The ministers attending the morning council meeting sensed an atmosphere different from usual.

  Normally, His Majesty would arrive after confirming all ministers and their aides had assembled, but today for some reason, the King had arrived at the council room first and was welcoming the ministers.

  Tension ran through them, wondering if some unexpected situation they weren't aware of had occurred, but the King seemed oddly cheerful. At least it didn't appear to be a grave matter, but that didn't mean they could let their guard down.

  There was also another thing—the Military Affairs Minister, Marc Mengen, was acting strangely.

  Taciturn and upright, always maintaining a dignified presence and praised as the 'Mirror of Warriors,' today he was somehow subtly restless and even avoiding eye contact with the King.

  The King's eyes looking at him held a mischievous quality, as if he couldn't wait to tease him.

  What on earth had happened to him—someone who'd served since the King was a young prince as both tutor and sword master, the closest to the King among current ministers, truly the 'King's right-hand man'?

  They wanted to find out the truth, but couldn't engage in private conversation before His Majesty.

  The ministers attended the meeting unable to sit still. Therefore, even those who noticed a strange unfamiliar sphere in the King's hands had no mental capacity to wonder what it was.

  "That concludes today's agenda."

  The Prime Minister overseeing the ministers indicated it was time to end the meeting.

  "Indeed. Everyone, well done.

  Before dismissing, there's one thing I wish to tell you all—may I?"

  Normally, when the Prime Minister submitted the meeting's end, the King would give words of appreciation, and that would be that.

  However, today there was an announcement from the King after the meeting ended.

  So this unusual atmosphere was for this, the ministers thought.

  "The other day, when I was away from the castle, you all remember a slight commotion occurred.

  What happened was made classified by the King's Brother using his authority as Captain of the Guard, so only some of the guard and a few court mages know.

  No, even that isn't the essence of it."

  Though there was no commotion due to being before His Majesty, tension ran through the ministers.

  Since each minister had different routes for receiving information, the level of information each possessed differed. The Military Affairs Minister, who should have received the most detailed report from the guard, had received almost no accurate information because it had occurred when he was away inspecting military units outside the capital, and before his return, a 'royal command' had forbidden mentioning its details.

  "You all know I went to Chikyu via World Crossing?"

  "Yes."

  The Prime Minister answered representing everyone.

  "You probably thought it the whim of a young king.

  In truth, that thaumaturgy of World Crossing was completely successful."

  As Marc Mengen had said, many ministers had considered it merely a recreational outing for the young king burdened by official duties, so they couldn't hide their surprise at this statement.

  "Then, Your Majesty truly journeyed to the far reaches of space?"

  "Indeed. There I also met the father from the previous lives of the entire current royal family."

  Was it truly a whim, or jest?

  Or was it truth?

  The ministers, struggling to determine how to accept this, noticed the Military Affairs Minister had been making an indescribably complicated expression.

  "However... when I returned to this world due to the thaumaturgy's time limit, somehow that father had descended to this royal castle before me."

  "What."

  "So that was the cause of yesterday's commotion, Your Majesty says?"

  While other ministers exclaimed in surprise, the Prime Minister connected the two facts a step ahead.

  "Indeed.

  Now, the Military Affairs Minister who seems unable to sit still...

  You know, don't you?"

  "Y-yes, Your Majesty."

  Addressed by the smiling King, the Military Affairs Minister responded in a flustered manner unlike usual, under the gazes of the other ministers.

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  'You knew and said nothing alone?!'

  Accusatory gazes poured in, but it wasn't the Military Affairs Minister's fault at all.

  "Now, do not think ill of the Military Affairs Minister.

  It was I who issued the gag order.

  Being the loyal retainer he is, he could tell no one."

  While saying this, King Rashion was laughing in his heart.

  'Though there are actually other reasons too.'

  "We understand Your Majesty is not jesting.

  However, discussing that person in this meeting means...

  Do you intend to make that person's existence public?"

  "Indeed, so.

  Now, Father-dono?"

  The ministers, concentrating on the King's words, saw him address that strange sphere in his hands and thought, 'Is it some communication magical tool?'

  However, the surprising thing happened right after.

  SHIIIIINE.

  A spark-scattering door appeared in the empty space behind the King and opened soundlessly.

  And from within, a male figure wearing a strange mask emerged, then the door vanished soundlessly.

  "Tr-transfer magic...!? No, there's no trace of magical power at all...!"

  While the ministers raised voices of surprise at the completely unexpected situation, the attending Court Mage Chief couldn't hide her shock and cried out. Though certainly improper before His Majesty, no one here could blame her.

  "I have arrived, Your Majesty."

  The masked man placed his right hand on his left shoulder, bowed his head, and saluted the King.

  An imitation of Marc Mengen's salute from yesterday, but Mengen himself had no capacity to care about that.

  Yesterday, after he'd tasted that 'treat,' the witness to his disgraceful state could not only travel between Chikyu and Tusita but do such things too.

  He was painfully aware he should have been more wary.

  Being Lupacid, his complexion couldn't be read by others thanks to his fur, and he didn't break into cold sweat so his bewilderment wouldn't be noticed—that was his only salvation... but his ears had barely avoided flattening back.

  "Let me introduce him to all.

