I got invited to Rivana Royal Castle!?
The morning after meeting up with Bridget and Milfie, we headed to Karina Square to investigate the Ancient Dungeon.
Apparently, there’s a hidden passage unknown to regular citizens.
The reason? Monsters show up there.
With so many tourists in Rivana, news of frequent monster appearances would likely scare people off.
There are stationed soldiers, and there hasn’t been any serious incident so far, so it’s been kept a secret.
However, since the monsters have grown stronger recently, experts like Bridget are being called in.
No wonder we couldn’t find anything yesterday.
“Sure hope the Ancient Dungeon really exists. Just thinking about it makes me so excited!”
“Judging from everything we’ve heard, it seems highly likely.”
“If it does exist, it’ll be a discovery worthy of the history books of Rivana.”
Even though it was the first time the four of us were together since the capital, it felt so natural—like we’d always been together.
Cheerful Milfie, calm Aqua, mature and cool bear-loving Bridget.
I bet our previous travels felt just like this—fun and warm.
Which is probably why it brought back certain memories.
—The curse from defeating the General of Death.
I still didn’t know how to break it, but maybe Elmirah’s grimoire could help lift it.
It was a stamp rally reward, so I wasn’t sure if it involved memory-related magic, but it felt too perfectly timed to be a coincidence.
Maybe the guide map was trying to give me exactly what I needed.
Directions, analysis, reviews… every feature had been solving my problems lately.
There was no point overthinking it, but the more fun I was having, the more curious I became.
Because—
“Whoa… hey, that guy’s walking around with three gorgeous women.”
“Seriously. Is it some kind of party? I’m so jealous…”
“A scrawny guy like him… I’d be better…”
As we walked side by side, we got stares from everyone around us.
Mostly because everyone except me was way too attractive.
Still, it felt good. Sure, there were a few hurtful comments aimed at me, but I could live with that.
If this was part of my past, surely I had some amazing harem memories stored away.
Memories of this and that… and maybe that too…
… Heh, hehehe.
But honestly, they were all dependable companions.
Milfie was cheerful, cute, a cat, and strong.
Aqua was tiny, cute, a serious mage.
And Bridget… well, she was busty, busty, and did I mention busty?
Elmirah, I’m counting on you!
Please let it be a memory grimoire!
Bring my memories back!
“Tabito, are you listening?”
“Eh? Ah, yeah, Milfie, I’m listening! Totally listening, like super listening!”
“You definitely weren’t listening.”
“Sorry, I got lost in thought.”
With a forgiving “well, whatever, meow,” I looked around and noticed Bridget was gone.
“She’s over there. The soldiers called her, and she told us to wait here.”
Sure enough, she was talking to soldiers a little ways off.
Even with the guide map, I hadn’t noticed—I must’ve really been off in my own world.
I need to pay better attention.
“Looks pretty serious… maybe something happened,” Aqua said, noticing the tension in the soldiers.
If they were approaching someone like Bridget, it was likely monster-related.
I held back, figuring it’d be rude for an ordinary adventurer like me to butt in, but then Bridget waved us over.
After exchanging confused looks with Milfie and Aqua, we walked over.
Four soldiers stood there.
Rivana’s silver armor was light blue, beautiful like the sea, with polka dot designs that made it feel friendlier than standard iron plates.
But their expressions were dead serious.
“What’s going on, Bridget?”
“Tabito, change of plans. Apparently, we’ve been summoned to the royal castle.”
“The royal castle… wait, what!?”
I shouted without thinking, and suddenly everyone around was staring at us.
A fancy carriage was already waiting.
But… why us?
“Tabito, maybe it’s Tia?”
“Oh… yeah, that makes sense.”
Princess Eltia of Rivana. We’d once acted as her guards during a secret trip.
We’d called her Tia to avoid suspicion, but addressing her like that now would be disrespectful.
Milfie kept her voice low, understanding that.
We’d talked about seeing her again but had no way to contact her.
Besides, how would she know we even entered the country?
Bridget didn’t seem to have contacted anyone either.
I mean… unless…
(If anyone named Tabito shows up, report it to me immediately. He’s… someone important to me.)
She might’ve told someone that in advance.
Tia… could it be that you… no, no. You’re a princess. I’m just an adventurer. The difference in status is too great. No matter how pure your feelings are, that’s—
“Tabito, you listening, meow?”
“Sorry, I was… imagining some pretty dumb things.”
Milfie scolded me again, and I apologized profusely.
“They want to discuss the Ancient Dungeon. More details at the castle,” Bridget said.
We all exchanged looks again.
What was going on? Why did they know?
With more questions than answers, we headed to the royal castle.
What do you think about this chapter?
