Chapter 968: The Servant Named Oberon
After a long while.
"Could you have some shame?"
Castoria buried her chin in her arms, wearing an expression of utter disbelief at his audacity.
"Wouldn't that make me shameless?"
Eiji laughed without a care.
"...Do you bare your heart like this to everyone?"
Castoria's ahoge sighed.
She found it strange—this person acted as if he had known her for a long time, speaking without regard for social boundaries, saying whatever he wanted without hesitation.
This straightforwardness was something she genuinely envied, to be honest.
"No, I only bare my heart like this to you."
"...Huh?"
Castoria froze for a moment, her face uncontrollably turning bright red.
"Wha—wha—wha—wha—whaaat?!"
"W-wait! Even if you say something like that, I won't agree! I admit I'm touched, but still... things like romance are way too early for me!"
Does this person like me?
Castoria's ahoge couldn't help but wander into wild fantasies.
Earlier, when he said, "Why is it another King of Storms?" was he actually trying to get my attention but was too embarrassed, so he used such a clumsy method?
It's not my fault for thinking this—it's clearly because his words are way too misleading!
Wh-what should I do?
This is my first time being confessed to! Emotionally, I'm really happy, but something like this feels so far beyond me!
"Pfft!"
A merciless snicker reached her ears.
"How can you be so shameless? Who the hell would be interested in a washboard like you?"
Maybe it was just her imagination.
But Castoria felt as if her heart had shattered into pieces with a crack.
"I said those things to you only because I know you from Proper Human History. Don't flatter yourself—someone as scrawny as you wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between my teeth! If you want to talk about romance, come back in ten years!"
After saying this, Eiji flipped his cloak and left with flair.
Not long after, Gudao and Mash came running over together.
"Castoria, what's wrong? I heard a really loud scream earlier... Whoa, you look furious!"
"Ugly freak! I'd rather die than fall in love with you! Wearing such thick disguises all the time—you must be really hideous and afraid people will laugh at you! Hmph, serves you right!"
"Um, Miss Castoria, I'm afraid it might not be as you think... Mr. Eiji is actually an unimaginably handsome man..."
"...Handsome man?"
"Yes, an exceptionally handsome man."
"He's still an ugly freak! In my eyes, he's an ugly freak!"
Castoria furiously cursed someone who was no longer there.
Emotionally, she knew she would never forget this brief moment of self-delusion and being loudly mocked!
She never wanted to fall in love ever again!
"Is Mr. Eiji really handsome?"
Gudao tugged at Mash's sleeve and whispered to her.
"Yes, Senpai. I'm afraid he's more handsome than anyone I've ever known."
Mash recalled all the handsome men she had met so far and sadly realized that none could compare to him.
Why did he have to be that kind of person?
"Wow, that's incredible!"
Gudao marveled, his curiosity thoroughly piqued.
After all, Mash had seen all sorts of Heroic Spirits. When Chaldea was still around, all kinds of handsome men and beautiful youths had gathered there. Could he not even compare to those handsome Heroic Spirits?
...
"Everyone, I'm back!"
At the bar counter, a figure hurriedly approached the front.
"Da Vinci, listen! Aurora just contacted me, saying there might be information about Mash!"
Eiji entered through the back door and immediately spotted the figure.
It was a man with silver hair cut in a hime-style, wearing a fluffy white cloak and a proper-looking crown on his head.
Paired with his beautiful appearance, he looked as elegant as a prince from some kingdom.
"Sorry about that, Oberon. While we really appreciate you putting in so much effort to help us search, we actually reunited with Mash yesterday!"
Little Da Vinci stood behind the counter, pouring a drink and placing it before him.
"My treat! Consider this an apology!"
"...You've already reunited?"
The silver-haired man named Oberon seemed momentarily stunned by this news.
"That's right, thanks to the helper from Proper Human History standing behind you!"
Little Da Vinci pointed at Eiji who had just emerged from the back door, introducing him with a smile.
"This is Oberon, the Fairy King who appears in Shakespeare's play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' However, his legend existed even before he was written into the play. He's the Servant from Proper Human History I mentioned earlier, who has helped us tremendously. A very reliable ally!"
Eiji and Oberon made eye contact.
He knew about this Servant - the one who guided Gudao and the others to Salisbury, helped arrange their introduction to Aurora, and had been enthusiastically running around gathering information about Mash.
You could say he was a Servant particularly skilled at socializing, practically wearing the word "connections" on his face.
"Hello."
Eiji nodded, offering a tentative greeting.
"Hello... I see. Then the information I just gathered about the Human Ranch probably isn't needed anymore."
Oberon's gaze shifted slightly as he nodded friendly toward Eiji.
Then he showed a regretful expression.
"Da Vinci, three more drinks, on the house!"
"Alright, alright~ You haven't been running up tabs outside again, have you?"
Da Vinci wore an expression that said "what am I going to do with you."
"Please refer to this as necessary expense coverage!"
Oberon emphasized.
"Human Ranch? What's that?"
Eiji had intended to leave but accidentally overheard the unexpected term, immediately halting his steps.
"You don't know? Da Vinci doesn't know either? Then allow me to explain!"
Oberon sat sideways at the bar counter, happily sipping his drink.
"That's a special facility managed by the Queen, with extremely tight security! As for what it's used for... judging from the term 'ranch,' it's undoubtedly a facility related to the function of breeding, right?"
He made meaningful yet carefully measured remarks.
The implication in his words was already conveyed.
"...I understand. Thank you."
Eiji fell silent for a moment before nodding to Oberon in acknowledgment.
Then he walked out of the Michael Hotel and disappeared from their sight.
"Is that person really an ally from Proper Human History?"
Oberon watched his retreating figure, his gaze slightly darkening.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
While pouring wine for other guests, Da Vinci-chan looked at him curiously.
"It's not exactly a problem..."
Oberon scratched his head in frustration.
"But that guy is human, right? Isn't it suspicious for him to appear in this Lostbelt? I think we should keep an eye on him."
"You worry too much, though I understand your point."
Da Vinci-chan replied with a smile.