Chapter 35 - Volume 3 (1/2)

Volume 3, Chapter 5: I Turned Eight Years Old, Part 3

The Hero had dark hair and eyes, he was a man of medium build that looked like he was in his early twenties.

That’s the [Hero-sama], huh……

Although he’s a bit charming right now, it’s too bad… You should come back again in ten years, youngster.

You either fancy adult men, or fancy school boys. There is no middle ground.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“What a pleasure meeting you, oh beautiful princess. I am named Alfio, and while I am very boastfully called a hero by other people, Princess-sama, I would prefer for you to call me Al.”

This is the Hero? Alfio knelt in front of me, and was about to kiss my hand… right before that happened, Noel cut in and stopped him.

“…”

“…”

A threatening atmosphere almost engulfed us immediately, as Alfio stood up instantly, and looked down upon Noel from above with a bright smile on his face.

“Princess-sama seems to have an excellent knight.”

Although he had a bright smile on his face, after hearing Aunt-sama’s words, it clearly seemed somewhat off.

For now, even as I gave Noel a thumbs-up in my heart, I should return his greeting as if nothing had happened.

“I- I am, Yu-Yurushia-la-Verusenia…”

C-Crap, my cheeks cramped up.

Apparently, after Noel’s act of courage, I couldn’t bring forth the mental strength for that situation.

Hero Alfio looked puzzled at the state I was in, but I was able to convince him to ignore it by smiling right away.

“Hahaha, Yurushia-sama. Although I’m called a hero, but you need not be so nervous. I merely wanted to introduce you to my party.”

Wrong. That’s completely different.

“First off, the person taking the role of healer, Antique.”

*Buho*

At that point, I hit the limits of my self-control, and couldn’t help but leak a chuckle.

“……Wh-what is it…”

As I was there trembling and holding my stomach, she … the Elf Antique-san, frowned and muttered.

“Deepest apologies… I’m Yurushia-la-Verusenia…”

I never would I have thought that I would experience the surprise of an Elf at this occasion.

Although I greeted her with my cheeks still cramping, Antei-Kowa-san seemed to be making light of me as a child, and introduced herself arrogantly.

“Apology accepted… I am Antique. If you would call Alfio ‘Al,’ then you should call me ‘Anko.’”  (TL: There’s a joke here: red bean paste (anko) is commonly found as filling for small glutinous rice cake (daifuku) and shiodaifuku is this world’s word for elf)

*Buha*

Once again, I couldn’t hold my breath in. This Shiodaifuku (Elf)… how terrible to name her that.

While I was still mysteriously suffering from the cramp, Anko-san’s face became stiff, and she forced a smile at me with a condescending attitude.

“Should I heal you? Although I may look like this, in the north, I’m called the [Saint of the Elves], you know. Isn’t it terrible to be called a [Saint] when you’re so young? It’s tough to be alone as a saint, don’t you agree?”

For this elf girl to not only have long ears, just like I imagined, but to be a beautiful woman with slender curves, this is no good…… I started laughing the moment I saw her face.

“Yurushia, stop that at once!”

From behind Anko-san came a voice scolding me, as I kept laughing. It can’t be helped that they’d get angry.

But, this turn of events is really good.

“Elder sister-sama, I wanted to meet you again.”

As soon as my view shifted away from Anko-san, my laughter finally abated. My Elder Sister-sama seemed to be surprised to see me, and had a smile on her face.

She finally arrived, my half-sister, Athena-sama, and hidden behind her, staring pointedly at me, was Ophelia-sama.

“Yurushia-sama’s sisters have also become my companions.”

Under Hero Alfio’s guidance, my Elder Sister-samas seem to be part of Hero-sama’s entourage as their resident [Mages].

Aaah, I finally managed to meet them again. My delightful Elder-sister-samas.

Especially Sister Athena-sama, who is clearly [Ripening] quite well, I plan to greatly enjoy the harvest.

“Hah, an idiot child like you, after hearing Alf-sama’s words, still think of being allowed to display such disregard towards Anko-sama!?”

Because I was smiling too much, it seems that Sister Athena-sama has been drawn in, somehow.