3. Magic Dock

After Akari took Haruka to observe LuciaRose’s training, TiaraRose visited Aquasteed’s office to inform him of her arrival.

Inside the office were four people: Aquasteed, Elliot, Olivia, and Levy. Aquasteed noticed her immediately and called out, “Tiara.”

“Good work today, Aqua. Actually, I came because I have something to report.”

“Did something happen?”

At Aquasteed’s words, TiaraRose gave a wry smile and informed him that Akari had arrived. Aquasteed shrugged his shoulders with a face that seemed to say, “Not again…”

In contrast, Olivia’s excitement shot through the roof upon hearing that Akari was here. She pressed a handkerchief to her face in case of a sudden nosebleed, her eyes sparkling with delight. “Akari-sama has come!?” Levy stood behind her, already preparing a spare handkerchief. He was always thoroughly prepared when it came to Olivia.

Olivia Rubialia

The villainess of the sequel to this otome game. Originally a duke’s daughter, she earned the title of Countess for her achievements. She proposed to Levy and took him as her spouse. She has long rose-red hair and sparkling honey-green eyes. She is a hardcore otaku who absolutely loves this otome game.

Levy Rubialia

The man who supports Olivia from the shadows. He has neat black hair and rose-red eyes the same color as Olivia’s. He is dressed in a jacket designed based on a butler’s uniform. Once her devoted butler, he is now her husband and appears to be living very happily.

Seeing Olivia’s reaction, TiaraRose gave a soft, wry smile and offered an invitation.

“While Akari-sama is staying with us, let’s all have a tea party together.”

“Yes! By all means, let’s do it! In fact, right this second!!”

TiaraRose laughed at Olivia, who was so fired up her hands were twitching.

“Right now is impossible. Akari-sama took Haruka-kun to see Lucia’s training. However, let’s all have dinner together this evening. I’m sure there are many things you want to talk about.”

“Haaah, I’m looking forward to it…!!”

the moment Olivia said that, her handkerchief was dyed red—.

“By the way, what were you all discussing just now?”

Since it was rare for Olivia to be in Aquasteed’s office, TiaraRose tilted her head and asked. Aquasteed immediately explained the content of their discussion.

“The repairs to the Royal Castle have finished, so I was having Lady Olivia confirm them.”

“I see.”

The “repairs to the Royal Castle” referred to general maintenance of things like the emergency escape routes known only to royalty, and the underground chamber where Liriage and Pheles had been sealed. Since Olivia remembers everything about the game, she had cooperated to repair the castle’s interior and create a new map. Of course, regarding the passages known only to the Royal Family, there were some that could not even be put on a map.

“I’m glad the repairs finished safely.”

—But, it’s also a little lonely.

As she continues to live her life, her connection to the “game” side of this world will likely disappear bit by bit.

Tonight’s dinner turned out to be very lively. Ever since Akari arrived, she hadn’t stopped talking. She spoke about various things, such as how impressive LuciaRose’s training looked and what kind of things were currently trendy in Lapis Lazuli.

The dinner party consisted of TiaraRose and Aquasteed, along with LuciaRose, Stillca, and Stillio. There were also Olivia and Levy, Elliot and Philine, and finally Akari and Haruka. LuciaRose and Haruka seemed to have become friends during the day, chatting happily as they ate.

—Perhaps things might actually go according to Akari-sama’s plan, TiaraRose thought.

Seeing how they were acting, Akari directed a question to LuciaRose.

“Hey, hey, Lucia-chan. What kind of person do you want to marry in the future?”

At that statement, everyone present gulped.

“Hmm… Someone like my Father!”

“——!!”

LuciaRose declared it with a brilliant, innocent smile.

—There aren’t many people stronger than Aqua, after all.

It was practically a declaration that Haruka had no chance, but Akari didn’t seem ready to give up.

“In that case, Haruka, you’ll have to train every day. But I wonder if training every day will be enough to become stronger than Lord Aqua?”

Olivia was the one who reacted to Akari’s words.

“Is there anyone stronger than His Majesty Aquasteed to begin with? Even our Levy can’t lay a finger on him these days.”

When Aquasteed and Levy had fought in the past, it had been a good match. However, now Aquasteed had become overwhelmingly stronger. Levy shrugged his shoulders and followed up on Olivia’s words.

“I feel like I’ve trained quite a bit myself, but if there’s anyone who could defeat His Majesty, wouldn’t it have to be a Fairy King or a Spirit?”

“You give me too much credit,” Aquasteed said with a laugh, shaking his head, though he looked somewhat pleased. Watching LuciaRose, who still liked Aquasteed best of all, TiaraRose smiled.

