long corridor leading to the party hall. At the end of the corridor, there is a double sliding door, and as we approach, the staff opens it with a smile.

　

　Beyond the door is an opulent hall the size of a gymnasium, and as we enter, more than a dozen waitresses and butlers all bow their heads and welcome us. Such a grand treatment would be stressful for the average person, but perhaps that is part of the goal. I was a little intimidated, but I managed to cover it up as I followed closely behind Kunoichi-san and Kirara-chan.

　

　In the back of the room, platters of food were laid out on a large table, and we were told that we were free to eat whatever was placed here. Since we arrived earlier than planned, only a few dishes are on the table at the moment, but they are going to bring more in the future.

　

 "Take what you like on your plate and eat it. I recommend this one, which I prepared just for today."

　With red manicured fingertips, Kunoichi-san showed us a platter with a large round metal lid. When I opened it, I found a whole roasted bird, toasted to a candy brown color. I wondered if it was Peking duck (......), and it looked very tasty indeed.

　

　As I looked at it hungrily, a nearby cook immediately cut it into pieces. It looks like it is served on a thin rice cake like a crepe, dipped in sauce, and rolled up with vegetables. I'm already exhausted from all the hunger I've endured since the fight with idiot on the 20th floor of the dungeon, but I'll take my chances. I'll take it without hesitation. ......

　

"Yummmm!"

　The crispy thin rice cake envelops the browned chicken skin and fluffy vegetables, and an indescribable savory aroma passes through my nostrils. The cooks cut and rolled the chicken skin and vegetables one after another, watching my reaction, and I was allowed to put a piece in my mouth each time. I can't stop.

　

"Fufu you're a good eater, aren't you? How about that next one?"

A platter with a large prawn on it was brought from the other side. When I opened the lid, I found a huge lobster, almost 50 cm in length, on it. On top of it was a white sauce, which the new cook cut into small pieces and presented to us.

　

"Woohoo ...... what's with all the plumpness?"

　The lobster and the sauce were beautifully intertwined in the mouth, and the delicious taste and creamy aroma of the lobster overflowed with every bite. I have never tasted such delicious prawns.

　

　It is an ingredient that should be savored slowly, but I couldn't wait to have it served on a small plate, so I grabbed a platter and devoured the whole prawn with a mouth full of food. As I was gnawing on a piece of fruit next to the platter, three new platters arrived, each with a very alluring aroma. The aroma is very appetizing. ...... Which shall I eat first?

　

"Is it really okay to eat that much?"

"He's a very important guest, so don't just stand there, be hospitable."

"Fufu, yes. ......"

　Kirara-chan pours me a glass of soda as if she was in a hurry. The cooks and waitresses start scurrying about as Kunoichi-san calls out for more and more dishes to be brought in, and a colorful array of fine cuisine is laid out in a narrow space. It's free food anyway, so let's eat, eat, eat!

　

　While I was feeling good and pouring one dish after another into my stomach, the waitresses and butlers began to gather at the entrance of the room. As I looked sideways to see who was coming, the door was opened and they welcomed me with a bow of their heads, just as they had done for me. The man who entered was a burly man with a bewitching masked beauty on the left and  by a samurai by his right.

　

（He looked like someone I've seen before.)

　

"He is a teacher we have been taking care of for a long time, But he is a bit difficult to deal with."

"He's a teacher?"

　Kunoichi-san, who is looking at me trying to remember who he is, tells me that he is a teacher of some kind. He wears a shiny gold badge on his chest, but that is not enough to identify him as a politician, lawyer, or dark organization leader, among many other things.

　

　The man walks down the hall with a large step and sits down roughly on a large sofa, then nervously calls out, "Hey, call more Nee-chan."

　

　Soon several women in masked dresses came out from the back to entertain him, but this time he put his hands unreservedly on their shoulders, pulled them close, and started fussing with them to pour them sake. I envy him. ...... It's inexcusable.

　(tL: Both  of them are simp.)

　The women on the receiving end, however, showed no signs of displeasure, smiling and saying, "Mr. Minister," as they poured out the drinks. Minister-sama, isn't it? ...... I think he is a Japanese minister. I remember that the Goshin family also had experience as military ministers, so maybe that's the connection.

　

　Japan in this world has a political system similar to that of prewar Japan, and it is not recognized that it is enough to only defend itself in terms of national defense. The ministers are not called "Minister of Defense," but rather "Minister of the Army" and "Minister of the Navy. Of these two ministers, the one who has a connection with "Kunoichi Red" is the Minister of the Army, who has jurisdiction over the Adventurers' Guild. But I'm not sure if it's right to be eating in the same place as such a great man. ......

"There you go. There are more delicious dishes to come, so don't hesitate to eat them."

"Narumi. Here, ahn!"

　The meat dishes were pushed into my hands by Kunoichi and Kirara-chan, so I opened my mouth and bit into them. As I bite into it, juicy meat juices overflow and the spicy seasoning comes into play later. It's not often that I get a chance to eat something this good, so I decide to concentrate on the food and not think too much about it.

