Of that day, Barnada Garundel would later reminisce:

  "Indescribable strange flavors mingled and clung to my tongue, my nasal cavity, gums, and entire mouth dominated by a violent feast of taste as if about to collapse at any moment.

  Each taste bud trembling as if struck by lightning, baptized by a brand new sensation of flavor..."

  What started as a food review apparently entered the realm of suspicious experiences.

  In any case, that was still to come—what he did upon first encountering the unknown substance offered by the masked man was—

  CHOMP.

  After frantically licking the contents of the elongated thing offered to him, he'd bitten into it.

  From the rustling sound around his waist area, he was probably vigorously wagging his tail while still seated on the sofa.

  "Ah, he bit it."

  "He did bite it~ Once upon a time, His Majesty also did the same~"

  "Mm, that's enough."

  Even Marc Mengen was bewildered by such unseemly behavior before His Majesty, but on the other hand, the King and the other three before him acted as if this were completely normal, which drove him into further confusion.

  These people—no, that suspicious masked man—what had he done to Garundel?

  Had he given him some mind-controlling drug?

  For what purpose—

  Unable to decide what to do, while pondering such thoughts in bewilderment, Garundel, who'd been biting that thing, suddenly shuddered as if finally noticing.

  "...Hah.

  What have I...

  ...!!!!!!

  Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

  Having awakened(?), Garundel came to his senses, got down from the sofa, knelt on the floor, and bowed deeply.

  "You keep saying that, but...

  I have no intention of doing anything to you?"

  "Yes! I apologize profusely!"

  "No, so..."

  As Marc Mengen watched the scene dumbfounded, the masked man addressed Garundel in an apologetic tone.

  "Mr. Garundel... I intended to thank you, but it seems I've done something regrettable.

  It is I who should be asking forgiveness.

  His Majesty truly doesn't mind, so please sit down."

  "Otherwise, shall I command you by royal order to sit on the sofa?"

  WHOOSH.

  The moment the word "command" left the King's mouth, Garundel swiftly stood up and reseated himself on the sofa.

  'Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.'

  A famous quote left by a certain American actor.

  Marc Mengen had no way of knowing this, but the situation he was in was exactly that.

  Though not his direct subordinate, as someone who commanded the entire military of this country, the Royal Castle Guard Captain could be called his subordinate—when he'd heard he was called along in an escort-like role because summoning him alone before the King would be problematic, he'd been exasperated but thought, well, such things happen.

  However, encountering that unknown masked man at the scene, and Garundel's disgraceful state due to the mysterious substance he'd produced...

  And now, caught up in this situation—whether tragedy or comedy—unable to determine what he should do.

  "I'm sorry to ask at such a time, but Mr. Garundel?"

  "Y-yes?"

  Garundel answered with a start at the masked man's question.

  Looking again, something was protruding from both edges of the mask.

  Hairless, with bare skin exposed, a strange shape...

  It closely resembled Humanita ears. No, they were Humanita ears.

  If so, was he Humanita?

  A Humanita hostile to Antero had infiltrated this royal castle, and moreover was being called "Father-dono" by the royal brothers?

  Come to think of it, he'd heard there'd been some commotion with the Royal Castle Guard yesterday, but the details had been kept confidential.

  Could it have involved this Humanita?

  While Mengen thought this, the masked man sitting before him—the unidentified Humanita—continued speaking to Garundel.

  "Did that earlier item suit your palate?"

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Uh, ah, y-yes. It was... an extremely intense experience. That such a thing exists in this world..."

  Garundel's face became dazed talking about that suspicious drug-like thing he'd been licking.

  Just as Mengen thought he could no longer remain silent, the King spoke.

  "Lord Mengen.

  You seem to want to ask why a Humanita is in this castle, moreover near me?"

  "...Yes."

  "That was what I planned to announce later, but...

  To cut to the conclusion, he is not Humanita."

  "Meaning?"

  "Yesterday, you remember I performed the thaumaturgy of World Crossing?"

  "Yes."

  Mengen himself hadn't trusted the thaumaturgy of World Crossing much.

  However, when the young King—who'd been busy with governance since his coronation—spoke of it, he'd thought it might at least serve as a diversion.

  "Through it, I(Yo)... no, I(Watashi) met my father from my previous life.

  But somehow...

  That father descended from Chikyu to this Tusita."

  "..."

  "Yeah, I know. You're thinking 'has this one lost his mind?'

  That's not the case. I'm perfectly sound. Uncle Daharat."

  That was a form of address secretly used between them 60 years ago, when the King was a young prince and he'd been appointed his tutor.

  "That's unfair, Prince... no, Your Majesty.

  You know full well I can say nothing once you say that.

  Very well. I believe Your Majesty's words."

  Mengen said this and looked at Amashiro seated before him.

  "However, even so, how did this person come here?

  By the thaumaturgy of World Crossing from there?"

  "I don't know."

  "Pardon?"

  What did he just say? But the King merely shrugged with a wry smile.

  "It's not thaumaturgy.

  He can freely travel back and forth, but even he doesn't know why he can do it.

  Right, Father-dono?"

  "Indeed, Your Majesty."

  The masked man replied politely.

  Mengen was about to say 'You jest...' but managed to restrain himself.

  "...For now, let's leave it at that.

  However, you. What exactly was that earlier?"

  "Ah, how remiss of me.

  Pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Amashiro ōteru.

  Amashiro is the family name, and ōteru is the given name.

  Do family names also come last here?

  Lord Mengen, was it?"

  "I hold the rank of Marc, Daharat Mengen Pahr.

  Marc Mengen is fine.

  If your family name is Amashuro, may I call you Mr. Amashuro?"

  "Pardon? Not Amashuro but... Ah."

  Westerners sometimes find the Japanese "sa" row pronunciation difficult.

