episode_0104

While waiting endlessly for the guests who did not come after the opening of Stay Cafe, Mei Luina and Mir Ryuin were heading back to ‘Stay this place’ after finishing their business.

As they had cast a transformation spell to change their appearance, no one recognized them as they confidently walked down the street.

The happiness of a calm and ordinary daily life pursued by Stay had gradually seeped into the two individuals who were furthest from ordinary in the world.

Therefore, despite being able to reach their destination in an instant using flight magic, they chose to walk normally, and complaints about the events of this morning blossomed into conversation.

＂Sigh… It’s impossible to even take a month off. Is this why the lives of famous people are so difficult?”

“I originally lived a secluded life, but I got annoyed by getting involved with you, Mei Luina. I just wanted to enjoy a peaceful daily life with Stay.”

“I feel the same way. And why is it my fault! Don’t blame others!”

“Tsk. Well, I had to show my face at least once.”

“That’s true. Maybe by tomorrow, there will be a correction in the news. ‘Saint Mei Luina and Mir Ryuin go on a break.’ Something like that.”

“Since we saved the world, no one will think it’s strange for us to take a break. And since we bluntly told the reporters to turn off their interest, no one will dare to follow us without fear.”

The press conference that they had to hold was the event that they couldn’t participate in Stay’s cafe opening.

When various rumors started to spread due to the sudden disappearance of the two individuals for about a month, it was decided that a press conference was necessary to prevent anyone from digging into their whereabouts, and to prevent any backlash from reaching Stay.

If the reporters were to swarm Stay, who had treated the two, and as a result, his cherished peaceful daily life was disrupted, the aftermath would likely not end with just being disliked. Therefore, the press conference was a necessary step to prevent the worst-case scenario.

“I mentioned that we plan to take a break for at least a year, so during that time, we can enjoy our daily life with Mr. Stay in peace.”

“But Mei Luina, can you really take such a long break? I’m used to being holed up in the tower and only coming out occasionally, so taking a year off isn’t that strange for me. But you’re different. If you stay so idle, won’t you be pushed out of the power struggle in the Holy See?”

“The day has come when Mir Ryuin worries about others. It’s quite an event to witness. Well, I may not live that long, but still. You don’t need to restrain me like that. As I said before, I’m one of the main heroes who saved the world. Just taking a year off won’t diminish my position.”

“Tsk.”

“Even if Mir Ryuin takes a break from magical research, is that okay? You collected many samples of new demons during the last gate conquest, and you also excavated many EX-grade mana stones that have never been seen before in the world. You’re the only one who can research them in the world, so isn’t it a global loss?”

“Hah, it’s just one year. It’s not like the samples and mana stones will disappear just because I take a year off. I’ve even cast a time-freezing spell to ensure their preservation, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Tsk.”

The mutual restraint towards each other, which had now become a part of their daily lives, continued as they walked down the street.

However, May Luina and Mir Ryuin knew better than anyone else that they couldn’t drive away their opponent by engaging in this kind of verbal sparring.

That’s why May Luina decided to change the subject to end this meaningless argument.

＂By the way, why is Dain Adamas suddenly targeting S-class gates so aggressively？ It’s not like he needs to build up his reputation like me in the Vatican, or like you, Mir Ryuin, who needs materials for research.”

The new topic chosen was Dain Adamas.

Unlike the two who had disappeared without a word, she was the heroine who, upon waking up, immediately began attacking all the S-class gates around the world, a beacon of heroism.

Of course, to the two, she was just a figure they had to restrain to avoid losing their stake in the Stei, but nothing more.

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s just acting out because he’s drunk on his own power. Trying to erase the helplessness he felt when he was a plant man.”

Knowing that their mutual restraint was meaningless, Mir Ryuin agreed with May Luina’s change of topic and continued the conversation about her.

“It’s been going on for a whole month. Other major guilds are expressing deep regret about it. They’re afraid of losing their jobs.”