After they finished dessert and took a breath over tea, Akari suddenly took control of the atmosphere. “That’s right!”

“Actually, through my training, the power of my Holy Prayer has powered up!”

“Your Holy Prayer!? That… I can only say that’s amazing.”

When TiaraRose praised her, Akari puffed out her chest with a smug look.

“Tiara-sama became a Fairy King, so I have to keep powering up too! After all, I am the heroine!”

Deciding it wouldn’t do for only her to stop growing, Akari had apparently been working hard at her magic training.

“So, how exactly has it powered up?”

When TiaraRose asked, Akari’s eyes sparkled as if to say, “I’m glad you asked!”

“Attacking and defensive magic are a given, but I’ve become able to see the flow of magic and the condition inside the body in great detail. It’s like an application of healing magic.”

“Eh, isn’t that incredible…?”

Healing-type magic is rare. It’s amazing enough just to heal wounds, but to be able to see the body’s condition as well… TiaraRose was impressed. Aquasteed, Olivia, and the others seemed impressed as well.

“Ah! Since we’re here, I’ll take a look at Tiara-sama’s and Aqua-sama’s bodies for you. Look, you both had your magic increase and such, so don’t you want to know the state of your bodies? Just think of it as a magic version of a medical checkup. Like a ‘Magic Dock.'”

“Oh, Akari-sama.”

TiaraRose couldn’t help but laugh at Akari’s casual phrasing. If it was like a medical checkup, she certainly wanted to have one at least once a year.

“Besides, knowing your own magical state is important, you know? It might even make your power easier to use.”

“Yes. That is very important.”

Thinking about it that way, she felt it would be wonderful if people with large or unstable amounts of magic could have a magic inspection once a year. TiaraRose gave a wry smile but nodded at Akari’s proposal.

Quite a lot has happened up to the present day. It started with being born as a villainess, gaining the blessing of the Fairy Kings, taking part of Aquasteed’s power into herself through the Ring of the Starry Sky—and TiaraRose herself became the Candy Fairy King and gained the ability to transform into a cat. Looking back, truly many things had occurred. She wanted to know as much as possible about her own body. For that, Akari’s holy power would be perfect, so TiaraRose agreed to the “Magic Dock.”

“All right, leave it to me!”

A confident Akari suddenly turned to Aquasteed.

“How about you too, Aqua-sama!?”

“No, I will pass.”

“Che~”

Aquasteed shrugged his shoulders at the sulking Akari. While having his magic looked at might be good, he felt he would be exhausted if he was examined while she was in this high-tension state. Instead, TiaraRose made a request to Akari.

“After I am finished, I would like you to look at Luca and Rio. Those two have a large amount of magic, and it’s difficult for them to handle.”

“Is it okay for us too?”

Stillca and Stillio were the ones surprised by TiaraRose’s suggestion. Since the power of Holy Prayer is so rare, they likely hadn’t expected to be examined themselves. Akari looked at Stillca and Stillio and gave a broad grin.

“Leave it to me!”

“Thank you very much.”

Akari took a deep breath and fired herself up. “Okay!”

“Well then, first I’ll examine Tiara-sama. Your hand.”

“Yes.”

Akari held out her hand, and TiaraRose placed her own hand over it.

“Since you’re a villainess, I’m sure you must have an amazing amount of magic!”

Everyone instinctively took a step back as Akari puffed out a breath and her eyes sparkled. Olivia, of course, was the exception; she stepped forward and stood right next to Akari.

—Could it be that Akari-sama just wants to examine the main characters…

Such a thought crossed TiaraRose’s mind, but she quickly dismissed it and concentrated. This was because Akari had closed her eyes and begun to focus. That said, the only thing TiaraRose could do was stand still.

“…Hmm? This—I feel magic that’s like Aqua-sama’s too.”

It seemed Akari had begun to feel the magic.

“Aqua’s magic is flowing into me from the Ring of the Starry Sky King.”

“What a delicious setup…”

“Akari-sama!”

Receiving Akari’s focused holy power made her feel a very warm sensation. However, Akari’s comment ruined the moment.

“But, if Aqua-sama’s magic is also included—Kyaa! The magic of both of you is too large to control!!”

“—!?”

Everyone braced themselves at Akari’s scream. Perhaps because Akari’s holy power had been added to TiaraRose’s magic, it grew larger and larger until it became visible to the eye. A faintly shimmering light began to overflow into the room.

“Tiara!”

“Mother!!”

End of 213