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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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A distinct sword wound remained on his chest. While the scratches from Hare’s daggers had completely healed, only the wound inflicted by Luna remained.
Luna traced the scar with her finger, her voice filled with distress.
“W-Why hasn’t the wound healed, Estia? You said it would disappear without a trace if you used your divine power!!”
“I-I don’t know! I definitely healed it with divine power! I don’t know what happened after that!”
“You’re a Saintess! A Saintess should know these things! Why isn’t Mister’s wound healing?!”
Luna grabbed Estia by the shoulders, shaking her. Her face was a mixture of guilt and confusion.
Why had this happened? Why wasn’t his wound healing?
“Tell me! Will the scar stay like this forever?! Tell me!”
“I-I don’t know! You stupid Hero! Let go of me, I’m getting dizzy!”
Estia wriggled free from Luna’s grasp.
As Luna reached out to grab her again, Hare intervened, intercepting Luna’s hand.
“…Stop it. What’s all this commotion in Mister’s room? If you want to fight, go outside.”
“We’re not fighting…! I was just asking Estia if there’s a way to heal it-.”
“I said stop. You know there’s no way.”
“…”
Luna lowered her gaze.
“But… Mister has a scar… a scar I gave him… that will stay with him forever… I can’t just ignore it…”
“…You’re right, the scar will remain forever…”
The girls’ moods plummeted.
Like dark clouds gathering on a sunny day, tears welled up in their eyes.
‘I don’t like this sad atmosphere…’
It would be weird to cry with them, and he didn’t feel sad enough to empathize with their tears. He didn’t want to see others crying over his wound, so he sat up in bed.
“I’m the one who’s injured, why are you about to cry?”
“B-But… I injured you, Mister…”
“It’s the Demon Lord’s fault, not yours. Why are you crying over nothing?”
He was fine.
Why were they shedding tears?
He spoke, trying to quell their emotions rather than fuel them.
“It’s a wound that won’t even be visible when I’m wearing clothes. I’ve been injured countless times as an adventurer. There’s no need to make a fuss over it.”
“…B-But it’ll be visible when you take your clothes off.”
“These days, it’s more unusual to find someone without scars. Let’s stop talking about the scar. Luna.”
“Y-Yes…”
“Please untie these ropes. The wound has healed, and I’ve rested enough. It’s time for me to return.”
To his peaceful daily life.
A slightly busy life, but a life where he cooked and taught the girls.
It was time to go back.
“Now, untie the ropes.”
“Y-Yes… I’m sorry about the scar, Mister… I’ll use my wish later to heal your-.”
“There’s no need for that. Use your wish for something more meaningful.”
“O-Okay…”
Luna untied the ropes with a dejected voice. His hands were free, his movements no longer restricted.
However…
He couldn’t return to his planned routine.
“…Were the peaceful days just a prelude to this?”
“What do you mean, Mister?”
“Everyone, go to your rooms and pack your bags.”
It was time to run again.
To avoid the Paladins who would arrive in 30 minutes.
They would relocate to the capital, Gransia, where the Secilia family and the Goddess’s Church were located.
‘I don’t know how long it will take, but…’
It was time to start working on freeing Saten and Estia from the shackles of their past.
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In the Secilia family’s office, Lennon, the head of the family, looked like he had lost all the nutrients in his body.
His expression was murderous, as if he would kill anyone who annoyed him. He read the document the knight had submitted.
“Still no news?”
“…No, it’s been over four years since she disappeared. There are plenty of rumors, but we haven’t been able to find her.”
“What’s the probability that she’s dead?”
“Low, I believe. The rumors about her being sold to a brothel were false, and considering her value, they wouldn’t have killed her.”
“Then-!!”
Slam!!!
He slammed his fist on the desk, drawing blood. Ignoring the wound, Lennon roared.
“Why… if she’s not dead-! Can’t you find her-!!”
“…I apologize! I’ll deploy all available personnel immediately-.”
“Shut up-!!”
Smash-!
Lennon threw a glass, striking the knight in the face. The knight, unable to stem the flow of blood, stood with his hands behind his back, his head bowed at a 90-degree angle.
Lennon, still enraged, drew his sword and approached the knight.
“I gave you… the Raven Knights… time…”
“I apologize.”
“Even when the number of knights dwindled because they didn’t want to follow my orders… I gave you more money…”
“I apologize…”
“But if this is the result after all the time and money I’ve invested…”
I have no choice but to punish you.