“Really? I don’t care about that. Dain Adamas probably doesn’t care either. What can other guilds do even if they feel deep regret? The opponent is Dain Adamas. Unless it’s you, me… and that fourth guy from the other world, they won’t even attract attention.”

“Well, that’s true. It’s good that we have one less person to worry about!”

“Yeah. If Dain Adamas were here, it would have been a headache.”

“Right! Dain Adamas is… how should I put it? He has no reservations in his actions. If he had come here looking for Stei like us, there would have been trouble by now.”

“Agreed. Dain Adamas is like a natural disaster in human form, so no amount of preparation is enough… huh?”

As they were discussing Dain Adamas, Mir Ryuin’s magic circle in her mind began to sound the alarm.

It was the emergency alert magic she had set up at ‘Stay this place’ to activate only in the event of a gate appearing or a specific person approaching, and this time it was the latter.

“Mir Ryuin? Why are you suddenly…?”

“He’s here.”

“He’s here? What?! S-Surely…?!”

“Dain Adamas is here!”

The perfect timing of Dain Adamas’ appearance in Stei’s cafe, which had been the appetizer to their peaceful daily lives, left the two momentarily stunned, exchanging only glances without being able to do anything.

But even that was short-lived, as Mir Ryuin, realizing that doing nothing would lead to nothing, quickly flicked her finger to cast a visibility spell around herself and May Luina.

Humming-

“Let’s go. Quickly. Before that lunatic does something to Stei!”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

At the same time, the two rushed towards ‘Stay this place’ at their maximum speed.

※

Although they arrived at ‘Stay this place’ within about a minute of starting their rush, the two hesitated to enter even after reaching it.

Not only because the opponent they had to subdue in the worst case scenario was the strongest human, Dain Adamas, but for a more important reason.

That is.

“If Dain Adamas sees us, he’ll immediately expose our identities.”

“And even if we do manage to subdue him, he’s not an opponent we can handle easily! To capture him, both of us need to give it our all!”

In front of Dain Adamas, Mir Ryuin’s transformation magic was useless.

Dain Adamas was considered the person who lived most freely in the world.

Being the strongest, he didn’t care about others’ opinions. Therefore, it was certain that he would make a sarcastic remark like, ＂Mir Ryuin？ Mei Luina? Why are you both acting like that?” when he saw the two people hiding their identities with transformation magic.

In a truly hopeless situation, the two of them arrived at the cafe but couldn’t come up with a proper response. They just kept exchanging glances and trying to figure out the situation inside.

“Uh, what if Dain Adamas loses his mind and kidnaps Stei? He hasn’t consumed Stei’s essence for a whole month! If he meets the real Stei in that state, it’s natural for him to lose control and become a beast! He’s already like a beast of a human!”

“But there’s no way. If we try to confront Dain Adamas now, due to his careless words, our identities will be exposed, and then it’s over for both of us. We won’t be able to stay by Stei’s side legally anymore.”

“Ugh… If it’s come to this, there’s nothing we can do. When Dain Adamas kidnaps Stei, we have no choice but to subdue him and take Stei with us…”

“That makes sense…! Oh, no. Yes, Mei Luina. Your words might be right. Anyway, once Dain Adamas appears, Stei will be kidnapped, and then our peaceful daily lives will also be ruined. If our daily lives are ruined and Stei is taken away, it’s better for our daily lives to be ruined and for me to… No, for us to have Stei.”

In the end, the two of them, in a desperate situation, came up with a dangerous plan right in front of the cafe, where Stei could panic if he heard it.

“Ah, so we’re forming a team like this in the end. Let’s call it a temporary alliance.”

“Okay, that’s fine. I don’t like it, but if it’s for a better future, we have no choice.”

Thus, the most dangerous temporary alliance in the world was formed, and just as they were preparing for a surprise attack for the moment when Dain Adamas, unable to bear it, would knock out the resisting Stei and escape.

Thud.

“…Huh?”

“Why?”

“Dain Adamas’ mana… disappeared?”

Unbelievable events unfolded inside the cafe.