This Eroge Won't Make Me Fall!

A few days had passed since our little trip to the Dienin castle ended. I was in my study tending to some papers when the door was knocked upon.

"Come in," I said. Sadly, this action of mine reminded me of Ban Ket Hall who was pretty much the same in this regard.

"Should I wear glasses to show people how it's done?" I mused, signing another paper.

"Is that a jab, young master?"

I shifted my gaze up to see the glasses-clad friend. The current 'leader' and the brains of the Dark Moon Bandit-slash-Information agency that was spreading its influence all through the country.

His name was, Glasses. I guess it was.

"Glasses, sit."

Glasses pulled back a chair and sat across the table with a wad of papers between us. I fixed the files in my hands, pulled out a page from my notepad, and wrote down some corrections before tossing it on another pile.

Seeing Lady Sophia use her psychokinesis so well made me slightly jealous, so I was practicing it too. I made a cup from the tea-table float up and dragged them through the air to my work desk, followed by the teapot. The utensils wobbled in the air as they came over.

"You are just as crazy, young master."

"I'll spill the tea on you."

Glasses adjusted his glasses and coughed. "Apologies," he said.

Lol, coward.

"Did you bring it?" I asked, shifting my attention to the tea set on my table as I poured it into two cups. The tea was sent over by a count from the Marquis' territory, it was a premium, apparently. People had gotten wind of the news that I was now the appointed lord of Apollon rather quickly. The city was growing too, it was natural for them to think my influence would only grow stronger, I was sure some might even be thinking that I had made the Marquis turn toward me and support me as my father.

"I did," Glasses answered. I forgot he was here too.

"Have you considered buying larger spectacles?"

"Seriously, are you insulting me, young master?"

"Just saying." I shrugged and pushed the tea cup to him. Glasses gracefully curled his fingers over the cup and took a sip. His etiquette was on point.

Glasses then placed the cup down and reached into his pockets. He handed me a document with a sigh.

"Here's the list of all the members of Dark Moon and their locations... I heard you pulled something crazy back in Dienin, is this related to that?"

"Not really," I said. "I just thought it'll be good to encourage my employees if I ran into them."

"What, will you beat them up? Will you kill their families or something?"

"Those guys have families?"

"Not really."

"Didn't think so."

Glasses and I sat in silence again.

It was my turn to hand him something. I pulled aside the lines of documents and took one out before tossing it to him.

"This is...?" he asked.

"Keep it. Don't use it unless there's an emergency."

Glasses alternated his gaze between me and the paper in his hands. He then looked at the information I has asked of him and nodded.

"I get it. I'll keep things safe."

"Good, if you ever feel like betraying us, consult with Keith. And open a cafe in the city or something."

Glasses clicked his tongue at my words. I shooed him away and he left after bowing. As the study was left empty again, I stretched my hands above my head and yawned.

Today.

"I have a lot to clear up." With a smile, I dipped my quill in ink and got to work again.

***

The day went faster than I thought as I engrossed myself in my work. All of us came out over to the dinner table at night, filling the four seats.

Maria and Lily sat on the left while Keith took the right, and I sat at the head of the table.

We engaged in small talk about the things around the city when I placed my hands down.

"I am leaving to be an adventurer."

All of them quietened down. They turned their heads to me in silence.

After a few seconds passed, Lily spoke up.

"When, are we leaving?"

"Not we. Me."

Maria dropped her knife. Keith too was looking at me with shock on his face.

"What do you mean, young master?" he said. "Why would you go alone? That doesn't make sense. I'll go with you, I used to be a famous adventurer in my younger days—"

"I am going alone. You take care of things here, all of you."

I had long reached a limit to my growth over here.

I would have never been hurt by that stupid move that demon's agent made if I hadn't grown rusty. Even now, the bandages wrapped around the wound stung and were a complete eyesore.

Going with them was an option, but not one I liked.

Lily was fragile, though she was valuable as a healer, she couldn't handle the harsh life of an adventurer.

Maria was strong, but not strong enough. To be in life-and-death situations, I would have to go to places that could threaten me with death. She wasn't capable of standing it.

And neither was Keith, to be honest. He would make many life-and-death situations not that big of a deal for me, but for how long? I had not just the knowledge of a different, more advanced world, but I also carried the experiences of then. My experience was much greater than Keith's, who had only fought me for the past six years. He wouldn't be able to grow stronger at the same pace as me.

"Young master! You can't go alone. What if you get hurt? Or if someone comes after you? The life of an adventurer is not so simple!"

"Maria's right, young master. It isn't good to go alone. Let's all go together and I'll show you the ropes."

I sighed and crossed my legs.

"Look, you guys need to take care of things here. And do you really believe you all can keep up with me? Maybe Keith could, but not you all. Keith should stay here to protect you."

"W-we can try!" Lily said. "Why do you want to go in the first place? Isn't your city finally doing well?"

Keith and Maria nodded at Lily's words.

Hah, these guys.

"Alright, you know what? The breaking of the news might be too much for all of you at once," I sighed and shook my head. "Let's do this. Think over it and convince me to stay tomorrow, and I'll convince you to let me go, alright?"

Lily bit her lips and turned her head away. She couldn't say anything now.

"Fine..." Maria muttered.

"Good, let's do that."

Keith too let out a sigh of relief as we all started eating dinner again. We didn't talk much after that and all of us went off to our rooms after finishing up.

***

The next morning rolled over in no time at Eugene's mansion. As she always did, Lily decided to go and check Eugene's room who would already be out and about exercising. She would always catch a glimpse of him around the garden as she made her way up.

Strangely enough, he wasn't there today.

'Must be training somewhere else,' she thought. It happened frequently so there was nothing to worry about. She moved to her lord's room and opened the door in a single go.

It was clean and tidy, just like always. No matter how much they told him not to, Eugene kept cleaning everything he found off without a moment's hesitation. That was what made him so endearing for her, though.

As she strutted around the room, her eyes fell on a folded piece of paper left on the bed in plain view.

"Eh? What's this?" Lily muttered. She then shrugged and walked away. She couldn't be reading his things now, could she?

It was later when Maria went to his room after not seeing him for the whole day that an exasperated scream rang out in the mansion.

"HE LEFT!!!"

Maria shouted.

The lord of Apollon was not seen again after that day.

[Yo Maria! I bet Lily didn't see this one, thanks for buying me time.

Anyway, imma just go. I wanted to take you along, but I need to get stronger, so that's a no.

While I am gone, Lily is going to be lord. I already made her regent and had things approved by the Marquis, you can find the documents in my study. I also handled all the big things for the next three years, so get that from my study as well.

Tell Keith he'll need to protect Lily while she's lord. You'll also have to help her with her responsibilities, don't let her go and don't come looking for me.

I'll be taking the stamp of the agency with me, but if you need some information go to Glasses. Go to him if any emergency comes up too, he'll help.

Goodbye. We'll meet again soon.]