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Once I finished my talk with Maxwell, I returned to Temuru to convey the affirmative response. Michelle was the one that information was directed to, so I just lightly let Temuru know. When I conveyed to Michelle that she could return, she started jumping around on top of the coachman’s seat.

“Really!? Yaaay!”
“Kya, that’s dangerous, Michelle!”
“Ah, my baaad!”

Her jump caused the carriage to sway a lot, making Finia next to her scream. My eyes were drawn more to something that also swayed along with the carriage however. This is how men are, so please forgive me. Though I’m missing my boy down there now.

Still, I wasn’t very pleased by the idea of any other man laying their eyes on it.

I silently drove a fist into Cloud’s flank when I saw that his eyes were also directed at them. Since he was riding on the horse, his flank was higher than my head so I had to jump to make that fist count.

“However, Temuru only needs to refill the water, so we really can only stay for a night at most, okay?”
“Yeah, that’s more than enough! Right, I have to thank Mr. Temuru!”
“He was planning to stop by anyway, so I think you don’t have to worry about that, really… But you should thank Maxwell.”

Since it was known that she would be stopping by, it needed sufficient behind-the-scenes maneuvering and putting people in check. Considering all that work, we were really making the old man work hard here.

“Yeah, but if not for Mr. Temuru’s work, we wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”
“I see, then go ahead. I’ll keep watch over the surroundings.”
“Okay, thanks!”

She hopped down from the carriage and dashed to the back. Finia looked at her in exasperation while also smiling. Michelle’s actions tended to be a bit selfish, but I couldn’t blame her at all, so I wasn’t sure whether that was an unfair or good part of her…

Once she drew near the second carriage and Finia judged that she couldn’t hear us, she asked me.

“But is this really alright?”
“Hmm, what?”
“There are still many nobles aiming for Michelle, right?”
“Well, yeah. A Gift of Marksmanship is just that powerful.”

It was an ability that corrected every shot of the user. Everything from throwing stones, shooting a bow, or even a ballista. She even owned a transcendent weapon like the Third Eye, so many nobles might be intent on getting their hands on her even if they had to take some risks.

Even with Maxwell’s protection, the second or third Lichtenberg could show up. The residual heat about her had died down considerably over the past three years, but the impact she left during the Goblin raid was still standing strong.

“But well, Maxwell judged that it would be alright with that taken into account, so it should be fine don’t you think?”
“Besides, we are with her!”
“Yeah, you should keep your eyes on her too, Cloud.”
“Roger that.”
“Except peeking.”
“R-Roger that…”

That last one didn’t sound so dependable. Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Michelle has grown quite attractive in these three years. As I sighed and shrugged, Finia pointed ahead.

“Lady Nicole, we can see Raum already!”

She hasn’t seen Raum in a long time either.

Unlike me who returned once a month, Michelle and Finia couldn’t return to Raum unless they had an important business. In fact, they hadn’t returned even once these past three years, so this was a homecoming after three years for them… Though their actual hometown was the northern village.

“Ah, Nicole. Can I have some free time too?”
“Hm…? Oh, sure. Go ahead.”

Since both Michelle and I were leaving Temuru’s side, I kinda wanted him to stay, but he probably wanted to show his face at the orphanage too. I guessed that and gave him the permission. I felt bad for Finia, but I had to leave guarding Temuru to her.

Raum gradually grew bigger. Its characteristic spires and the castle behind them. The scenery that felt nostalgic now moved us as we passed through the city gates.

I arrived at Cortina’s house for the first time in a bit over two weeks. That said, I was only showing up as Nicole about once a year. It has really been a while since I have met her with this form. I had to bear that in mind or I could start acting unnatural.

“Cortina, I’m back.”

Our carriages arrived in Raum past the evening. Cortina should have already been home, so I headed there to say hi. Michelle impatiently dashed to her home, and Cloud also headed to the orphanage. Finia was unfortunately stuck accompanying Temuru for guarding. Mark’s group was with them too so it should be alright, but I was still worried.

“Ahh, Nicole! It’s been so long!”
“Yeah, about a year I guess?”
“You sure have grown. You’re already as tall as me.”

Cortina came to the entrance with light flapping steps, and was amazed to see my growth. That was only natural, as I had grown rapidly, being in a growth period, and was about as tall as her now. Her face that I used to look up at before was in front of me now, so it was pretty moving in its own way.

“I am growing too after all.”

I puffed my chest in pride. It had already grown bigger than Cortina’s. That made her frown and counterattacked after a cough.

“And your chest too… If Elliot saw them, he’d start the marriage uproar again.”
“It finally got called off, so don’t add fuel to the fire.”
“Ahaha, I know, I know.”

Laughing cheerfully, she invited me in. Her house without Finia had started to look a little out of order, but not enough to be a bother. Perhaps because I was visiting her once a month, she started to clean it quite diligently. I suppose she had grown up too in that aspect.