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“I’ll be going for a bit then.”

Mira asked Iris to also tell her the result of the match when she returned, just like Alma did, and then stood up to leave. Iris replied with a cheerful, “Take care!” But Mira did not miss the sudden pang of loneliness that overtook Iris’ eyes right after.

(Oh right, she’ll be all alone again once I leave…)

The way Iris spoke, always ready to explain anything that happened, showed that she truly enjoyed watching TV with someone else, and now she was trying to push those feelings away.

All to not make Mira worry.

That made Mira want to alleviate the loneliness somehow, until she came to a solution.

“Now that I think about it, I’m your bodyguard so I shouldn’t be leaving just like that. I’ll leave this fellow here to protect you in my stead until my return.”

There were already more than a dozen Holy Knights and Dark Knights standing guard, on top of the Ashen Knight in the room, keeping Iris completely safe. But Mira still felt the need of saying that as she activated a summon, all to keep Iris company.

A magic circle spread out, and with a heroic stride, the First Lieutenant Cait Sith emerged from it. It really felt like he had rehearsed how to make the perfect entrance as a summon.

“I’m but a wandering bodyguard. Would you like to meownploy me? If you can afford meow that is.”

His attitude was a bit more coolheaded than usual, which sadly clashed with the slightly oversized black suit and mismatched sunglasses he wore.

Behind him the sign also read [Always safe with MeowLSOK]. This time he was playing the character of a professional bodyguard.

“Here, I’ll pay you in advance.”

Saying that, Mira threw him a slice of mountain tuna from her Item Box.

“Meohoow! Now we’re in business!”

He had not been expecting to actually be paid, so his eyes twinkled as he pounced on the slice of fish. Once he was done eating, he stood up with pride announcing, “I won’t let anyone lay a single finger on you now.”

“A talking cat! He’s so cuteee!”

He was trying his best to appear cool and dashing, but no matter what he did, he would never look that way. Just like Iris only saw him as an embodiment of cuteness.

“Can I pet you?”

Iris clasped and released her hands as she waddled closer to the First Lieutenant, filled with desire.

Meanwhile, the First Lieutenant’s attempt to remain cool and collected began to falter when faced with such a direct proposition, eventually slumping his shoulders and answering, “If it’s just a little…you can.”

The decision between staying in character or giving in to Iris’ request ended up with him going for the latter option.

“You’re so cuteeee! And fluffyyyyy!”

As soon as he gave permission, Iris darted forward and began petting the First Lieutenant all over.

Mira had relied on the idea that there was no girl who disliked small animals, and it paid off. Her smile as she petted the First Lieutenant was pure and free of worry, also making Mira smile.

“Well then, First Lieutenant. I’m leaving her in your paws.”

Mira no longer had to worry about Iris being lonely, and if anything were to happen, the First Lieutenant would be able to buy time until Mira got back as well. They were not in a battlefield or somewhere dangerous, so Iris would be safe.

“You can count on meow!”

The First Lieutenant replied with determination, which did not really do much for him as Iris hugged him.

After leaving Iris and the First Lieutenant in the room, Mira headed out to the waiting room where Claus was.

“Oh, Mira, where are you going?”
“Just running an errand for the empress.”

After reaching the break room at the end of the corridor leading out of the oracle’s room, she encountered some guards who were resting there.

She spoke for a bit with one of them, who was no average guard. She had seen his face alongside various others in the booklet Alma gave her, as well as a description of the place.

The break room was just a front, with its true purpose being a place to guard the entrance to the oracle’s room.

At first glance, it just looked like the guards were taking a break there, but on closer examination, it was clear that everyone there was no average person.

If the booklet was right, then everyone there was at least a commander, which meant their power was above rank A adventurers, and they were permanently stationed in that room while just pretending to rest.

“I’ll only be gone for a bit, so don’t worry.”

There were presently three guards there, who appeared to be relaxing, while still being in positions where they could draw their swords at a moment’s notice. Even if Mira was not planning on doing anything, just being there made her straighten her back and walk properly.

The entrance to the room was also under heavy surveillance. But Mira was not intimidated, speaking to them with a casual tone.

“I understand. Take care.”

One of them replied, and the other two nodded silently. The three of them kept looking at her as she left and headed to the waiting room.

“…I got lost.”

Fifteen minutes passed after she left the oracle’s room.

She had been wandering through the palace the entire time, only to realize that the place she initially believed was the waiting room was the audience hall, and she no longer knew her way around.

If she could only bring herself to admit she was lost, she could have asked any of the servants she passed by for directions, and stopped wasting time.

But she stubbornly believed her half baked knowledge was enough, so she kept taking random turns, thinking that surely she was on the right path this time, only to reach more dead ends.

At first, she had walked with determination and pride, but as time went on, she gradually lost that confidence, until she just looked like a young girl who went to a big company to bring her father something he forgot at home.

Eventually, that allowed a female knight to take notice of Mira’s unsure manner of walking, and after making contact, she brought Mira to the waiting room.

“Sorry for troubling you, but thank you.”
“This palace is huge, so don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do for a guest.”

After thanking the female knight, Mira hurried to get inside the waiting room, having wasted so much time to get there.

And then…