A Toast at the Banquet
As I arrived at the grand hall, I immediately spotted Elfride among the sea of attendees. It wasn’t for any grand reason—simply because, of all the people present, she was the only one I knew.
Even from a distance, she looked stunning in that flowing blue dress instead of her usual armor. And her figure… gods, it was nothing short of exceptional. She’d been hiding that body under all that plate mail.
She really was the hero, wasn’t she? With looks like that, she had no need for extras.
If she was the hero, then as someone who’d been reincarnated into the protagonist’s body, it only made sense for us to get close. Fine. I’d keep talking to her until we were on friendly terms.
Just as I decided to approach, the Saint suddenly grabbed my nape from behind.
“Kek!”
Ow, my neck—argh!
I pressed my lips together and narrowed my eyes, turning around slowly.
“...Saint, why are you suddenly grabbing my neck?”
“Idiot♡ Your tie is crooked.”
“Eh?”
That’s exactly why you pulled it, right?
“You’re so adorable~♡ I’ll fix it for you. Just stay still.”
“...Yeah.”
...What the hell kind of person is this?
Honestly, even if she hadn’t grabbed my neck, my clothes would’ve been fine. She was insane.
Still, the Saint didn’t get angry. She fixed the crooked tie with perfect care. Once she’d straightened everything, she gave me a soft smile.
“Hero, it’s done~♡”
“Yes, thank you.”
Regardless of the reason, her satisfied expression left me puzzled.
...Does the Saint have a hobby of fixing other people’s clothes?
Shaking that thought aside, I turned to the Saint.
“Let’s head to Elfride first.”
“Why?”
“...Because she’s the only one I know. And you told me to avoid talking to other nobles, right?”
“...You remember well.”
If she couldn’t remember, she’d just keep forgetting like she always does. I still don’t get why she seems bothered.
...I guess she’s not trying to mess with me anymore.
As we walked toward Elfride, the Saint let out a small sigh and fell into step beside me.
“Elfride.”
“...Ah, Abel. You’re here.”
“Lord Vasterk is here as well. Good evening.”
As I greeted Count Vasterk, he smiled warmly and nodded.
“Welcome, Hero Abel. How do you like the atmosphere of the banquet?”
“It’s great. I like it.”
Honestly, I had no idea about the atmosphere. But the food at that table looked delicious.
“That’s good to hear. I was worried you might be uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable? Me?”
“You’re probably not used to these banquets, after all.”
“Ah.”
So that was what he meant. This guy was surprisingly kind.
Even thinking of such small considerations, one really shouldn’t judge a person by appearances alone.
“I’ll take my leave to speak with the other guests. You two enjoy yourselves.”
With that, he smoothly stepped aside. He was definitely someone who knew how to manage an entire city.
Left behind were Elfride, the Saint, Saint Cynthia, and me.
From that point, I spoke first with confidence.
“I’ll get some food.”
I was starving.
“...Saint Estelle.”
As Abel left to fetch food, Elfride turned to the Saint.
Estelle answered with her usual gentle saintly smile.
“Yes, Hero Elfride?”
“How do you feel about Abel?”
“...Eh?”
Elfride was slightly surprised by Estelle’s reaction. Her obvious confusion made Elfride certain she’d been wrong.
After all, the rude behavior earlier and her constant subtle checks on Elfride—could it really be?
“Are you two dating?”
“...W-well, yes?”
Estelle turned her head sharply to meet Elfride’s gaze head-on.
Her face was bright red like a tomato, but Estelle had no idea.
“If I’ve been kissing and groping the Hero Abel, what would you do!?”
Kissing and groping? Those words coming from a saint’s mouth? Elfride frowned.
“...Saint Estelle, you should choose your words more carefully.”
“......I’m sorry.”
She seemed to know exactly what she’d done wrong.
Given the Saint’s tone and behavior, dating was clearly a lie. The Saint must have feelings for Abel.
Elfride couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Unaware of her own actions, she turned to Estelle.
