﻿\setgamedatatitle("Margaretta_01")

\text("Margaretta")
Well then, I'll be counting on you.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. Caym-sama, have you looked over her personal record?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I'm about to... Seriously, what a pain...
\endtext

\text
Grumbling, Caym nonetheless looks over the personal record.

\endtext

\text
If we're going to settle down and get comfortable, at least
a proper self-introduction is in order.
\endtext

\text
Margaretta suggested it, and the ever-serious Risbell
agreed.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
It's fine, Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
You should practice being an interviewer for when we hire
more soldiers in the future.
\endtext

\text
Unable to escape, Caym was more or less dragged to the
throne.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Margaretta Razantoria. Princess of the Razantoria Kingdom,
which once existed in the south of the Nilt region...

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Indeed.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
After your country fell, you wandered from place to place
and made a name for yourself as a mercenary―a princess
turned mercenary, huh.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
That's right. It's not like I can live on air. I have to
earn my bread somehow.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
So you became a mercenary? As a princess, you could've found
work as a tutor for other nobles or princesses, or something
like that.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Unfortunately, I have no interest in such boring work.

\endtext

\text
Saying that, Margaretta shrugged her shoulders with a
nonchalant air, showing no sign of hesitation.
\endtext

\text
Even though she's lost her country, she still carries
herself like a true princess.
\endtext

\text
Even in the throne room, surrounded by the Demon Lord Caym
and his elite troops, she shows no sign of shrinking back.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Her skill and nerve are the real deal. I already learned
that well enough in our previous battle...)

\endtext

\text
A parchment detailing Margaretta's brief history.
\endtext

\text
As Caym read through it, he found himself once again
impressed by her achievements.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Well, there's no doubt about her abilities as a soldier, so
that's not an issue. The real question is―)
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(How is she as a woman?)
\endtext

\text
Caym openly appraised Margaretta with a scrutinizing gaze.

\endtext

\text
However, she misunderstood, thinking he was evaluating her
abilities as a soldier.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Hmm, well, looking like this, it's no wonder the Demon Lord
can't trust me.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Very well, anyone will do. Let me spar with the strongest in
the Demon Lord's army.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
If the Demon Lord is satisfied after seeing that, then hire
me. If not, feel free to throw me out.

\endtext

\text
With Margaretta's dignified declaration, the throne room
suddenly grew more lively.
\endtext

\text
However, Caym wasn't even listening to Margaretta's words.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(I wonder what kind of body she's hiding under that
breastplate?)
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Even a woman as formidable as her, would she let out sweet
moans if a man took her to bed?)
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(I'll just have to find out for myself in bed. Heh heh heh.)

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm? Ah... what is it? What's wrong?
\endtext

\text
Risbell glanced over at Margaretta.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
There's no need for a test of strength. We already saw her
skills in the battle at Rospen.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
All that's left is for you to make the final decision,
Caym-sama...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hired.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Geez, you're being so reckless again...!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Then, do you have any reason not to hire her after reading
this?
\endtext

\text
With that, Caym shoved Margaretta's profile into Risbell's
hands.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Of course not. I wrote this report in the first place.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
All the more reason, then, right?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Sigh...
\endtext

\text
Caym grinned smugly.
\endtext

\text
Though exasperated by his baseless confidence, Risbell was
convinced.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
(Having actually fought alongside her, I know she's truly
capable.)
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
(Her skills are real... Judging by her background, she's
also excellent as a strategist and commander. An extremely
competent soldier.)
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
So, is it settled then?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah. Just keep working as you have been... Oh, by the way.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
What is it?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
That 'old man' mentioned in your profile―who is he?

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Ah, the old man? He's been serving me since my days at the
Razantoria castle. Just as the name suggests, he's my
butler.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hm? But I don't see anyone like that around here.
\endtext

\text
When you say 'old man,' you'd expect a middle-aged or
elderly man.
\endtext

\text
But there was no such person anywhere in the throne room.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
The old man keeps to the shadows. You can assume he'll never
show himself to anyone but me.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Of course, I'll make sure he doesn't enter any restricted
areas in the labyrinth, so there's no need to worry.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
O-oh... I see.
\endtext

\text
For a moment, Caym almost doubted whether this so-called old
man even existed.
\endtext

\text
But then, he noticed an unfamiliar presence in the throne
room.
\endtext

\text
It wasn't anyone from the Demon Lord's army he recognized.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(So, even if I can sense him, he won't show himself. He's
probably letting me feel his presence on purpose... just to
make me believe he exists.)
\endtext

\text
If Margaretta is a seasoned mercenary, then her butler must
be a skilled attendant as well.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Well, if he's going to stick to the shadows, there's no
need to worry about it.)
\endtext

\text
Caym concluded as much in his mind.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Alright! That concludes our introduction with Margaretta.
Margaretta, do you have anything to add?

\endtext

\text
When Caym said that, Margaretta hesitated for a moment.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
No need to hold back now. Say whatever's on your mind.

\endtext

\text
Prompted by Caym, Margaretta finally nodded.

\endtext

\text
It seemed she was unsure if a newcomer like herself should
speak up.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Then, I have a suggestion, if I may?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh? Let's hear it.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
The Demon Lord's army has been expanding rapidly lately.
That's a good thing, but it also brings a major problem.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
This underground labyrinth that serves as our base has
entrances and exits all over, connecting to the surface.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
In other words, the more our territory expands, the more
places we have to defend.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
That's true. Defending the labyrinth is a real headache.

\endtext

\text
Just as Margaretta said, expanding their territory meant
more land to protect, and more places that needed defending.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
So, I'd like your permission to inspect the recently
expanded areas.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah... Wait, right now?
\endtext

\text
Margaretta's sudden request caught Caym off guard.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
That's right. I think it's best to take care of things as
soon as possible... Is there a problem?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Ah, no... not really...
\endtext

\text
Caym had actually been planning to wrap up this meeting
quickly and summon Margaretta to his bedroom.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Margaretta-san has a point. I think it's best to take action
as soon as possible.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Grr, damn it!)
\endtext

\text
Risbell knows exactly what she's doing.
\endtext

\text
Caym couldn't help but make a face like he'd just bitten
into something bitter.
\endtext

\text
And seeing Caym like that, Risbell smiled as if to say, My
condolences.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Y-Yeah... Fine. Margaretta and Risbell are right.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Margaretta, take whoever you need and go ahead with the
inspection.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Thank you.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Then I'll show Margaretta-san around. Agri, Spacchio, come
with us.

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Understood.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
You got it!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Phew...
\endtext

\text
Once Margaretta, Risbell, Agri, and Spacchio left, the
atmosphere in the throne room relaxed.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Alright, that's it. Everyone, back to your posts.
\endtext

\text
The Demon Lord's soldiers shuffled out of the room.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Damn it! Next time, I'm definitely going to sleep with
Margaretta!)
\endtext

\text
Still sitting on his throne, Caym burned with a strange,
misplaced passion.
\endtext