  This is the father in previous lives of I, the Queen, the King's Brother, and Princess Asha—

  The entire current royal family—Mr. ōteru Celeste."

  "Good people, pleased to make your acquaintance.

  I am the one just now honored with introduction by His Majesty, called ōteru Celeste.

  I humbly ask your kind regard hereafter."

  A mysterious figure wearing a bizarre mask.

  Perhaps due to the eeriness emanating from that Fene-like mask, not one minister tried to open their mouth. No, they couldn't.

  A being from another world.

  Impossible power.

  And that eerie mask.

  Before that excessively alien existence, everyone fell silent, unable to remember what they should say—that silence was broken by the King's voice.

  "So I told you not to wear that mask, as the King's Brother said repeatedly."

  "But I thought some might be surprised seeing my face."

  "What, I don't think anyone here can distinguish ugly humans?"

  "Ahem.

  ...I must advise Her Majesty to reduce Your Majesty's treats."

  "No, that's not happening!"

  The King and mysterious figure carrying on an incomprehensible exchange, paying no mind to the room's atmosphere.

  Watching them, the Prime Minister couldn't follow what the two were talking about at all.

  "Treats...?"

  FLINCH.

  The moment he unconsciously let that word slip, he saw the Military Affairs Minister shudder.

  'He knows something.'

  Though there was a royal command for silence, he felt irritation that someone held information he—the head of ministers—didn't have.

  No, he didn't think Marc Mengen was at fault.

  Just, this situation itself was somehow vexing.

  "Ahem.

  I apologize for interrupting, Your Majesty.

  Having only heard a name, we have no idea what sort of person this is.

  Most impolitely, I would like to ask Mr. Celeste to remove that mask for now and show us what manner of person he is."

  At the Prime Minister's statement, the King and mysterious man exchanged glances.

  "So I told you? You should take that off."

  "No, I was about to remove it anyway.

  As Your Majesty says, there's no fear of being called ugly."

  While saying this, the man put his hand to the mask and removed it from his face.

  While thinking 'what a grudge-holding way to say it,' the ministers who'd been watching held their breath the moment the mask came off and the man's face was revealed.

  "Humanita?"

  "So that's why the guard was in commotion...!"

  "Your Majesty, what is this?"

  While the ministers buzzed, the Prime Minister glanced at the Military Affairs Minister, but this time he showed little surprise. Between the earlier 'treats' matter and not being surprised seeing that face, Marc Mengen must have obtained some information from His Majesty ahead of him.

  'As I thought, how vexing...'

  Just as the Prime Minister was feeling irritation again—

  "Silence."

  The King's voice, low and resonant.

  At that one word, the noisy ministers fell silent all at once.

  "I well understand he appears Humanita.

  But I said earlier.

  Father-dono is not of this world. An otherworlder come from Chikyu.

  A completely different existence from the Humanita hostile to us, so do not mistake him.

  ...That said, you cannot accept this immediately. I know."

  As the King said, even told this, they couldn't possibly accept it right away.

  In this situation, the Prime Minister spoke.

  "Your Majesty, may I question Mr. Celeste?"

  "...I don't think you need permission? Do as you please."

  "Yes. Then I'll take advantage of those words.

  Mr. CelesteL, you said you're not of this world?"

  "Yes. Until two days ago, I didn't even know this... Tusita existed.

  Nor the Humanita race at all."

  "Yet you speak this country's... Felideria's language quite fluently?"

  "That is something I find mysterious too...

  When I first came here two days ago, I couldn't understand at all.

  However, while being interrogated by that Guard Captain, it gradually began to sound like my native language, and what I said also began converting to this language."

  "Such a thing... is possible?"

  "Well, it's a common trope in novels popular in my world...

  I believe it's a world transfer bonus, so-called 'cheat ability.'"

  "Novel? Cheat ability?

  More unfamiliar words."

  "A novel is... well, let's call it fictional stories for entertainment.

  Cheat ability is, let's see, in a word, normally impossible 'fraud-like' special abilities... shall we say.

  From what I've heard from His Majesty and experienced myself, the Earth where I live and this Tusita don't just exist in distant space, but apparently even time flows differently.

  Just being able to travel between these two worlds is already an ability beyond common sense."

  Though hard to believe, there was no evidence proving it false.

  Besides, whether true or not, they couldn't treat someone the King called "Father-dono" and dealt with intimately in such a discourteous manner without particular fault.

  "Then, let me change the question.

  Earlier, both Your Majesty and Mr. Celeste mentioned 'treats'...

  What was that about?"

  "Ah, about that..."

  It wasn't that the man—Celeste—changed expression.

  However, the Prime Minister sensed a 'here it comes!' feeling from him and felt anxiety that he might have erred.

  "First, I regret I cannot provide for everyone present here.

  Today I've prepared items for Felinoid, Canisade, and their subspecies.

  ...Oh, fortunately, Prime Minister, you're precisely Felinoid.

  How about it, would you like to try one Earth-produced treat purveyed to the royal family?"

  Melande ōrana Pahr, a Pallas's cat Felinoid and Prime Minister, felt a trace of unease at Celeste, who spoke smoothly as if he'd prepared.

  Whether that unease would prove right or wrong—