Watching Claire solemnly grope Iris up and down, her face gradually rubbing against Iris's body, her once-concerned expression transforming into something flushed, panting, and drooling like a perverted pig, Fang Li was utterly speechless.
He had thought that the eldest daughter of this high-ranking noble family was a stiff, rigid type. Turns out, he was completely wrong.
Maybe… this person was more unrestrained than anyone else.
Unfortunately for Claire, Iris wasn't into that kind of thing at all. Her face burning red, she smashed Claire on the head with the Holy Sword, pounding her so hard that Claire howled in pain and immediately fell to her knees, frantically apologizing.
"Sigh…"
Only now did Rain arrive, fashionably late, and seeing the chaotic scene before her, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Fang Li Sama," Rain turned her gaze to him, looking troubled. "If possible, I hope you can reconsider the consequences of your actions. Taking Her Highness out without notice has caused us a great deal of distress."
"Distress? That's putting it lightly!" Claire finally recovered from her punishment, glared at Fang Li, and shouted, "If anything had happened to Her Highness, could you take responsibility?!"
"Something happening?" Fang Li raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and replied, "If something could happen with me by her side, then even if Her Highness hid in the Royal Castle with you lot and the entire Knight Order guarding her, I doubt you could stop it either."
Claire and Rain immediately fell silent.
Especially Claire, who looked like she was furious but had no comeback, trembling as she pointed at Fang Li.
"Y-You! Don't get too arrogant! No matter what, you're just an adventurer!"
"Adventurer? You're giving me too much credit." Fang Li smiled faintly. "Aren't I supposed to be a wanted criminal? Shouldn't you be arresting me right now?"
"You think I don't want to?!" Claire growled.
"If it weren't for, "
"If it weren't for the fact that you don't actually have the confidence to arrest me, you would've done it already, right?" Fang Li smoothly interrupted, his grin growing wider. "Well, that's a shame. The noble and magnificent Ojou-sama can't even arrest a mere adventurer, can't even catch a wanted criminal. Truly impressive. Should I get on my knees and worship you?"
"You, You, !" Claire's face turned bright red with anger.
"N-Now, now! Let's all calm down, shall we?" Rain quickly stepped in to mediate. "We can talk things through, right? At the very least, nothing happened to Her Highness this time, so all's well that ends well, right?"
"That's NOT true!" Claire stubbornly shouted. "Kidnapping a member of the Royal Family is a serious crime!"
"I've already robbed the national treasury, dismantled the Knight Order, and even packed up a Royal Family member and took her away," Fang Li added helpfully. "Those are all capital offenses. Hurry up and sentence me already, then I can stage a dramatic execution scene. That would be fun to watch."
"You, damn it!!" Claire was so furious she looked ready to explode, her face flushed and neck bulging as she yelled, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you've got some power!"
"But I do think I can do whatever I want because I've got some power," Fang Li replied, clearly enjoying himself. "If you disagree… then come catch me."
"Grr… Rrrgh…!" Claire trembled all over with rage.
Just as Claire was about to throw everything aside and duel Fang Li to the death, Iris, who had finally finished fixing her clothes, stepped forward. Her face was still flushed.
"Alright, Claire, please don't blame Sir Fang Li," Iris said, somewhat apologetically. "It was my selfishness that led me to sneak out with him. If that made you angry, then I sincerely apologize."
"No! It's not your fault at all, Your Highness!" Claire panicked and waved her hands. "You're so well-behaved and understanding, there's no way you could be selfish. It's all that man's fault!"
"Well, I mean… you're not wrong. It is all my fault," Fang Li shrugged. "So if you want to pin a crime on someone, pin it on me. Just don't blame Iris."
"Iris?!" Claire's eyes sharpened as she glared at Fang Li and scolded, "Add Her Highness! How rude!"
Yet at that very moment, it was Iris herself who raised an objection,
"Um, I don't want Sir Fang Li to call me that!" Iris quickly interjected. "Please just keep calling me Iris!"
"Y-Your Highness?!" Claire immediately looked as if she had taken a heavy blow, slumping in visible disappointment.
"...It feels like Her Highness has grown even closer to Sir Fang Li than before…" Rain sighed softly and murmured to herself, "I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing anymore."
But Iris paid no attention to Claire or Rain. She turned to look at Fang Li, and her face broke into a cheerful smile. That smile, so bright, open, and full of warmth, was unlike anything she showed others, and it hit Claire like a second blow.
Then Iris spoke.
"I had a lot of fun today."
She said it with a mix of shyness and anticipation.
"Can we go out again next time?"
Hearing this, Fang Li smiled gently and gave a straightforward answer:
"If I have time, sure."
Just that simple reply seemed to satisfy Iris immensely.
But Claire jumped up in protest.
"Don't even think about it!" She shouted, "I absolutely won't let Her Highness go out with this man again! Your Highness Iris, please come with me!"
With that, Claire grabbed the still-unresponsive Iris and whisked her away. Only Rain remained behind, turning to Fang Li and speaking: "The celebration banquet is about to begin. Many nobles and renowned adventurers will be attending. Please return and prepare yourself."
Leaving those words behind, Rain too followed after them.
Watching the backs of Iris, Claire, and Rain fade into the distance, Fang Li scratched his cheek, then finally turned and walked away himself.
A Short While Later… Fang Li returned to his guest room and opened the door.
But as soon as he did, the following scene appeared before him:
"Wuuu... huu huu..."
He saw Aqua sitting limply on the floor, crying and sniffling uncontrollably. Without hesitation, Fang Li closed the door and turned around to leave.
But before he could escape, the door slammed open.
"""Why are you leaving?!"""
Kazuma, Megumin, and Darkness all burst out of the room at once, grabbing hold of Fang Li tightly. Especially Kazuma, he looked like a man clinging to his last hope, tears streaming down his face as he cried out: "Please save me!!"
As expected...
Just like Fang Li had predicted, these guys had definitely gotten themselves into trouble again.
(End Of This Chapter)
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