"I’ll do my best!!"

"Do your best at what... sigh."

The fox, grinning with its nose twitching, hopped onto my shoulder.

"Eek."

"Ren!"

"...Health: fail!"

"Ah, I can exercise...."

I staggered under the sudden weight, and Luman grabbed my arm while Lante immediately dropped back to the ground.

Thwack, thwack!!

Its tail slammed the dirt in displeasure. Dust puffed up.

"I’m serious."

My voice shrank down to a mumble.

There was no way... it hadn’t somehow noticed my condition, right? I swallowed hard.

Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be it. Lante bounced up once against Luman’s leg, then climbed back onto his shoulder.

"But why does my personality pass??"

"If someone’s beautiful enough, that makes them kind."

"Huh...? Whaaat?"

"Pfft...."

"Kgh...."

"No... why do you two keep laughing??"

I planted my hands on my hips and glared, and Luman lowered the hand covering his eyes.

"It’s nothing. Ahem. Just clearing my throat."

"What do you mean, clearing your throat? I saw you laughing."

"Lante! There was another reason, wasn’t there? Ren’s going to sulk, so hurry up and tell him."

"Ptoo."

"......"

Lante opened its snout like it was about to say something. For a second I saw sharp little rice-grain teeth glinting inside, but then it closed its mouth again and stuck its long snout right into Luman’s ear?

Then—ptoo!

Watching Lante twitch its nose like it was satisfied, Luman went speechless.

"Whooo~ What’s this? You really want me to tell him?"

Whooo... was that whistling? You didn’t just whistle, did you, Lante??

Lante kept making that whoo-whoo sound, somewhere between humming and whistling, then looked at my face and tilted its head.

Its big ears flapped as they swayed.

So, so cute!

"Yes? Yes!"

"This is a story you can’t hear without crying. Still want to hear it?"

"Huh? No, if it’s like that, then not really...."

Why would the story about my personality passing be something you couldn’t hear without crying?!

This fox is weird!!

"That’s because, after bringing the Seven-Year War to its grand finale—"

"Hey."

Luman cut Lante off.

The end of the Seven-Year War.

That had been last year.

The year my brother came back to me carrying scars across his back that would never fade.

"Ahem, anyway!" Lante shouted again.

"I’ve done favors for lots of little brats, but you’re the first one who ever used polite language the first time we met! That’s why your personality passes!"

"What kind of reason is that...."

Honestly, Lante was small and cute, so that made sense enough. Lante might’ve hated it! Those other kids had no manners! Still, giving me a passing grade for my personality just because of that....

Kids, thank you!

I nodded, more or less accepting it.

Lante came back down to the ground and poked my leg with its snout.

When I crouched, it shoved its head toward me.

"Pet me."

"Okay."

"How is it? Feels good, doesn’t it?"

"Yeah. It does."

I answered honestly.

It was warm and soft and cute! How could it not feel good?

I could literally feel the muscles in my face loosening!

"Right. Lock your sad memories away. There’s more to gain from not digging them back up."

"......"

Lante said it like it knew something.

There I was, my own face reflected in its pitch-black eyes, looking like a little kid. I lowered my head without meaning ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) to.

Lante rubbed its snout against me like it was comforting me, then Luman hauled it away.

"That’s enough. Back in."

"See you again next time, kid."

"I’m not a kid!"

Luman snorted a laugh.

Lante had already scattered apart.

Only a faint cluster of light drifted in the air.

Wow.... It vanished just like that. What was it? Some kind of familiar? Could I ask?

I started sneaking glances at Luman, then stopped.

Because I remembered what I’d said last night.

That we were going to part ways anyway, so there was no point getting attached.

Who knew those words would come back to embarrass me this badly today!! My first impression of him was awful, sure...(that vicious letter!! I’ll never forget it! I should’ve shredded it into even smaller pieces!) but somehow... he seems like a good person.

I was staring at Luman blankly when I suddenly snapped out of it and shook my head.

What the hell! Why am I getting fluttery? Am I insane??

"Ren? What are you doing? Is your head hurting?"

"N-no?? I’m fine, okay?"

"Huh. You really are impossible to figure out."

I slapped away the hand reaching to pat my head and clutched it instead, and Luman let out an obvious sigh.

"You were clearly in a good mood just a second ago. I really can’t figure out why you’re acting like this again. Are all kids these days like this?"

"We’re not even that far apart in age, okay??! How old are you anyway??!!"

"Shh."

"...?"

Luman covered my mouth again.

His big hand covered half my face.

Should I bite him? Does he think I’m the kind of person who just won’t listen?? If he wanted me quiet, he could’ve just said so—he didn’t have to cover my mouth!! I trembled with resentment, but I held back. There had better be a reason for this. If there isn’t, I’m not letting it slide!! I don’t care if I’m grateful to him or not, I’ll crack my skull against his if I have to!!

"It’s coming."

