Chapter 8

Everyone. Currently, Knights is faced with an unprecedented predicament.

That said, I’m positive we will be all right. Let’s work together and support each other in order to overcome our hardships, just as we always do.

If we band together in solidarity, we will be able to topple the greatest obstacle, crush the most formidable enemy, and continue forward.

Yeah, sure. But first, I’ve got a sore throat from shouting so much. Can I get a drink?

I want an Osaka-y drink! We’re in Osaka, after all!

What’s an Osaka-y drink? Sauce?

Wouldn’t you die of high blood pressure if you drank it all in one go?

Wahaha! A musician I met in India once told me that eating the local specialties is how you get to hear the “sound” of the city!

And he’s been using that as an excuse to down every suspicious drink he comes across…

Thanks to that, he nearly wet himself in the middle of one of our performances.

Hey! Sena, you dummy! Didn’t I tell you to keep that a secret~?!

Hah! And why should I just listen to whatever you tell me to do?

Ahaha, but I’m relieved you two are getting along surprisingly well ♪

Yep. I thought for sure they’d break up right away just like a couple getting their Narita divorce, but they’ve held out longer than I thought they would.¹

Who’s calling who a couple? I’ve already told you: I’m the master, and that guy’s my pet!

Woof woof! Meoooow! Cock-a-doodle-doo~!

—Please listen to me in earnest!

……

…Now now, Suu~chan. Calm down.

That’s right~ We don’t want to make too much noise and draw attention to ourselves now, do we?

I know that! But you’re all far too carefree offstage, and you never stop fooling around—ever!

Now is not the time to relax, is it? Am I mistaken somewhere?!

…What in the world are you going on about?

He’s just a little pissy because nothing happening makes any sense, and because the orders are preventing him from doing whatever he wants.

Suu~chan always gets grumpy when things don’t go his way.

Urgh~! If you have the free time to psychoanalyze me, then please use it to think of a way out of this situation!

Uh, what do you even expect us to do about it? I still say we should just give up on SS and wave as it passes us by.

It’s already checkmate for us.

Yeah… But for better or worse, Suu~chan’s pretty greedy. He keeps trying to walk away with everything in his hands.

But in reality, we only have two hands—We have to make choices.

I’m not saying you have to throw something away in order to get something else.

But that kinda thing is just ideals. In the real world, if you try to hold onto everything, you’re going to get crushed under the weight of it all.

We’re not gods. We’re not perfect, and we’re not invincible. There are limits to what we can do.

In the worst case scenario—If you try to do everything, you’ll only be able to do it in half measures, and then you’ll end up with nothing at all.

Of course if that’s what you want, Suu~chan, then we’ll fight for it with all our might under the banner you’ve raised. Because we gave our vows to you at the Coronation Ceremony.

—All for the sake of our great King! (puts his fist over his heart)

All for our King. …Though I’m not sure if I can call you “great” or not yet. I guess it depends what you do from here on out?

I’ve got big expectations for you, though, so you better not let me down, brat.

For our King~ ♪ Well, the King’s role is to come up with our policies, and it’s up to use to figure out how to turn those ideals into reality—

For our King ♪ We’re the ones doing all the work, huh. The King’s trying to do his part, so we should be doing ours.

Yeah, yeah. Then let’s sort things out and think up some countermeasures, okay?

Okie dokie~ ♪ The King’s orders are absolute~!

What’s with this charade… Well, I am feeling relieved that you’re finally taking things seriously, just as I’d hoped.

I’m still not accustomed to the fact that you all will actually listen to me… Even after so much time has passed since I was entrusted with the crown.

It’s fine, it’s fine! I was the last King and even I only really opened my eyes to that at the end of last year!

That’s because you’re far too easy-going about everything, isn’t it?! You lot are always, always too slow to get the ball rolling!