　

　While I was loosening my belt several times and moving my mouth around, the waitresses and butlers started to gather at the entrance again. Were there guests again?

　The door was opened, and the next person standing there was a white man in his thirties, wearing a light-striped high-class suit. He entered with his hands in his pockets and an irreverent attitude as he stared ahead. His eyes are sharp, however, and he clearly has an air of nonchalance about him. There is a beautiful masked woman behind him, but her expression is hard and she follows him at a distance, as if she is wary of him.

　

(Hmmm? I'm pretty sure that's him ......)

　

"He is from an overseas organization with which we have been in contact for a long time, but he happened to be in Japan, so we asked him to join us."

"Nungunggu...... I see."

　I see...a certain organization. I know that face. The Holy Empire was created by a group of adventurers in Eastern Europe, and he is a dangerous man who holds a key position in the Empire. He is a boss character who appears at the end of the game, but I didn't know he had come to Japan at this point in time. I wonder what on earth he is doing here. I'm sure his henchmen have also entered the country, but I can only see that guy here.

(Is this indeed getting to the point where it's no longer worth for to not be entertained?)

　

　If things go smoothly according to the story from now on, he is also someone with whom Akagi and his men may have to fight.  Eating in the same space with such a person is not good for the soul. 

　

"I wonder if it's right for me to be here and eating with such great people ."

"We've invited three guests of honor today, and the third guest of honor is Narumi, right?

"...... I'm the guest of honor? Why am I the guest of honor?"

　How is it possible that they would make me, a commoner, the guest of honor in front of a minister of a country and a key figure of a major adventurer power? ...... No, it's not impossible, but I don't think they have that much information on me. I thought at first they were just trying to find out which organization I belonged to in relation to 《Fake》, but I wonder if they got any other important information.

　

　When I asked her about it, he told me that Haruka Mikami, the leader of the clan, seems to make the decision on her own whether or not to invite anyone to the clan party, and that she did not know the details. She said she wanted to talk to me at length later, so she told me to ask her directly if I was interested. I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I can't say I'm going home now, so I'm going to just open up and eat as much as I can.

　

"It seems like your body is getting bigger and bigger ......."

I'm sure that's true. The first time I saw him, he was a little bit bigger than the first time I saw him.

　It's true. You have a strange body."

　Kirara-chan says with a raised willow eyebrow, "It's swelled up to about the same size as when I first saw it," while Kunoichi-san looks at me with a rare animal stare. Come to think of it, I had to loosen my belt a lot because of the pain in my stomach, but it's not just my stomach, I feel like I'm bulging all over ...... this way. Even I don't  know what's going on with my body right now.

　As I was reaching for the next plate of food with a mixed feeling of wanting or not wanting to look in the mirror, a spotlight shone on the stage-like area and the closed curtains slowly began to move upward.

A spotlight hit the stage-like area and the curtains, which had been closed, slowly moved upward.

"Here comes my aunt!"

　

　When the curtains rose, there was a lineup of players with stringed instruments and saxophones, and light jazz-like music was playing. At the same time, Haruka Goshin, a woman in a bright red dress, appeared with a big smile on her face and was welcomed with applause by the butlers and the masked beauties.

(TL: Haruka Goshin and Haruka Mikami are the same)

"Welcome to the event. We have prepared a lot of entertainment for you three, so please enjoy yourselves tonight."

　Her dark red hair is braided into an updo, and she wears a purple-blue dress adorned with large jeweled earrings and a necklace. Her eyes and nose are very clear, and her beauty shines brighter than when seen on TV.

　When she gestures to her with eye contact, the light dims a little and a slow piano prelude begins. Then, with the bass drumming, she began to sing in a sweet voice.

"Only a very limited number of people get to hear this voice live,"

　Kirara is next to me, her eyes moistening as she listens. I am not very familiar with jazz, but I can still tell that she is an outstanding singer. Her clear voice, from high to low notes, is very pleasant. I would have loved to listen to this kind of music while drinking a few drinks, but I am underage, so I have no choice but to endure.

　

　When the song was over, all the staff butlers burst into applause, and Kirara-chan stood up and clapped enthusiastically and excitedly. It's true that when a singer can sing as well as this, you want to applaud at least once. Bravo!

　

"Please continue to enjoy the sake, the food, and the music played by our masterful musicians. I would like to say a few words to each of you."

　

　She bowed lightly, stepped off the stage, and headed first to the table where the portly minister was seated. He is grinning at her like a pre-matriculation Butao (pig), but Goshin keeps a smile on her face in an amused way. The minister tries to get carried away and put his hand on her shoulder, but she easily ducks it and pours herself a drink. Goshin seems to be quite adept at dealing with this kind of situation.

　But after only a minute or two of talking to the minister, whom I thought was the most important person in the room, she dismisses him, saying, "You're free to go." He resisted by clinging to a chair, saying "I'm still going to enjoy myself," but a black-robed butler came out, tied him up, and took him out of the hall.......

