Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 707

"The social gathering concluded quite some time ago. However, we couldn't find you, Lord Ridd, or Johann anywhere in the venue or the mansion."

"Lord Tink informed us that the two of you had left the venue. We were all searching for you when we heard the sounds of clashing weapons from the training grounds, which led us here."

After Sekmetos spoke, Tabal added as if to supplement her explanation.

"Ah, I see. My apologies for causing a disturbance so late at night."

"Not at all, please don't worry about it."

As I bowed slightly, Tabal looked around the training grounds.

"Still, it looks as though a localized natural disaster struck this place."

"Eh, a natural disaster...?"

I tilted my head and followed his gaze, then started in surprise. The training grounds, illuminated by the moonlight, had changed dramatically from their original state.

The once flat ground was now a mess of earthen walls haphazardly rising due to the magic Memory and I had used, with thick vines coiled around them or scattered on the ground. The spots where Johann had used the ground as a foothold to leap were gouged out, dotted with holes of various sizes.

"Ah, ahaha. We got a bit carried away in the heat of the moment. I'll fix it right away."

Scratching my cheek with a wry smile, I crouched down and placed both hands on the training ground's soil.

"Right away?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tabal tilt his head in confusion as I mentally uttered and activated "Earth Reminiscence."

A faint rumble occurred, and the training ground's soil began to ripple like water. The earthen walls, the gouged ground, and the various holes were filled in almost instantly. I sank the vines scattered on the surface into the earth, where they would eventually decompose into soil over time.

"...There, it's back to normal."

As I stood up and brushed the dirt from my hands, I heard Capella's exasperated voice. "Lord Ridd."

"You may have shown your hand a bit too much."

"Ah...?!"

Startled by his remark, I looked around. Johann's eyes were shining, while Tabal and Sekmetos were looking at me as if they'd found prey, their eyes glinting strangely as they smiled fearlessly.

"That's amazing, Ridd! You can not only create earthen walls but use it like this too?"

"Y-yeah. Magic is all about how you use it. Anyway, I'm a bit tired, so I think I'll call it a night now."

Feeling embarrassed, I spoke quickly and turned back to Tabal and Sekmetos.

"Well, I'll take my leave now. Capella, shall we go?"

"As you wish."

As I started walking away briskly with Capella in tow, Sekmetos called out to me from behind. "Lord Ridd."

Oh no, she's going to grill me about the magic.

"Y-yes, what is it?"

I turned around slowly, startled, to see her smiling warmly and pointing in a certain direction.

"If you're returning to your room from here, it's faster to go that way."

"I-is that so? Thank you."

I bowed with a smile, and Tabal cleared his throat.

"Johann. Escort Lord Ridd back to his room."

"Eh, is that alright?!"

"It's quite late today. We'll discuss this matter later. Is that fine with you, Sek?"

"Ah, yes, that's fine."

As Sekmetos nodded, Johann came over to me looking delighted.

"Ridd, so I'll be escorting you to your room. It's this way."

"O-okay. Thank you."

Following Johann's lead, we left the scene. But I could feel Sekmetos and Tabal's gazes on my back the entire time.

◇

Having arrived at the guest room door from the training ground in the courtyard, Johann, who had been leading the way, cleared his throat and turned around.

"So? It was faster than going back through the venue, right?"

"Yeah, it was. Thanks for guiding me."

As I thanked him, I remembered something and gasped.

"Ah, that's right. There's something I need to give you, Johann."

"Something for me...?"

Johann tilted his head in confusion, and I nodded.

"Yeah. Citri entrusted me with a letter for you."

"A letter from Citri?! Ridd, why didn't you give it to me sooner?!"

"Sorry, sorry. I was busy with greetings to Lord Sekmetos, Lord Tabal, and the other clan leaders."

As I apologized and scratched my cheek, Johann puffed out his cheeks in a pout. This side of him was age-appropriate and rather cute.

The letter had been given to me by Citri herself when we departed from Baldia. She had said, 'If the opportunity arises, that is...' with a somewhat hesitant air, but given how happy Johann looked, I decided not to mention that.

"Alright, I'll go get it from inside the room then."

"Okay."

Just as Johann nodded and was about to reach for the door, it swung open forcefully from the inside.

"Huh...?"

As I stood there dumbfounded, I saw Tink with narrowed eyes. However, she was emitting a pitch-black aura that was incredibly intimidating and scary.

"Lord Ridd, you are far too late. What in the world have you been doing until now?"

"S-sorry, Tink."

As I flinched and stepped back, Johann stepped in front of her.

"Haha, don't be like that, Tink, was it? It's my fault for being unreasonable and making him late. If you're going to be angry, be angry at me."

"Lord Johann. My apologies for this."

Tink bowed slightly, then raised her face and immediately leaned in close, right up to his nose.

