So the day before we left on the transport...
"—So that's why you came to me."
The principal's office of the Magic Academy.
When I asked Aldi for permission to enter the Grand Magical Library, he sank deep into the oversized office chair, arms crossed over his fluffy body, and spoke in a deep, dandy voice.
"Yeah, I figured you'd be able to get me in."
"…I certainly *can* do it. No problem at all."
"Nice! As expected of you, Aldi! Then—"
Just as I was about to bow my head and say "please" in the most humble tone possible…
"You *can*, but whether I *will* is another matter entirely, isn't it?"
"Damn it…!"
Aldi's face twisted into a wicked, shit-eating grin. You bastard…!
"What should I do? I'd *love* to help you, but I'm quite busy," he said, circling me with a teasing lilt. I wanted to deck him right there.
But hold on. Patience.
His cooperation is essential if I want to enter the library properly.
Last time I had to sneak in, dodge guards, and deal with some weird woman claiming to be the curator. This time I want to walk in normally.
So I can't just punch him and be done with it. Patience. Patience. I can beat him up *after* this is over. Yeah.
"…Well, that was a joke. Just me and you having our usual fun. Of course I'll get you permission."
As I gritted my teeth and endured, Aldi suddenly smiled brightly.
"Aldi…!"
I was wrong.
I thought he was just a clingy, shitty cat—a total garbage being with zero redeeming qualities.
But apparently not. I need to revise my opinion.
"Yeah. I was already planning to head to Livrhiiro for some personal business anyway. Since I'll be there, I thought I'd bring you along too."
Aldi spoke gently. "I was just about to come get you. This actually saves me the trouble."
I see. That's actually kind of him.
"And look—I've already prepared everything. I arranged a special carriage so you can travel in total comfort."
He gestured with his paw toward the window.
Outside floated a luxurious magical carriage that must have cost hundreds of thousands of lien just to summon. Wow!
"Yes! Then let's go! I'll drive. Jirei, please relax and enjoy the ride. I'll handle the entry permission with magic along the way."
"You… you're actually a good guy…!"
Moved by his kindness, I immediately climbed through the window frame and into the carriage.
The seats were soft and spacious, the air conditioning perfect, likely thanks to some high-end magical tool. Drinks and snacks were already laid out. What is this? Heaven!
"Thanks, Aldi! You're the best cat!"
Deeply grateful, I flopped down, cheek pressed against the plush seat. Divine…
"No need to thank me. After all—"
Aldi muttered, snapping his fingers.
—That was the moment.
"What?!"
Ropes shot out from nowhere and instantly bound my entire body.
Something clicked behind my back like a lock snapping shut. I froze in confusion.
Huh? No… Huh? Huh??
"—I'm about to do something terrible to you now, you know?"
"Nicchaa…" Aldi grinned like a classic villain. Wait, hold on—
"Wh-what do you mean—"
As I tried to ask what the hell was going on—
"Hey, Miss Eve! Miss Retinoa! We've caught Jirei!"
Aldi called out toward the carriage—or more precisely, toward the seats behind me.
And then—
"Hmm, good work."
"It's Shisho-da! Good morning!!"
Very familiar voices came from right behind me.
I turned slowly, drenched in cold sweat. No way. Please tell me this isn't happening.
"Thanks, Principal. Now I'm with Rei."
"I heard we're going to Livrhiiro! Let's go together!"
The girls—Eve sat right beside me and leaned in close, while Reti hugged my head, resting her chin on top and beaming happily.
"…Aldi?"
I turned to him, demanding an explanation.
"Well, I was already planning to go to Livrhiiro for my own business. Then Miss Eve came asking for advice on how to catch you. So I thought—perfect timing. Let's all go together."
"Don't mess with me. I'm going to beat the shit out of you, you damn cat."
Everything I said earlier—retracted.
This guy is pure garbage. I will never forgive him.
"Kuh… I can easily break these kinds of restraints—"
I poured mana into my body and tried to force my way out.
"Oops, better not. If you do that… it'll break."
"Huh? I don't care if this thing breaks."
I genuinely didn't care if this magical tool got destroyed. It's Aldi's anyway. I'd rather smash it myself.
"Wait, wait. Take a closer look at that magical tool."
"What are you talking about…?"
As instructed, I looked down at the rope device binding me and the lock on my wrists.
It wasn't just some ordinary restraint… This can't be—!?
"Did you notice? That's right. Those are two of the only three in the world: Thousand Cage Binding Rope – Sauzagefeni and one of only five in the world: Castle Bar Lock – Shurosheryusseru."
"Damn it…!"
I trembled with rage and frustration.
"B-but if I break it, it'll become mine. Then—"
"Hey, Jirei. You don't know the effects of Thousand Cage Binding Rope and Castle Bar Lock, do you? Do you really think you can undo them that easily?"
"…It might take some time. But after I Teleport out of here, I can slowly deactivate them later. I can do it. No problem."
I instantly deployed a Spatial Teleport magic circle.
He misjudged me.
Sure, the tools can't be destroyed, but capturing me like this is way too naive.
Once I get to my destination, I'll take my time deactivating them and claim these artifacts for myself.
"Jirei, since you seem to have forgotten, I'll remind you… Ability Enhancement Buff."
Aldi grinned.
With that as the last thing I heard, I was enveloped in pale light and vanished from the scene.
What the hell is this cat talking about?
His magic system has nothing to do with me. Absolutely nothing. It shouldn't affect—
"Ah."
Ten minutes later.
"I think human dignity is important."
I was caught effortlessly.
Damn it.
