I was a bit surprised by the unexpected strong reaction to my thoughtless prank.

“I… I didn’t expect to be asked if I was in my right mind… I often tease Karl’s ears too. That’s how I punish him whenever he makes unnecessary jokes.”

“…Don’t do it.”

“Karl just laughs though… Anyway, I’m sorry. I won’t play the same prank on you again, Captain.”

“No, don’t do it to other members either. Including Karl. It’s not a good prank.”

Since the other guys always laughed it off, I couldn’t realize this was rude behavior.

I bowed my head to the captain, promising myself to be careful from now on.

“Yes, I’ll refrain from doing it.”

“Sigh… Anyway, let’s get going. I helped you off my back, but your injury probably hasn’t fully healed yet, so lean on me.”

Thanks to the generous use of potions, I wasn’t so injured that I couldn’t walk alone, but the captain insisted on having me lean on him.

Since it wasn’t difficult, I gladly accepted his support as we passed through the rift.

Beeeep-

Just like when entering the rift, a ringing sound echoed in my ears as we exited.

When I returned to my world, hearing that now welcome sound.

“…!”

I couldn’t help but be shocked.

An unexpected figure was waiting for us outside the rift.

Seeing that irritatingly familiar face, I stuttered:

“Y-Your Majesty…”

The Emperor, Ernant, was waiting for us for some reason.

Could it be that he came in person to confront me for rudely cutting off his communication?

As my head was filled with various thoughts, Ernant showed a twisted smile.

“It seems you two have gotten quite close while I wasn’t looking. Seeing you come out so tightly attached to each other. Did you have a nice chat in there?”

There was a time when my heart would pound like it was about to burst just from seeing Ernant’s face.

Too excited, not knowing what to do, I would just blush like an idiot.

And right now, my heart was beating fast and my face was burning hot, just like back then.

But this time, it wasn’t because of excitement towards Ernant.

Not excitement, but the emotion of anger was heating up my body.

Did he really just ask if we had a nice chat in the rift?

I was leaning on the captain because of an injury I suffered while risking my life fighting monsters.

Yet Ernant was mocking our behavior just because I was leaning on the captain.

Belittling our fierce battle as a “chat”.

I retorted to him in a voice that suppressed my anger as much as possible:

“I injured my leg. That’s why the captain is supporting me. I don’t remember having any chat.”

“…You injured your leg?”

Only then did Ernant examine my thigh area.

His brow furrowed as if he finally noticed the blood seeping through the fabric.

Ernant’s gaze, which had lingered on my wound for a while, now turned to the captain.

“You let your subordinate get injured. I thought you never made mistakes when it came to monster subjugation.”

An attitude that blamed the captain for my injury and seemed to disparage him.

I was about to say something, unable to listen anymore, when the captain spoke first.

“What brings you all the way here? We didn’t receive news that you would be coming here.”

“Do I always have to give advance notice? Isn’t it natural for me, the sun of the empire, to check if the threats to the empire are being managed well?”

Saying ‘threats’, Ernant looked at the captain once, then slowly at the closing rift.

So I couldn’t tell if the threat Ernant was referring to meant the captain or the rift.

Anyway, as Ernant alternated between examining the captain and the rift, he suddenly approached the rift.

While it was something we knights on the ground saw often, for an emperor like him, he probably hadn’t seen a rift many times.

So he examined that wavering hole of light for a long time as if it was fascinating.

Then suddenly, his head turned towards me.

“Is this closing?”

“Yes. We defeated the Queen inside and destroyed the magic stone, so it will close soon.”

“I see. Good work.”

Ernant’s face was filled with a kind smile as he said good work to me.

It was that smile that made me fall in love in the past.

Having grown up under a strict father and never received praise, I was terribly weak to that.

Because of that, I had helplessly given my heart without knowing what the real face hidden behind that smile was.

But that’s all in the past now.

Now, seeing his smile didn’t make me excited or nervous.

Rather, it only made me uncomfortable, reminding me of the face that smiled while watching me die before my regression.

“Um, it’s hard for me to stand for long because of my injury. May I go rest now?”

Ernant briefly furrowed his brow at my dry tone, then quickly smiled again.

He patted my shoulder while wearing that mask of pretense.

“I’ve kept a patient standing for too long. You may go back. Ah, come to think of it, it would be hard to go back alone with an injured leg, wouldn’t it?”

At first, I couldn’t understand what Ernant meant by saying that.

So I just stood there blankly, like when the captain suggested carrying me on his back.

Ernant grabbed my arm and put it around his own shoulder.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

“Lean on me comfortably. I’ll support you to your quarters.”

“…There’s no need for this. I can walk by myself-”

“If you can walk by yourself, why were you being supported by your superior earlier?”

I was momentarily lost for words at Ernant’s question.

Even I thought it was strange to accept the captain’s support but refuse the emperor’s.

As I was pondering how to answer, the captain intervened.

“Didn’t Your Majesty say you came to examine the rift?”

“…That’s right. Is there a problem?”

“Then it seems you’ve finished your business now, so please return. I’ll take care of my subordinate.”

“What…?”

The mask of pretense that Ernant always wore on his face was so solid that it wouldn’t budge unless something major happened.

However, at this moment, cracks were forming in that solidity.

At the captain’s somewhat… no, quite disrespectful tone, Ernant showed anger on his face without hiding it.

I suddenly thought it was dangerous.

Of course, the two of them had often quarreled before.

Even at palace events, they would engage in subtle power struggles whenever they encountered each other.

But this time was different.

It wasn’t just the bickering they exchanged as a form of greeting, but there were signs of something more serious about to happen.

I glanced at the imperial guard who was subtly moving his fingers towards his sword.

Then I called out to Ernant.

“Your Majesty, then could I ask for your support just to my barracks?”

“Ah, you’re going to accept my help? Your superior doesn’t seem to want that, is it alright?”

Ernant sneered like that in a voice tinged with laughter.

While glaring at the captain with eyes as sharp as a blade, unlike his light tone.

Sensing another argument was about to break out if left alone, I quickly spoke to the captain.

“I want to go back and rest quickly. Please allow me to leave, Captain.”

“…”

“Captain?”

The captain didn’t answer for a long time even after hearing my call.

Just as I was starting to worry if I had made some mistake, the captain finally opened his mouth.

“Alright, you may go back.”

I bowed to the captain, then reluctantly leaned on Ernant.

Soon, the imperial guards following Ernant surrounded us as if to protect us.

We headed to my barracks under their protection.

“Hah…”

When we finally arrived at the barracks after enduring that awkward time that seemed like it would go on forever, I let out a small sigh.

I was genuinely glad to have barely finished that uncomfortable situation and returned to my personal space.

I could have continued to enjoy that joy if only Ernant hadn’t naturally followed me into the barracks as if he had permission.

“…Is it alright for you to follow me in? The guards will be waiting for Your Majesty outside.”

“Well, it’s their job to protect the emperor. If I say I have business, they have to wait until it’s finished.”

Ernant’s attitude became much more casual once we were alone.

I also found it a bit easier to deal with Ernant now that there were no other eyes watching.

“I need to change my clothes… Could you please leave now?”

“I’ll turn my back, so don’t mind me.”

“…”

I was irritated, but Ernant was still the emperor after all.

As a mere knight from a marquis family, I couldn’t forcibly chase him out.

Swallowing my annoyance, I quickly changed into clean clothes while he had his back turned.

“Why did you come all the way here?”

I naturally asked that after I finished changing.

Ernant turned around, looking over my new clothes, and answered my question.

“I was worried.”