CH 223

Several months have passed since the battle with Zaureth. 

We returned from the other continent after informing Rastoria of what happened.

And the reason for this was to help my friends.

Both Soarer and Pione occupy important positions from which they could not give up easily, and Ney cannot give up being the vice commander of the Second Manyu Brigade, who placed all their trust in her.

In addition, Alusha wanted to go sightseeing in these lands, she has been very persistent.

So, we established a temporary residence in Big Gear. Our life became peaceful and without regrets of any kind, limiting ourselves to helping the research team and our friends in their activities.

—I want to go shopping~ I want to eat something delicious~

—Yes! Let’s do what Alusha says!

—Silence.

Alusha and Monica were talking endlessly and making requests that were killing me.

In any case, why do they want to go out again? Didn’t they do it yesterday? And the day before yesterday?

—You two, stop being so selfish. Here’s your coffee.

—Don’t be selfish, you two. Here’s your coffee.

Kaede, who was wearing an apron, places a cup of coffee in front of me.

The familiar aroma wafts through the air, slightly invigorating. Yes… That’s how it has become every morning since that day.

—I brought the newspaper!

Frau enters the house through a cat door, and drops the newspaper she had picked up at the front of the house on the table.

By the way, I don’t have any cats. It seems the cat door was installed by the previous resident, it’s been a hassle to remove it, so I left it as is.

—I told you to go into the house like a normal girl.

—I know, but it’s the perfect size for me, and it’s a waste not to use it.

—Yeah, but look at Panda, she gets stuck trying to get in that door as you do.

As usual, Panda tried to follow in Frau’s footsteps, but as the hole was a bit small, he couldn’t get through.

—Kyu~!

—You are in this predicament because you want to be. You can easily get in through the second-floor window.

Frau begins to pull Panta hard and manages to get him to enter.

Panda managed to become the strongest domestic beast in existence. But then again, he hasn’t changed at all. After the battle, he changed back into his original form.

After taking a sip of my coffee, I opened the newspaper and just read it.

The first thing I read was a news item about Soarer, with the headline “The Birth of the Holy Queen!” adorning the front page.

I am surprised that she has completely taken over the country. She seems to be on her best streak, as usual… I don’t want to get involved in this, though.

—Good morning~

—Morning.

Pione said as she came downstairs in her pajamas.

She lays down on the couch, curls up just like a cat and then falls asleep again.

…She has become much more careless.

I suppose it’s understandable that she wants to take a long vacation and get away from Soarer, but she’s been slacking off all this time in reaction to being released from the dizzying hustle and bustle of her life.

—Hey, Pione, help me convince Toru to go out again today!

Both Alusha and Monica start to bother Pione, and she starts screaming out of nowhere for help.

And just when I thought I should get up to take matters into my own hands… Kaede puts in front of me a piece of bread with butter, fried bread and bacon. 

After she finished bringing me breakfast, Kaede sat down next to me smilingly.

—You look very cheerful today.

—Yes, I am.

Kaede was very happy, for on her left hand there was a ring adorning it. 

She no longer has the necklace around her neck, and the mark of the master-servant contract has disappeared from her body. 

A few days ago, we officially became husband and wife. And now we were enjoying our honeymoon. 

Frau and Panda also get on the table and take a bite of bread.

—Frau wants to get married soon too.

—I’m sorry.

—It’s not Kaede’s place to apologize. After all, it’s something we all decided… The one to blame here is the Lord for being so indecisive.

—Ugh.

It’s hard when girls say that. I didn’t expect them all to want to get married.

Without even knowing it, the ring I had given everyone as a thank you, turned out to be an engagement ring. 

And I could no longer take it back. Soarer admonished me, saying that I had to keep my word, since I had given them all high hopes, and it was not gentlemanly to betray them… Not to mention that he threatened me with divine punishment if I did not comply.

Marianne didn’t mind, since, according to her, polygamy was something well seen.

