After that, Nina traveled to Isolte's dojo.
There was no frivolous atmosphere here, and that combined with the smell of sweat set Nina's heart at ease.
After greeting Isolte, she was introduced to her disciples.
Everyone had a female presence, or perhaps the male presence was just more sophisticated.
( Either way, these don't feel like swordsmen... )
After having been shown around the dojo, Isolte led Nina to her home.
While she was staying in Arus, it had been arranged for Nina to be at Isolte's house.
There was space for her at the house where Isolte lives, the reason being that it contained an extra room.
Formerly it had been the room of Water God Reida. It was quite tidy.
Other than that thing with Reida, Nina was relieved to find no male presence in Isolte's home.
Water Emperor, sword instructor, knight:
she should certainly be popular.
If that Eris is married and has children, it wouldn't be weird for Isolte, who has a sparkling clear atmosphere, to have found a man.
It would not have been funny to be introduced to her husband and children upon arriving at her house.
Because she had been expecting something like that, she was relieved.
"Nina-san. By the way, at the close of the parade there is going to be a little gathering. I know you are probably tired from your long journey, but would you come along and participate? No matter what, I want to introduce a Sword King to various kinds of people."
Nina stowed her luggage, then paused and took a single breath to consider Isolte's suggestion.
"Yeah, that sounds nice."
Nina answered lightly.
She didn't really understand what this small gathering was about, but it wasn't like she had any other plans for that evening.
She could start her sightseeing tomorrow.
She thought that would be fine.
Then, in less then an hour, she came to regret her answer.
Of course, some things occurred before that.
At first she thought it was 'something funny'.
She was led by Isolte to a large mansion near the country's royal palace.
That place, despite being a small gathering, wasn't small at all.
The thought was, "She cheated."
After that, she was brought into a luxurious room where she was asked to choose a luxurious dress, which she was then forcibly stuffed into by more than one maid.
This thing, it's absolutely a noble's party or something.
The thought became, "I shouldn't have come."
Why did I agree to this so easily?
Why did I come so nonchalantly?
Why didn't I resist when I was made to change my clothes?
If it was the ordinary Nina, at any point she could have resisted and escaped from that place.
However there was one way in which this deviated from the ordinary.
This was not a battle using swords.
She was packaged in a dress she was unfamiliar with, it was hard to walk in those abominable shoes, and her swords were taken.
Her waist was lonely, her suspension was faltering.
In that state, Nina was dragged along by Isolte and introduced to people at the party venue.
There was only one slight relief for Nina.
The people who were introduced to her at the party were not only nobles.
Although there were many nobles, there were also knights and those of common birth such as the ace of the Magician's Guild from another country. These were people from the real world who Nina could understand.
Some of them were also fooled, just like Nina; these people all had puzzled looks on their faces.
Knowing that she wasn't alone, these people gave her a little peace of mind.