  Here too, there seemed to be individuals or species who found it hard to pronounce, Amashiro realized.

  "Earth family names may be somewhat difficult to pronounce.

  Then, shall I call myself 'Celeste' here?

  Your Majesty, may I take such a liberty in naming myself?"

  Rather than being called strange names like Amashuro or Amashero, it would be better to use a proper alias, Amashiro thought, taking the 'ten' (heaven) from his surname and using a Romance language word meaning heaven.

  "Hm? Ah, I don't mind.

  Honestly, none of us knew Father-dono's name anyway, so call yourself whatever you like."

  "...Yes."

  Of course, cats couldn't remember their owner's name, so the Rashion and others from their previous lives probably only thought of Amashiro as "Dad" or "Papa."

  ...And Asha apparently thought "Grandpa."

  It was natural when you thought about it, but Amashiro still felt a bit hurt.

  "Having received His Majesty's permission.

  I shall call myself ōteru Celeste in this world.

  Marc Mengen. I'm inexperienced, but please treat me kindly hereafter."

  "Lord ōteru Celeste, then.

  'Hereafter'—do you intend to reside here?"

  "No, actually... I believe I'll be traveling between Earth, that world, and here.

  Though humble, I believe there are things I can do for the royal family."

  The moment he heard "for the royal family," Mengen's eyes sharpened.

  "For the royal family, you say.

  May I trust there is no falsehood in those words?"

  He didn't voice what would happen if it were a lie.

  Going that far would shift from scrutiny to intimidation.

  He thought he couldn't do such a thing before the King.

  "Well, I'm prepared that you won't easily trust me."

  Though Amashiro said it seriously, to Mengen facing him, the fox mask he wore made it seem he was hiding his true intentions.

  "...His Majesty said it would be announced later.

  I'd like to hear more details then, but...

  Just one thing I must ask.

  What did you do to Garundel?"

  Mengen felt this was the one thing he had to ask here.

  Though not a close subordinate, he knew well that Garundel was a straightforward, honest soldier.

  To put such a man in that dazed state, moreover before the King—depending on how you looked at it, this could be extremely dangerous.

  "Ah, that?

  As thanks, I merely offered one insignificant treat?"

  "A treat put him in that dazed state? You jest."

  He wanted to say "Don't mock me," but this wasn't the place.

  "Even if you say so...

  Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"

  "I'd appreciate it if you didn't deflect the conversation to me.

  However, Father-dono speaks truth, Lord Mengen.

  I too greatly enjoyed those treats from when I was a cat... in my previous life on Chikyu."

  "Unable to forget them, Big Brother even performed the thaumaturgy of World Crossing."

  "I told you that's not why!"

  Mengen felt he couldn't believe the scene before him.

  He hadn't seen those royal brothers playing around like this since they'd reached adulthood.

  What had made them so at ease?

  Could it be... because this masked man before him had appeared?

  "Ah, talking about it made me want some.

  Father-dono, may I have one?"

  "Of course, but won't Her Majesty scold you?"

  "She's not here, is she?"

  He heard a chuckling laugh from within the mask.

  Perhaps due to the mask, it had a strange resonance, Daharat thought, as the masked man lined up several elongated things similar to earlier.

  Each a different color, and unlike earlier, these had pictures of Felinoid children drawn on them.

  Watching the two casually selecting from what the masked man offered, Mengen hastily tried to stop them.

  "Wait, Your Majesty. Surely you don't intend to partake without a poison tester?"

  "Hm? Poison testing aside, how do you think poison could even be put in this?

  Take a look yourself."

  Saying this, the King picked up one of the elongated things and handed it to Mengen.

  "This is...?"

  As he'd sensed visually earlier, it was made of a material he'd never seen in this world.

  The texture was neither paper nor leather, with a metallic sheen but not metal.

  Applying pressure with his fingers made it bend and flex, but it wouldn't tear.

  With this, inserting poison would be impossible "here."

  The masked man's story about coming from another world called Chikyu seemed to be true.

  "May I, Marc Mengen?"

  "Y-yes."

  He had no choice but to acknowledge there was no problem.

  "There you have it.

  Now, Your Majesty. Please choose from these.

  Your Highness the King's Brother?"

  "I'd like that one, not fish flavor but meat flavor—"

  "Yes, chicken breast flavor. Here.

  Mr. Garundel? Would you like another?

  There are different flavors from earlier, you know?"

  Garundel had been intimidated by being before His Majesty and his earlier disgrace, but when suddenly called upon, he was startled—though his face clearly wanted to say yes.

  "Equs Garundel. You need not hold back in my presence.

  At least not today, in this place."

  "Y...yes.

  Then, I shall take advantage of Your Majesty's gracious words..."

  Though timidly and humbly accepting it, Garundel's eyes showed joy.

  "Marc Mengen, would you also like one?"

  "No, I..."

  He tried to decline, but the King wouldn't allow it.

  "What, will you not trust what I'm eating?

  Quite the privileged position~ my my~"

  "Urgh..."

  With the King saying that much, there was no escape.

  "...Then, I shall partake."

  He tried to tear open the one he'd been holding that the King had given him, but the masked man stopped him.

  "Ah, that's the flavor for Felinoid.

  For Marc Mengen... this one. Please have the one for Canisade."

  He wanted to say "I'm not Canisade," but apparently there were only two types: for Felinoid and for Canisade.

  Since Lupacid were considered a Canisade subspecies, it couldn't be helped if an otherworlder saw him as Canisade... Mengen thought, obediently accepting it and reluctantly tearing the seal.

  Though thinking it somewhat improper, since the royal brothers were already doing so, he licked the paste-like substance that oozed out.

  That day, for the first time in his life, Mengen experienced the sensation of "taste buds exploding."