Lennon approached the trembling knight and swung his sword, severing the knight’s left arm.
Lennon’s madness.
That was the reason for the Raven Knights’ downfall.
“Aaargh-!!”
“Saten. You’ll need legs to find her, so I’ll spare your lower body. Run faster now that you’ve lost two arms.”
Lennon raised his sword again, aiming for the knight’s right arm. He believed that his deceased wife’s “legacy” was in someone else’s possession. With a cold, determined look, he brought the sword down.
“G-Guh… Ugh…”
“A light punishment. Why are you just standing there? Move!”
The knight, unable to stop the bleeding, stumbled out of the office.
He regretted not leaving with the other knights when they had all resigned, declaring, “There’s no future with the Raven Knights.” Lennon watched the knight’s retreating figure, then wiped the blood off his sword with a disgusted expression.
“Filthy blood.”
All he had left was his tattered pride in a failing knight order.
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Compared to the dungeon city of Henesys, the capital was far too noisy and irritating.
“I still can’t get used to it, even after two years.”
“R-Really? I got used to it a long time ago…”
“…It gets harder as you get older.”
“Hmm, is that so…?”
She was still too young to understand. Hare was already 18 years old. She had lost her baby fat and grown taller, but…
She still couldn’t comprehend the words of an old man.
“Where to next, Hare?”
“Next… t-this way…! The vegetable store is this way…!”
Hare led the way, her pink hair occasionally peeking out from under her hood.
Her hair had grown longer, somewhere between a bob and shoulder-length, but…
“When are you planning to cut your hair?”
“…It’s fine. I can just tie it up when I fight.”
Hare didn’t seem inclined to cut her hair. As she got older, she would probably want to look more feminine and attractive. But unfortunately, he didn’t share her sentiment.
“Long hair can be a hindrance in battle. It might get caught on something-.”
“P-Please stop, Mister…! I-I’ll take care of it…!”
“…Alright.”
In the past, she would have obeyed him without question.
Did puberty also bring rebellion?
Time was a scary thing.
‘Well, even though I say that, I don’t intend to force her.’
He supposed this was another sign of the Hero’s party’s growth.
He could feel “that time” approaching, whether he wanted to or not. As he was pondering this, they arrived at the vegetable store.
“M-Mister…! Look at these vegetables…! Is the quality good enough…?”
Hare carefully examined an onion before handing it to him.
“Hmm.”
“How… is it?”
“The quality is not bad.”
She might not be a good cook, but she had a good eye for ingredients.
Since Saten and Estia’s movements were restricted in the capital, Luna and Hare always helped with grocery shopping.
Hare had developed a keen eye for ingredients in the process. And Luna had developed a taste for street food. Along with a belly she insisted were abs.
“This onion seems good enough.”
“T-That’s a relief…! Hee hee…!”
Hare beamed.
They had escaped the Paladins and lived peacefully for two years, and Hare’s personality had become much brighter.
She laughed more often and expressed herself more freely. She looked like a normal, cheerful child.
Perhaps that’s why…
The old woman running the vegetable store saw her that way too.
“Oh my, such a good eye for a young lady~ These onions just arrived~ I bet your boyfriend will love them~?”
“B-Boyfriend…!! D-Do we… look like a couple…?”
“Couple…? Oh my he’s not your boyfriend? Quite an age gap then…? I misspoke-.”
“I-It’s… fine… b-but please be careful next time…! Mister might be offended…!”
Hare scolded the old woman. He couldn’t see her face clearly since he was standing behind her, but…
He thought he saw her cheeks flush slightly…
‘…It must be my imagination.’
Who would smile while scolding someone?
Anyway, they finished buying all the ingredients on their list and left the market.
However…
“M-Mister… look over there…”
He followed Hare’s gaze. A strange group of people lay sprawled on the ground, their eyes glazed over as they stared at the sky.
They were holy water addicts, their lives ruined by the Church.
“They’re still being supplied, even after four years…”
“H-How much holy water did Estia produce…?”
“I wonder.”
Or perhaps…
Estia’s supply had run out.
And someone else was supplying them.
He watched the Sylvester Knights approaching the addicts and turned away. There were too many things that needed fixing in the capital, even aside from the Demon Lords.
“Let’s go home.”
“Y-Yes…!”
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