Part 1: Vice Guild Master Sarina of Solenarini Town Adventurers’ Guild

"...Ah... mofumofu..."

Sarina stood blankly behind the counter, holding a stack of documents.

"Sarina-san? Sarina-san!"

Ram, the popular #1 receptionist, called out to her.

"Hah!?"

"What’s wrong? You’ve been spacing out a lot lately. It’s strange."

Ram looked worried. Sarina hadn’t been working properly — she was clearly lost in thought.

"...No, it’s nothing."

Sarina turned back to her work.

But a little while later, she was once again spacing out while holding documents.

The way Sarina looked when she was spacing out was incredibly cute, and a secret "Sarina boom" had quietly spread among the adventurers. As the popular receptionist, Ram felt uneasy that it might become a life-or-death problem.

"Ah... I want to mofumofu Logan-chan..."

When Yabe-san came to this guild, Logan-chan was always waiting outside, sitting patiently. At first the staff were startled by the huge wolf fangs, but once I explained how wonderful mofumofu was, they started bringing food and gathered around Logan-chan. Everyone was mofumofu-ing him, and while it seemed a bit troublesome for him, he looked happy too. But I was the first one to notice how wonderful Logan-chan’s mofumofu was! I won’t let that slide!

Come to think of it, all the women Yabe-san has around him seem to have names ending in "-na." Could it be that Yabe-san is aware of me...? If I married Yabe-san, I could mofumofu Logan-chan every day!?

Oh no no no, marrying for such a scheme is wrong... But maybe that’s not so bad!

Part 2: Patti of Five Stars in Tarbarne Town

"Sigh..."

This is inside Tarbarne Adventurers’ Guild.

Patti rested both elbows on the table, chin in her hands, and sighed.

The moment I tripped, a terrifying swarm of Killer Ants was rushing toward me.

"At that time... I should have died..."

Yes, at that time the Killer Ant swarm was right in front of me and I was about to be killed.

But for an instant...

. Rising Stone!

White, beautiful pillars shot up from the ground and blew away the approaching Killer Ant swarm.

Then a person in a white robe appeared in front of me.

He was a mysterious person. A pure white robe with golden embroidery.

I thought he was probably an important priest from some church, but I had never seen such powerful magic before.

"Are you okay?"

His voice was very gentle and soothing.

"Y-Yes, I’m fine."

I could barely speak.

"I see. That’s good."

He raised a staff with a red gem embedded in it.

. Sand Vortex.

It was an unbelievable scene. The Killer Ant swarm that had almost wiped out our party — my arrows, Rigen’s sword, Pola-nee’s dagger, and Sone’s fire magic — couldn’t damage them at all.

But for an instant...

The Killer Ant swarm was swallowed by the quicksand.

And when I looked, not a single one remained.

I thought he looked at me and smiled kindly.

"Patti! Are you okay?"

Without thanking him, mage Sone helped me up.

Guild leader Rigen came over and talked to him.

But I was too shocked to speak. I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

And then he left.

I still hadn’t said thank you.

"Sigh..."

I sighed again.

"What’s with all these sighs?"

"Pola-nee..."

Pola isn’t my real sister, but she’s treated me as a senior since we were adventurers. She even invited me to this party. I call her Pola-nee with affection.

"You’re the kind of girl who arrives late, huh."

She saw right through me and I panicked, turning my face away.

"Rigen said he wanted to thank you, so he asked me to come to the guild... That guy helped me on the way to the royal capital. So maybe he’s not that free after all. It’s a bit lonely that I was saved but couldn’t thank him properly."

I agree. I don’t want to be rude either.

"I think it’s natural to fall for someone, but you shouldn’t get too obsessed. A noble’s guest is still a different social status."

Pola-nee suddenly said something like that.

"N-No... It’s just that I couldn’t properly thank him..."

My face is probably bright red right now.

I can’t look at Pola-nee. I keep my eyes down and speak.

"It’s a shame, but it seems you left on the carriage for the royal capital earlier."

"Lie!?"

I shot up and looked at Pola-nee’s face.

"That information came from Sone, who got it from Yabe. I’m sure it’s true. When that guy told me he saw Yabe leave on the carriage, he looked genuinely relieved. He was probably worried you might be taken away."

Pola-nee laughed mischievously.

...I don’t want to think it’s not true.

I don’t think I’m worthy of someone that amazing.

But I still... want to thank him properly.

"Yeah! I think... we’ll meet again someday."

I can’t keep sulking forever. When I do meet him again, I want to say with my head held high that I didn’t waste the life he saved.

"I have to work hard!"

Patti turned forward with energy.

Part 3: Fileontina in Tarbarne Town

"Sigh..."

On the way back from the Devil’s Tower. I was riding in Count Tarbal’s carriage toward Tarbarne town.

...I really wanted to go to the royal capital.

"Anyway, rest at the mansion for a while. Sistina has been worried sick. Your mansion was half-destroyed by bandits, you know."

"Eh? Really?"

I’ve never heard of anything like that. There were loud sounds and crashes.

I was kidnapped and my home was destroyed. I wish he had kidnapped me more quietly. Also, when I was kidnapped, how was I transported?

Probably there was at least some warmth from Yabe-sama’s arms where I could completely entrust myself and feel safe.

"Ah, it can’t be lived in like that for long. Stay at our mansion for a while."

"No, I’ll prepare to leave for the royal capital as soon as I greet Sistina. Don’t worry. Also, I don’t think I need to fix the Tarbarne house anymore. If you need the land, please put it on sale."

I’m happy for Count Tarbal’s kindness, but I don’t need it right now.

"No no, what do you mean not fixing the house and selling the land? What are you talking about?"

"I have decided to go with Yabe-sama. I probably won’t return to the house in Tarbarne anymore. After packing my things, I’ll depart for the royal capital."

"Slow down a bit. There’s no need to rush. What are you panicking about?"

"I have to rush! My instinct as a fortune-teller tells me that the chance to stand right next to Yabe-sama can’t be missed!"

Yes! My instinct is telling me!

The chance to stand right next to Yabe-sama cannot be missed!

In the royal capital something will happen to Yabe-sama. Once that thing passes, I’ll surely lose the chance to be by his side.

"Fileontina. Many men have proposed to you before. Many second and third sons of nobles, and the highest-ranked was from the Pleasure Duchy’s second son. You turned all of them down. But now, for some reason, you seem to have given your heart to that man named Yabe. When you said you’d be the third wife, you nearly fainted. The person who refused the Pleasure Duchy’s second son’s proposal is becoming a third wife to an adventurer who isn’t even a noble..."

Count Tarbal is acting surprised, but to me there’s nothing surprising about it. Whether it’s the second son of a ducal house or the son of some other noble, the man simply wasn’t attractive to me.

"You’ve just been saved. After some time, your feelings should calm down, right?"

Count Tarbal is completely off track.

I’ve heard Count Tarbal was originally a skilled adventurer.

That’s why he should recognize Yabe-sama’s power even more.

...Has his noble life made his instincts dull?

He doesn’t have the caliber to call someone a "hero."

He doesn’t realize that not being knighted now has zero value when talking about Yabe-sama?

If I have an audience with the King, he’ll probably offer me knighthood.

Though I’m sure Yabe-sama will refuse.

"Sigh..."

This is the third sigh.

In any case, I have to prepare to depart immediately.

Arrange a carriage, pack my belongings and my own property...

Ah, I need to hire guards too. The road to the royal capital isn’t very dangerous for monsters, but bandits can appear anytime...

I hope I can hire skilled guards from the adventurers’ guild for the trip to the royal capital.

The kind of adventurer parties that want to go to the royal capital — can I find them?