While the three girls were bathing, Eisuke and Rukino were on the streets of Melwa.

“Are you okay being the only one who didn’t go to bathe?”

“I plan to go in later.”

“Hmm… are you sure? I thought you might want to bathe with Marielle.”

“Of course I do. To record My Lady’s daily growth on my retina. She’s my reason for living, you might say.”

“Coming from you, I’m not surprised.” When Rukino said that nonsense with such a straight face, Eisuke could only frown.

“But I’m sure My Lady would also like to have a nice chat with girls her age without me from time to time. …And if possible, I don’t want her to be overworked…” Rukino’s eyes narrowed as she sincerely thought of her mistress. With her calm eyes, she smiled at Eisuke. “…Not long ago, I thought my mission was to never leave My Lady’s side, not even for a moment. But now there are you. I am more than relieved that you protect her with your power.”

…It was clear that Marielle and Rukino must have gone through many hardships. The imminent threat, the desperate difference in strength and the Heroes against whom they were no match. They probably hadn’t had a moment’s peace since fleeing the capital.

Placing his trust in Eisuke, Eisuke felt the two girls gradually regaining their luster. The ridiculous strength in his arms was turning into someone else’s vitality. That’s what he felt…

“…Not bad.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing. Don’t act so arrogant, you clumsy housewife.”

“Clu-Clumsy housewife?! I cook and sew clothes! Don’t you dare call me clumsy!”

“So it’s okay for me to call you a housewife, then?”

“…Haa.”

Eisuke opened the door of a store with the surprisingly natural Rukino at his heels. As soon as he opened the door, they were both greeted with praise from the people in the store.

“Oh, if it isn’t the heroes who saved this city!”

It was one of the largest taverns in the city of Melwa. Perhaps because the Hero was gone, the tavern was full of customers of both sexes. The two sat at the counter, shaking hands with people who asked for them. A burly man sitting next to them clapped Eisuke on the shoulder.

“I can’t believe such a small boy beat a Hero!”

“Hahaha, they say good things come in small packages, right? You want to arm wrestle, old man?”

Eisuke rolled up his sleeves and laughed. Rukino smiled politely as she nudged Eisuke, who had a rather serious look on his face. Next to Rukino, a woman of unidentifiable age came to sit down.

“I’m so glad to hear that Princess Marielle is alive… It’s such a relief…”

“Have you been able to find out what has happened to the Imperial City since the princess left?”

Rukino asked. She had been questioning what had happened since they escaped the imperial capital. But the woman shrugged by way of apology.

“Sorry, we were enjoying the peace so much that such news did not come… Are you heading to the imperial capital now?”

Rukino nodded deeply at the woman’s question.

“Yes, first of all, we have to take back the capital from the clutches of the Heroes.”

“So you’re going from here to Balletta, right?”

Balletta was the name of the city that served as a transit point on the route connecting Melwa and the imperial capital. Eisuke peered over the side.

“Then it’s Balletta. I wonder what kind of fourth-rate Hero they have there.”

“No, the truth is…”

The woman’s gaze shifted. In a calm manner, she said to the intrigued Eisuke.

“I heard this from someone who came back from there, but… the one who rules there is a “Hero of Justice”.”

“What?”

Eisuke and Rukino frowned at the puzzling phrase.

 

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