　

　Next she went to a table where a white man was drinking a drink in a boring manner. After exchanging brief greetings, the man's face contorted into a scowl, he put his feet up on the table and began to speak in an arrogant manner. In contrast, Goshin is laughing colossally as if to say that she doesn't mind such an attitude at all. It was a scene that made me wonder if they were really talking about the same thing.

　

　As I was trying to listen to what they were talking about, Kunoichi-san seemed to want to ask about the adventurers' school and started asking me questions about it.

　

"I heard that Narumi is attending the same school as this girl."

"Is she good in grades?"

"I'm not sure. My class is called E class. ......"

"Yes. I heard that they were also doing a great job in the interclass competition. I saw it."

　Thanks to me, the E class beat out the D class and came in fourth place, and all the first-year students in the room where the results were announced were thrilled. It is true that it was great that I was able to follow them to the 20th floor and get a score for the depth of achievement, but it was not my ability because all the monsters were eliminated by the noble guards - but they would not listen to me when I told them that. They just wouldn't listen.

"From the way he moved when we first met, he looked to be about level 20, so it wouldn't surprise me if he could make it to the 20th floor."

"It would seem so. I can't help but wonder how such a gem of a person got an E class start. ...... I wonder what the upper management of the school was looking at."

　I wonder what the school's upperclassmen saw when they saw me beating the crap out of the examiner when I took my adventurer's class promotion exam? I guess Kunoichi-san saw that and understood  that one need to be at least level 20 to overpower an opponent of that caliber. Not quite wrong. ......

　

"You said you wanted a strong new recruit for the Theif Clan. Have you invited Narumi?"

"Not yet. ...... Are you interested in joining the club, Narumi?"

"I'm in homecoming club--"

　

　"Don Boom!"

　

　I heard a loud noise and looked to see that the table had been overturned in an unexpected direction. The glasses and plates on the table were broken, and the food was scattered all over the place. It seemed that the white man had kicked the table. In doing so, the drink seemed to have splashed a little on Goshin's dress, and the waitress was rushing over with a rag as if in a panic.

　

　

 "Nah, ...... aunt--"

"Wait!"

　

　Kirara-chan released her killing intent and tried to rush in, but was instantly stopped by Kunoichi-san, who restrained her with his shoulder. However, the butlers and masked beauties around her were not able to suppress their killing intent, and some of them were even waitresses who tried to take weapons out of their skirts.

　

(White ...... isn't she just a waitress?)

　

　I thought she was just an ordinary waitress because she was carrying food and drinks with her bare face and no mask, but that girl seems to be a fine Kunoichi Red member too. Keeping in mind the glimpse of the shining white secret area in my mind, I looked around to check the situation.

　

(It doesn't look like there's going to be a battle .......)

　

　Except for a few distraught individuals, the situation seems to be very well controlled. The waitress I saw earlier also quickly put away her weapon and went about her business with a smile on her face. I was a little impatient, thinking that a battle might start,......, because it would be a shallow act to pick a fight with that man.

　

　The Holy Empire is said to be the adventurer superpower, holding off a host of European nations in a single country. He is one of the ten most powerful men in the Holy Empire, though not a  Cardinal but not weak by any means. I don't know how strong Kunoichi Red is as a group, but if they fight, he will not go down without a fight.

It's just that ...... he is a cruel man, but he is cold and calculating, not the kind of man who would unleash his anger unprovoked. The reason why he didn't hide his anger so well is that she may have broached some provocative subject.

　

"I am sorry, please wait a moment while I bring you another dish."

"......"

　Goshin, who is looking very calm, tries to order a new dish to be brought, but the man mutters something as if he is going to throw up and leaves the place. The butlers around him did nothing to stop him and just bowed their heads. The remaining Goshin just shrugged her shoulders.

　

　

　After shrugging her shoulders, the remaining Goshim turns back to me, the last guest, and approaches me gracefully, smiling.

　When she comes up to me, she bows lightly and slowly sits down in the chair facing me. Up close, I can see that she has a frighteningly beautiful face and figure. With two light taps of her slender hand, the player on the stage plays a pleasant sound, and the butler prepares snacks and drinks.

　

The butler then offers a drink to us.

 "I'm sorry for the embarrassment I caused you earlier. Nice to meet you, Sota Narumi-sama. I am Haruka Mikami, head of the Mikami family also know as the Goshin.

　(tL: Goshin as in protector.)

　She introduces herself by bowing deeply and politely. I was surprised because I had never thought that a high-ranking nobleman with a count's rank would bow to a commoner - and at the same time, my sense of caution was heightened.

　

　Why does she have to be so polite? A man of the Holy Empire, a minister of some sort, and me. I don't think these three people, who I don't believe have anything in common, were invited here just for the sake of hospitality. As evidence of this, the two had already left and I was the only one left. I have no idea what they want to ask me or what they want to negotiate.

　

　Well, I'll know what she means when she talk to me.

"Thank you for you politeness. I am Sota Narumi, a first-year student in Class E at the Adventurer's High School."

TL Note- Network  reconnection sucks . My second attempt after 3 hours of wasted efforts.

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