“I understand how you feel about Abel. But there’s no reason I can’t be friendly with him, right?”
“...Hero Elfride, why do you want to be friendly with our Hero? There must be many people who want to be friends with you, even if not Abel.”
Elfride answered honestly.
“Because Abel is a kind person.”
Up to this point, Abel had been more than kind enough. He didn’t show off his hero status, was polite, and even helped people despite lacking strength.
He was completely different from the hero Elfride personally disliked—Levius.
But Estelle dropped another bombshell.
“...You think our Hero is kind?”
“Don’t you?”
“Hero Elfride has no idea~.”
Estelle’s eyes curved like a new moon crescent.
“Abel the Hero is a pervert and trash♡”
“...Saint, I don’t understand why you’re saying such things.”
“Hero Elfride doesn’t know, so that’s why~♡ Our Hero is a pervert♡”
Abel? Elfride couldn’t picture it.
...However, this was coming from the Saint, who was always by his side. Even if it wasn’t entirely true, there was some truth behind it.
“It’s normal for the Hero to look at me with lewd eyes~♡”
“...Abel?”
“Yes, of course~♡”
“...What did you just say, Saint?”
Both Elfride and Estelle turned their gazes at the same time.
There stood Abel, looking utterly bewildered while holding a plate piled high with food.
This crazy woman had been spewing more nonsense. The Saint’s and Elfride’s shocked expressions made that clear.
“You were saying weird things again.”
“...I-I didn’t!”
“Stop acting cute.”
The Saint pouted. Damn, trying to play cute to defuse the situation? Even if you’re cute, it won’t work.
I set the plate down and told Elfride.
“Everything the Saint said was a joke. Listen with one ear and forget it.”
“...Is that so?”
Her reaction was odd. I narrowed my eyes and questioned her.
“Elfride, you’re not actually believing that, are you?”
“Ah, no. No, of course not.”
...She’d believed me halfway?
“Elfride, I swear on the gods I’ve never done anything weird to the Saint.”
“Ah, I see. I misunderstood. I’m sorry. I truly apologize.”
Elfride apologized to me, and I looked back at the Saint.
“...Saint, what exactly were you talking about?”
The Saint glanced at me and quickly looked away.
Look at her?
“Say sorry to me too.”
“...I’m sorry.”
The Saint bowed her head. She apologized quite easily.
...I only went back because I was noisy. It was probably the right choice. If I’d been a little later, how would Elfride see me now?
When I looked at the Saint again, she avoided my eyes, as if something was bothering her.
This woman was hard to relax around. You’ll get it the hard way someday.
...At some point.
“You were going to the guild?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The day after the banquet, it was time for each of us to head in our own directions.
Elfride and I stood at the crossroads in front of the Count’s mansion, looking at each other.
“Where are you going, Elfride?”
“I think I’ll head to the Vesta Kingdom. I have to stop at the family’s estate for a bit. You’ll be staying in the Mars Empire for a while.”
“That’s the plan. I’ll gather funds while taking guild requests.”
“I see.”
Elfride spoke to me.
“Oh, right. I have something for you.”
Elfride had intercepted my party, who planned to skip the banquet. She’d offered five times the reward for the request she couldn’t take. She pulled a pouch from her pocket.
“You’re really giving this? It’s too much...”
“Since I said it, I have to keep my word.”
Elfride handed me the pouch. My eyes widened. The weight was heavier than I expected.
“You don’t need to give this much...”
“It’s fine. I received generous funding for the next regular meeting. Think of it as encouragement for a junior hero.”
Looking at me, who was stunned by the sudden huge sum, Elfride chuckled.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Yes, I hope to see you again soon.”
“...Yeah, see you.”
Elfride walked away with Saint Cynthia. As I watched her go, I set off with the Saint.
“......”
Elfride walked for a while before suddenly stopping and turning back.
After a moment of silence, Saint Cynthia asked.
“Elfride?”
“...No, it’s nothing.”
The brilliant golden-haired hero resumed walking, lost in thought.
Abel. I hope the day will come when you stand by my side.