◇
And so, here I am—surrounded by three girls in the magical carriage, on the verge of vomiting from stress.
"'Princess,' Rei looks uncomfortable. Move back a little."
"It's fine. Jirei-sama and I are deeply in love. In fact, *Eve-san*, aren't you pressing in too close? Perhaps you should give him a bit more space."
"No way. Besides, Rei likes me more. Your feelings are just a misunderstanding."
"No, Jirei-sama undoubtedly—yes, undoubtedly—likes me more. Eve-san is second place. I am the legal wife."
"That's wrong. *You're* second place. My love for Rei is stronger."
"I am the legal wife. My feelings are stronger."
"No, I am."
"I am."
"Shisho—! Shisho!! Look! Look at that! That cloud looks like poop! Isn't it hilarious?!"
Rafine and Eve had been sandwiching me since we got on the carriage, trading delusional declarations nonstop.
Reti kept yanking my hair and laughing innocently.
If I'd known this would happen, I should've just broken in illegally instead of asking Aldi.
"As expected of Jirei! So popular~! Go get 'em! Harem adventurer! I'm so jealous, seriously!!"
"I'm gonna punch you for real. Dead serious."
Aldi whistled obnoxiously while steering the magical carriage, teasing me nonstop.
I swear, once this is over, I'm beating him until he cries.
"…By the way, why is Rafine here? It hasn't even been that long since morning… You were asleep, right?"
Suppressing the urge to punch Aldi, I asked about the silver-haired girl sitting right beside me, glued to my side—Rafine.
Eve and Reti were already on the carriage from the start, so that made sense.
But I hadn't told Rafine *anything*.
Yet, just before departure, she appeared like it was the most natural thing in the world and sat next to me.
What the hell?
Rafine beamed happily.
"Yes! After I woke up, a magical letter from Principal Aldi arrived at the inn… It said: *'Fun, happy trip to Livrhiiro in a magical carriage (Jirei's coming too~)'*… so I gratefully accepted the invitation!!"
"Aldi???"
What the hell have you done now?
Aldi, catching my glare, gave a smug "Fufu…" before turning to me with warm, loving eyes.
I'm pissed.
"No, no… Jirei. Leaving your *lover* out would be cruel, right? Don't worry—I get it. I know all about your secret romance with the Uniwelcia princess. And you've already claimed Eve-chan and Retinoa-chan too… Impressive, man. As a fellow guy, I'm cheering you on…!!"
"I see, I see… So what's the real reason?"
"I thought it'd be hilarious to watch from the sidelines. It's fucking funny."
"Alright, come here, you shitty cat. I'm gonna beat you senseless."
Aldi whistled cheerfully while steering, face full of smug satisfaction.
I'm absolutely going to destroy him later.
"Kuh… If it weren't for these damn magical tools, I'd escape right now…"
I glared bitterly at the artifacts binding me.
…Well, technically I *could* escape even like this.
Even with Thousand Cage Binding Rope – Sauzagefeni restricting my physical abilities and Castle Bar Lock – Shurosheryusseru draining my mana nonstop, I can still move and cast spells.
Normally a person would be unable to even walk, collapse from mana depletion, and possibly die.
Don't use something *that* dangerous on me.
Yes—I can escape even bound like this.
I've done it multiple times already.
I Teleport far away, then force my dying-from-recoil body to move, bunny-hopping at high speed to flee.
I ran and ran.
But every time, Aldi would detect me with Detection Magic, buff himself with insane speed using Body Enhancement, and chase me down in a nightmare game of tag.
I'd always get caught and dragged back.
Still, I barely won in raw speed—even in my near-crippled state.
But deactivating these ancient artifacts takes several minutes minimum.
I couldn't outrun him long enough to finish the job.
…And so, I gave up.
Which brings us to now—being transported to Livrhiiro against my will.
Honestly, if I just destroyed these tools, I could escape easily.
…But emotionally, I don't want to.
Even if they're Aldi's, they're priceless ancient artifacts.
I don't want to destroy them with my own hands.
If my life were in danger or someone was trying to kill me, that'd be different—but this isn't that.
"Princess. Do you remember what we talked about a little while ago—on the night of the Magical Tool Exhibition?"
"…Of course. My feelings haven't changed since that day."
"…I see. Then that's good."
While I silently cursed my love for magical tools, Eve spoke to Rafine, and they started some weird back-and-forth I didn't understand.
…Come to think of it, they talked like they'd met before, even though this should've been their first time in the carriage.
Did something happen on the night of the exhibition?
"Also… Eve-san. Please feel free to call me just Rafine. I may be a princess, but that doesn't matter here. I want to face you as equals… …I haven't had many friends."
"…Got it. You can call me Eve too."
"And… I don't have many spare outfits, so… if you're okay with it, I'd love to go clothes shopping together in Livrhiiro."
"Mn, fine."
"You two are actually close, aren't you?"
Rafine and Eve—whether they're fighting or getting along, I can't tell.
Either way, stop sandwiching me while you talk.
"—Ahh! There it is! Livrhiiro!!"
While I endured mental training with a dead face, our destination finally came into view.
"Finally… I'll be free soon…"
Seriously, once we arrive, they'll have to release me.
After entering the country and getting the library permission, I'll escape immediately, handle my business, then go beat up Aldi.
Yeah. That's the plan. Decided.
After that, Aldi parked the carriage near the checkpoint, and we all began moving to submit our entry applications.
The magical restraints were finally removed.
Now, once we're inside the country, I'm free.
I'm already prepared to sprint.
Let's go…!
Aldi stepped forward as representative to submit the documents and get us cleared—
(End of Episode 2 – to be continued)