"If you say so, I suppose I cannot say anything more. However, if I may be so bold, while you and Lord Ridd have your statuses, you are first and foremost children. Sleep is crucial for the growth of both of you, and thus, staying up late is strictly forbidden, I believe."

"O-oh. Right, I'll keep that in mind."

"Yes. Thank you for your understanding."

As he nodded, she smiled sweetly. It seemed he hadn't expected to be talked back to so firmly, as Johann was wide-eyed.

"Ah, right. There's a letter from Citri among my belongings. Could you bring it for me?"

"Certainly. I will fetch it immediately."

Tink bowed and went back inside the room. Johann let out a relieved sigh and patted his chest.

"...For a moment, I saw my mother's face in my mind. Are all the women in the Empire like that?"

"Ahaha. I think it's less about Imperial women and more that Tink is a former knight who belonged to the Baldia Knight Order."

"A knight, huh. That makes sense."

Johann seemed to understand the source of her pressure after my explanation and seeing her demeanor. I knew all too well from personal experience how scary the pressure Tink emitted when angry was.

I'd say it's more than Diana but less than Fara, perhaps.

Incidentally, the scariest when angry is Mother, followed by Father.

Not that I can tell them that, of course.

"Lord Ridd, thank you for waiting. Is this the one?"

"Yeah, thank you."

The letter handed to me by Tink had 'To Johann Bestia' written on it in Citri's slightly rounded, neat handwriting, and the seal bore the 'Grand Duke's Crest'. It was definitely the one entrusted to me by Citri when we left Baldia.

"Here, the letter from Citri. Read it carefully in your room."

"Ooh, so this is a 'letter'. Just as I heard, receiving one makes you happy."

Johann held the received letter aloft with both hands, his eyes sparkling.

"...Don't tell me this is your first time receiving a letter?"

"Eh...?!"

When I asked, Johann blinked, his face turning bright red, his ears and tail standing straight up.

"A-ah, no, that's not it! I told you, I have a hundred friends! I have tons of letters in my room! It's true!"

His flustered, rambling appearance was quite adorable.

"Is that so? Well then, I guess I'm your 101st friend, Johann."

"Ah... y-yeah. I guess so."

Johann scratched his cheek, looking both happy and somewhat embarrassed. He might be curious and charge headlong into things, but at heart, he seems like an honest loner.

He really is like a cat, this one. I let out a soft "Fufu" laugh and looked at Johann, with the room's entrance behind me.

"I'll be heading off for today. It was fun, despite everything."

"Is that so? I'm glad you think that."

"Yeah. Well then, good night."

I turned my back to enter the room, but he stopped me. "Ah, Ridd."

"What is it?"

"Ah, well, it's just..."

As he scratched his cheek looking embarrassed, I tilted my head slightly. Johann took a step forward and hugged me.

"Um, Johann?"

Confused by his intent, I froze. He shyly brought his face close to my ear.

"I was happy... that you called me your friend."

"O-oh. I was happy too when you called me your best friend."

"R-really? Then from today, we're the *bestest* of friends!"

From friend to best friend, and now in an instant, we were the 'bestest' of friends. Unlike the Imperial Prince David or Kiel, even though he's also a prince, he has a purity fitting his age, and I don't sense much duplicity in him.

Of course, he has sharp thinking and senses, so I can't let my guard down.

But the most surprising thing is that, even though he drags me around, I don't dislike him.

Being called his 'bestest friend' made me feel secretly happy inside.

Perhaps satisfied, Johann let go of me and showed a full-faced smile, revealing his white fangs.

"Well then, Ridd. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow then."

"Ah, yeah, see you."

Johann carefully tucked Citri's letter inside his clothes and walked off down the hallway with a happy stride.

Seeing off his retreating figure, I entered the room with Capella and Tink and flopped face-down onto the provided sofa.

"Ahhh, I'm exhausted..."

The meeting, the social gathering, the spar with Johann... it was the most physically demanding schedule I've had so far. Especially the spar with Johann; I not only used my mana-support body but also flew with Body Enhancement: Gale, so the mana consumption was insane.

To be honest, my legs and arms were trembling so much I had to work hard to hide it until we reached the room.

"Lord Ridd, you've worked hard."

I heard Capella's encouraging voice, followed by Tink clearing her throat.

"There are many things I wish to ask, but first, let's get Lord Ridd's dust-covered body cleaned up. I requested Lord Tabal to have a bathtub brought to the adjoining room there, and the hot water is already drawn."

"Eh, really?! Thank you, Tink!"

"Not at all. However, I *will* be hearing a proper account of what happened with Lord Johann. And of course, I will need to report it to Lord Liner as well."

"U-understood."

Quailing under her sharp gaze, I nodded. I then enjoyed a bath in the adjoining room. Afterwards, I explained the whole story to Tink, and both Capella and I received a mild scolding: "Did I not tell you to be careful and exercise restraint?"