The sharp, honed look in Luman’s eyes loosened.

And just like he said, something was coming.

A wind that didn’t feel right swept past us. Keeping a hand on my shoulder from behind, Luman pointed in one direction. When I turned my head to where he was pointing, I saw a broad-built man.

It was my brother.

"Br-brother—!!"

"Ren. Shh."

"Mmh... you’re not hurt anywhere, right?"

I ran over to him at once and checked him all over. He didn’t seem like he intended to answer.

Then I saw Dell coming behind him, leading a carriage. Judging by the little scratches all over his face, something had definitely happened.

"What happened??"

"You need to explain."

Instead of answering me, my brother looked at Dell.

Dell wore an awkward smile, then nodded like he’d made up his mind.

"I wasn’t trying to deceive you. My apologies."

"It’s fine. Tell us."

"...The truth is, that lady is Lady Coco Gannion, the duke’s only daughter and first in line to inherit House Gannion. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Dell Belkerman, a knight in service to House Gannion."

Dell Belkerman gave a knight’s greeting.

When the smile faded from his easygoing eyes, he looked like a seasoned beast of prey.

"We saw the newspaper."

At Temar’s words, Dell nodded.

"Most of it is true.... The duke has passed away, and we were on our way back to the capital for the succession of his title, but we were attacked many times. We suspect it may be the work of a collateral branch coveting the dukedom.... It was beyond me to deal with the assassins alone, so I asked for help. I put you in danger without explaining the situation. I’m sorry."

Dell apologized again.

The mournful look on his face made it hard to stay angry.

And thanks to the newspaper Luman had shown us, I’d already guessed as much.

"It makes no sense for you to be the only escort. Did the rest of them all get taken out?"

Luman stepped up beside me. At his question, Dell shifted his gaze to him.

"Yes.... Half of them were lost crossing the border, and the other half after we entered the mountains.... Even the more capable ones ended up lost, so they’re probably dead."

"Probably means they might still be alive, then?"

"I hope so, but...."

"Temar, you said you saw a corpse yesterday, right?"

"Yeah."

"What did he look like?"

"Lean build. Gray hair."

"Was it him?"

Dell’s chest rose and fell hard. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then opened them.

"...Yes."

"Hm. Do you intend to recover the body?"

"...If Lady Gannion’s safety can be secured."

Dell swallowed. Tense, he opened his mouth.

"I’m asking you properly. Would you please help us make sure the young lady reaches the capital safely?"

"...Hmm. I don’t know."

"You said you were heading to the capital anyway, didn’t you? We won’t be a burden. Please, I’m asking for your help."

His gaze moved from Temar to Luman this time.

"We will compensate you however you wish. You would become a great benefactor to House Gannion."

Even if you’re a Hero, becoming a duke’s family’s benefactor has to be a big deal, right?

Hm? Luman actually seemed to be thinking about it.

Why?? If it were Luman, I thought he’d agree right away and start talking payment!

"Hero! She is a noble lady of the kingdom! It is what the king would want as well!"

"...Understood."

"Thank you. Thank you, truly."

The one who accepted was Temar.

I knew it.... Still, couldn’t he at least ask my opinion once?? I guess he saw it as kingdom business... no, forget it. Who do I think I am? That thought was completely out of line. What business do I have sticking my nose into affairs of the kingdom? Get a grip. I should just be thankful I get to stay with him at all. If I keep wanting more and more, Brother’s going to hate it.

I still hated it, though.

"Let’s move for now. We need to get down the mountain as fast as possible before the sun sets."

"Yes, sir!"

"Ren, get in the carriage."

"Okay...."

Weren’t we going to eat?

But I can read the room too. I sneaked one glance at my brother’s face, then climbed into the carriage, and he shut the door for me. The carriage sped down the mountain road.

There was a mountain on the road leading to our village, but surprisingly, the path was wide enough that even carriages could pass through.

Chewing the medicine disguised as tea leaves on an empty stomach, I looked out the window.

Brother had told me not to stick my head out because it was dangerous, but it was so stuffy inside!

Watching Temar move between my carriage and Lady Coco’s carriage like he was shielding us, I stuck my head out again.

There was nothing to see except trees towering so high you had to crane your neck to look up at them, but I liked watching the sunlight pass through the gaps in the branches. The glittering, scattering beams made me think of Luman’s fox(?)—Lante.

I only watched for a little while... then my stomach started lurching from the rough ride.

"Uuugh...."

Huurk.

Maybe it was better this way, since I hadn’t eaten anything.

Hurk. Guhk.

I kept dry heaving.

I clamped a hand over my mouth and held my breath, and it felt a little better.... hngh, I’m running out of air....

"Hoo... hoo."

"Ren. Carsick?"

"I’m not??"

My voice shook like a goat’s bleat.

I can hide being sick... but motion sickness is impossible to hide! It’s not like I’ve had enough chances to get used to it...!!