Leave a comment

It was a day after Fina’s kidnapping. Since the situation was solved relatively peacefully and extremely quickly, the market was still open in the village. As expected, Fina was banned from leaving due to the incident, so she couldn’t go have fun.

The three kidnappers likewise headed to what could be their death in the shape of training with Lyell.

Maria was looking after Fina, while the Carbuncle was left with Lyell. In other words, the only ones in the mansion with time on their hands at the moment were three… no, four people.

“Agh, ugh….”

Once we finished breakfast, Cortina started groaning and moving about. Finia, I, and Ashella observed her from the side.

“What’s wrong, Cortina? You’re being restless like a cat.”
“I am a cat. At least compare me to a fox or something.”
“Weren’t foxes closer to dogs?”
“Who cares about that!”

I lightly rebutted her take but she latched on to it excessively. This was her habit when she wanted to dodge the topic. Still, at least stop groaning like that.

Either way, killing time here felt a bit bothersome. Though reluctant, I wanted to return to Stollar soon. I had to make the story consistent with Curt’s group’s, and above all, the Polymorph effect would soon run out.

In these five years, Hastur’s research bore fruit and the Polymorph scroll’s effect had dramatically lengthened, and by now, it lasted for 24 hours like the actual spell.

It was extremely helpful that it had become so long. I really owed him a lot.

I transformed into Reid yesterday at around 4 pm when the sun was starting to go down. Due to the improvements, I approximated that I still had eight hours to go.

That said, considering I absolutely must not get found out, I wanted to leave enough spare time.

Despite that, Cortina was fidgeting around as if she had some business with me, so I couldn’t go back.

“Agh, whatever! Finia.”
“Y-Yes?”
“The market fair is open in the village today too, right?”
“That should be the case, yes.”
“I’ll lend you Reid for today!”
“Huh?”
“Wait, don’t treat me like an object here!”

I retorted to it instinctively, but I still couldn’t understand what she was planning.

Why was she going out of her way to lend me to Finia?

The answer to that was quickly revealed from her own mouth.

“I mean, you haven’t met Reid in a long time, right?”
“Huh? Oh, r-right! I have wanted to meet for so long.”

Finia started pretending in a fluster. She was assumed to have come here from Nicole’s group as their representative.

And the biggest combat powers among them—meaning Nicole and Michelle—decided to head to Kolbo. With Cloud as a bonus.

The “plan” was to divide the party like this and tackle the incident while controlling information on both fronts. But since I easily caught the culprits, this ended up being all for naught, and Finia was enjoying her return to the village after so long.

But then I appeared, who was also contacted.

For Finia, this should have been our first reunion after 25 years. It was too suspicious for her to not react at all.

She started acting like that because of that.

“Me too. I’m not so dull as to not understand your feelings, Finia.”
“I-Is that so…”

Well you are dull enough to not realize my identity. This girl was a battle specialist, so I guess she was distant from human relations.

Finia had a complex, cramped expression as she answered back. She was definitely holding back a laugh there.

“So, you know? I’m always with him, so I was thinking I’d hand over the leading role to you for today.”
“You know, I always drop by her after our meetings.”
“You’re just showing your face! Don’t you pity her?”
“I mean…”

If I had to say, you’re the one I’m pitying right now… but I couldn’t say that aloud, so I muffled my words.

Still, her consideration softened my heart. We haven’t met in a while, but she still chose to step aside for Finia, which showed her kindness.

Finia was also having trouble with how to react, but Cortina misunderstood it as her acting reserved.

“No need to hold back. I can meet him any time, after all.”
“But Lady Cortina, aren’t you on Lord Reid ban at the moment?”
“T-That’s beside the point!”
“…I-Is it really alright?”

Finia looked at me instead of Cortina.

She was hesitating whether she could accept Cortina’s kindness when she was meeting Nicole every day.

I turned my face away in response.

She couldn’t refuse, saying “we’re meeting everyday so no need.”

“You don’t need to ask him. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about, so go and enjoy today with him.”
“Oh my, Cortina, you’re such a good girl. I love girls like you.”
“Being told that by you, Lady Ashella, I feel strangely dubious about that statement.”

For some reason, Ashella came back after returning to Forneus, even ditching her guards. Hey Your Eminence, you’re a bit too dynamic don’t you think?

This is why those who could use teleportation magic were so troublesome. Those who used it so willy-nilly were probably Maxwell, I, Maria, and Pope Ashella. God of Destruction is beside the point.

“So rude. I was praising you with pure intentions. Still, the north has a shortage of men, so polygamy is recognized, so why not?”

During the Evil Dragon attack 25 years ago, men were gathered as troops from all around.

And they all disappeared in the scorching hellfire released by the Evil Dragon.

As a result, the United Northern Alliance had a severe shortage of men, and to make up for it, polygamy was officially approved as an emergency measure.

But even so, along with the recovery, it also started to be questioned, so it was rumored to be annulled before long.

At any rate, it was allowed at present, so there was no problem dating two people.

Incidentally, Lyell was dedicated to Maria contrary to how it would seem. Or it would be better to say that if he cheated Maria would turn into a demon, so he couldn’t. Not that he intended either way.

“I-If that’s how it is, maybe I will… would it be alright?”
“Sure sure. Just go drag that blockhead away.”
“Now listen here…”

I knew her roasts weren’t coming from her heart. Or rather, when we were alone, she spoiled me rotten even more than a child. She was now handing me over to Finia, so I felt moved by the friendship the two shared.

However, I rarely went out with Finia as Reid, so this was actually a welcomed consideration.

“Well, if that’s what Tina wants, no need to hold back. Shall we go Finia… dear Finia?”

I ended up calling her Finia without honorifics like usual, but my attempt to fix it resulted in adding dear to it.

Hearing it, Finia’s face went red and she nodded her head with vigor.

Blood’s gonna rush into your head, you know?