'Ah? Are you busy?'
'No. Well, Mr. Crow, let’s talk more if we get the chance.'
Platanus, after exchanging a few words with Saffron, turned and left.
'Hey hey, Crow, something interesting is happening. Let’s go see.'
'Something interesting?'
Saffron detests boredom and genuinely enjoys chaotic situations, a true pervert at heart.""I knew whatever Saffron found amusing wouldn't be fun for me.
And I doubted anything happening right now could match the impact of Shion and Holly's training.
'What's this interesting thing?'
'Cattleya and Iris are fighting, looks like they might kill each other.'
'That’s not interesting at all!'
I hoped it was just a bad joke or a misunderstanding.
Cattleya and Iris had gotten along since their days as instructor and student at the military academy.
Now, as bearers of the saintly swords of the Holy Sword, they shared a deep camaraderie, being long-time acquaintances of the same gender.
I always thought they’d be the leading members of adult Shion’s party.
Those two, on the verge of fighting to the death?
'How did it come to that?'
'I don't know.'
Saffron answered nonchalantly, seemingly oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.
No, she understood but seemed intent on enjoying it.
'I wonder who would win if those two fought. The Blazing Sword and the Frost Sword. Fire and ice. Nice. It's boring when someone like Shion fights because you know she'll win, but it’s exciting when equally matched opponents clash, right?'
'It's not exciting.'
'Cattleya has more experience, but Iris seems to have improved a lot since dungeon crawling with us. It might be a close match.'
'First, try to stop them...'
Led by Saffron, I approached where Cattleya and Iris were and gasped.
They were in Cattleya's private room, from which steam was billowing out.
Even before entering, I had a bad feeling.
With a sigh, I stepped into Cattleya’s room.
'Whoa!?'
'What!?'
The two inside, Cattleya and Iris, were drenched in sweat.
And they were in their underwear.
'...'
Seeing the two of them, sweaty and in their undergarments, I thought, 'Ah, I should have knocked before entering. I don’t want to die,' while watching the saintly sword wielders poised to draw their swords.""I won’t talk about what happened next.
That the two women, infuriated, mercilessly attacked me with the Blazing Sword and the Frost Sword, that Saffron had long fled to safety, that my body suffered mild burns and frostbite – all of that doesn’t matter.
The excuses of a man who accidentally saw women undressed are irrelevant.
Anyway, the reason the two were in their underwear...
Just as Saffron said, it seems Cattleya and Iris really were fighting.
During the fight, they unconsciously used their divine swords' abilities, releasing heat from the Blazing Sword and cold from the Frost Sword, turning the room into a steam bath.
Soaked through, they decided to calm down and talk it out.
And for that, they needed to change clothes.
Iris was about to return to her room to get her clothes, but Cattleya offered her a bathrobe, suggesting they settle their dispute right there. Just as they were about to strip, I barged in without knocking.
Well, thinking about it, it wasn't wrong for me to enter the room worried about them fighting after hearing from Saffron... But no, I won’t make excuses.
'Eh? You're going to Blue Dragon?'
'Yeah, well...'
Cattleya, in a bathrobe, said she was heading to Blue Dragon, the place we visited during our investigation of the water shortage.
Iris, also in a bathrobe, seemed content to let Cattleya explain, crossing her arms and staying silent.
Saffron, seemingly uninterested in the conversation, was preparing tea and snacks for everyone.
Though usually reluctant, she’s quite competent at maid duties.
And so, the three of us sat around the table discussing, with Saffron standing behind me.
'Remember the water shortage? You three went and solved it, right?'
'Yes. After that, the cause of the shortage was resolved, and the water level in the lake at Blue Dragon is gradually returning to normal.'
'That’s the problem.'
'What?'
The problem is that the lake, whose water level had dropped due to the shortage, is returning to its original state?""I won’t go into further detail about what happened next.
The angry women attacked me mercilessly with the Blazing Sword and the Frost Sword, Saffron had already fled to a safe distance, and I suffered minor burns and frostbite - but all that is irrelevant.
The excuses of a man who accidentally saw women undressed don't matter.
Anyway, about why they were in their underwear...
Apparently, Cattleya and Iris really were fighting, as Saffron said.
During the fight, they unknowingly used their divine swords' abilities, causing heat from the Blazing Sword and cold from the Frost Sword, turning the room into a steamy sauna.
Soaked through, they decided to calm down and talk it out.
To do so, they needed to change clothes.
Iris was about to return to her room for her clothes, but Cattleya offered her a bathrobe, suggesting they settle their dispute right there. So, just as they were about to undress, I barged in without knocking.
Well, considering I entered the room worried about them fighting after hearing from Saffron... But no, I won’t make excuses.
'Eh? You’re going to Blue Dragon?'
'Yeah, well...'
Cattleya, in a bathrobe, said she was heading to Blue Dragon, where we had previously visited for the water shortage investigation.
Iris, also in a bathrobe, let Cattleya do the explaining, looking dishappy and crossing her arms.
Saffron, who seemed uninterested in the conversation, prepared tea and snacks for everyone.
Though usually reluctant, she efficiently performed her maid duties.
And so, we three sat around the table discussing, with Saffron standing behind me.
'Remember the water shortage? You three went and solved it, right?'
'Yes. After that, the cause of the shortage was resolved, and the water level in the lake at Blue Dragon is gradually returning to normal.'
'That’s the problem.'
'What?'
The problem is that the lake, whose water level had dropped due to the shortage, is returning to its original state?""It’s rare to see this.
The exemplary student Iris taking such an assertive stance against Cattleya.
'What? Iris, you want to keep the lake because your family's livelihood depends on fishing in that lake, right? Are you planning to let personal feelings interfere when discussing national affairs?'
'I will. Of course. I don’t trust the nation. I always trust my own judgment and the important family and friends around me. That includes you, Cattleya, but I can't agree with you on this.'
'You don’t trust the country? Even though you graduated from the military academy?'
'I can’t understand how you, Cattleya, can trust the decishions of this country. Remember, they tried to execute you on false charges and threw you to the frontlines at the first sign of rebellion.'
'That's because I wield one of the saintly swords of the Holy Sword. Being overwhelmingly strong means I have to be the first to cross dangerous bridges. It’s the same for you.'
'I've been prepared to go to battle since joining the academy. However, I refuse to be manipulated by the whims of royalty and nobility, or to be executed.'
'That's totally irrelevant to our current discusshion!'
'It is relevant! I can't trust decishions made by those who tried to execute you! I don’t want them destroying my hometown!'
'So, you’re fine with leaving the increasing number of starving orphans every year?'
'...'
I listened to their conversation in silence.
Not because I was focusing on listening, but because I genuinely didn’t know who was right.
It turns out, debates can involve clashing right ideas.
But listening to them, it seemed like they both cared deeply for each other and weren’t really fighting.
In the end, the decishion would have to be made by them talking it out.
'Hey Crow! What do you think?'
'Yes, Crow! Your opinion?'
'Eh!?'
Me, now? I involuntarily looked to Saffron for help, but she was gone.