And Ney was close to tears because she thought I didn’t want to marry her. 

It was really a very suffocating environment. I had no options to refuse.

But after a long debate, I got the girls to agree to Kaede being the first one I want to marry. They all agreed, and even gave us time to enjoy our honeymoon.

And as you can see, it turned out to be a success, we had a very lively group life.

—Good morning, everyone looks good today!

Luna comes home with a distinctly glowing aura, and Marianne was right behind her.

This is a wedding present from the vice-captain. 

—Those are cookies?

—Yes, apparently, he’s very passionate about baking.

Kaede received a sweet-smelling paper bag from Luna.

Wow, I wouldn’t have guessed that the vice-captain of the research team was a pastry chef. People are not always what they seem. 

Luna and Marianne work at the investigations team headquarters. They are currently sending their members to different parts of the continent to conduct research. The aim is to investigate the logistical routes that run through the different continents. 

They are also investigating local specialties and craftsmanship to see if they can market products from the islands, mainly from Rastoria.

And the representatives of the “Mangyu Friendship Association”, formed by the Eastern countries, will also cross the open sea in the not-too-distant future.

Information from different continents is very valuable to them, equivalent to gold. In some cases, it can even bring direct benefits. However, Rastoria is currently one or two steps ahead. Therefore, they are all interested in these agreements to develop their infrastructure and technology.

I don’t know the concrete information, Marianne has been telling me all this, so I believe her.

As I think about this, I hear the flapping of a Wyvern and it lands in front of the house.

People in the street were screaming and running for cover.

But it posed no threat, as the person who arrived was Ney. She jumped down from the Wyvern, not even noticing that I was looking at her.

—I have arrived!

—Welcome, Ney-san. Have you had breakfast?

—Not yet. I’m starving.

—In that case, I’ll fix you something.

Kaede got up from the table and went to the kitchen.

Ney visits this house once a week. Since the Second Manyu Brigade is a state-sponsored organization, it’s not possible to move his base to Big Gear, so he only comes to visit occasionally now.

Ney took a seat and hugged my arm.

—Toru, ah, Toru…

—I see you’ve been working hard.

—Yes, but now I’m calmer, when I’m with you, I fill the void left by Lynn.

Lynn, who supported Ney, returned to her homeland.

She wanted to return to his fellow party members, who were waiting for her return.

Some, like Soarer, will not return, others will reassert themselves and return. But I think that’s okay. You want something, you lose something, and then you realize what’s really important. It’s okay to take detours.

It’s not fun to live a life of shortcuts. That’s why I’m happy with Lynn’s choice.

—You know what? It’s about time you took over the party as Commander.

—Ah yes, speaking of which… Ah yes, speaking of which…

—Everybody wants to see you.

I don’t want to do it.

If the heretofore absent Commander shows up, for better or worse, I will stand out, and most of all, I don’t like the fact that she is a legend among the group members.

I know I have to go see them at some point, but I’d like to put it off a little longer.

—Thank you for the food. By the way, my Lord. I am beginning to miss my hammer.

—Oh…

Frau, who had finished her meal, makes a gesture, indicating that she feels her hand light.

I turned my gaze to the sacred weapon. Since that day, it became a sword, unifying my armor, Frau’s hammer, Kaede’s fans, and 8 other weapons.

We have a good level of dexterity, so we have no difficulty with bare hands, but when it comes to a real fight, we will need weapons and armor.

And ordinary armor could not withstand our physical capabilities.

We need to find a special item to replace the sacred weapons.

—Let us set out in search of new weapons. There are relics on this continent that are as good as the Sacred Weapon.

—That would be nice. I hear there are many unexplored sites in the north, where Marianne went.

—I would suggest the south. I hear there are ruins that no one can get to.

We all began to list a number of potential destinations, giving me the understanding that there was still a long way to go. 

Deep down inside, I knew it would take a little longer to settle down and start a family.

But the question is… which place to visit first?

End…