There Are Rules in the Hero's House
Having finished her private audience with the emperor, Karen headed straight for the house where the hero lived. She'd visited the hero's home once before, so she knew exactly where it was. And true to form, the girl who never gave a damn about others' opinions didn't even consider the fact that she hadn't been invited.
"What... are you doing?"
But the sight that greeted Karen was enough to stun even her, who rarely batted an eye at anything. The hero's house—saved by Saintess Marian—was fairly spacious, and on the first floor sat some familiar faces. Isabela and Lucille, who'd been traveling with him since the Great Forest, and even Lina, whom she'd met once before.
The problem was the tears streaming down Isabela and Lucille's faces, while Lina glared at them like she was about to devour them whole.
'That woman... she's been hiding her strength?' Karen thought, eyeing Lina.
Isabela, the elf queen, was no slouch, and Lucille, disciple of the Light Sword, was a renowned powerhouse in her own right. Honestly, even if Karen went all out, she wouldn't be guaranteed victory against either. Yet here they were, bawling their eyes out, while their opponent stood there with arms crossed, staring them down.
"You're that woman from before, right?"
When Lina—the one who'd made Isabela and Lucille cry—asked that, Karen felt a twinge of unease but met her gaze. She detected no threatening aura from Lina, so she brushed off the feeling and stared back.
"Yeah, that's me."
"What brings you here? Planning to stay too?"
Karen slowly nodded at Lina's sharp question. Any normal person would've bolted under that pressure, but with her near-zero empathy, Karen was anything but normal.
She could've lived comfortably in the imperial palace if she'd wanted, but Karen needed to stick close to the hero to seize her opportunities.
"Hah, looks like the hero's got a ton of camp followers now."
Lina muttered that upon seeing Karen nod, and the term "camp follower" grated on Karen's nerves.
"What... are you doing?"
Sensing conversation with Lina would be futile, Karen turned to Lucille. At least she'd communicate better than with the elf queen. But even as tears poured down her face, Lucille snapped back in a prickly tone.
"Can't you see? We're peeling Manur Fruit."
Only then did Karen notice the small dagger and Manur Fruit in Lucille's hand.
Manur Fruit was a staple ingredient in all sorts of dishes, but its pungent spiciness made it a nightmare to prep. The funny part? Lucille—one of the continent's top sword wielders—was using her skills to peel Manur Fruit, and the elf queen beside her was fumbling with a knife just the same.
"Why the hell...?"
Thoroughly baffled, Karen blurted that out at Lucille and Isabela. But the answer came from Lina instead.
"You're welcome to stay here. Just follow one rule."
"One rule?"
Karen's curiosity piqued at Lina's words, her expression tensing slightly as she watched her.
"He who does not work, neither shall he eat. That's the only rule in this house."
Karen nodded slowly at Lina's declaration. Only now did the pieces fall into place.
"Ahh! Do it like that and you'll ruin the ingredients!"
While Karen processed it all, Lina was snapping at the elf queen, who'd just mangled a Manur Fruit in half with her clumsy knife work. Amusingly, Lucille seemed oddly proud watching the elf queen struggle— a sight that might give her master, the Light Sword, a heart attack. But Lucille herself looked right at home.
"If you get it, go wash your hands and pitch in."
Lina barked that at Karen, who approached the table without a word.
"What's this?"
As Lina's eyebrows shot up at Karen's apparent disregard, it was worth noting she knew these women the hero brought home outranked her by miles. Fights were all about momentum, though. She was hiding her inner jitters, still amazed that the elf queen and Lucille actually listened to her. But this new arrival, Karen, was no pushover—she was the lunatic who'd demanded the hero's finger on their first meeting.
"There. That should cover it, right?"
But Karen's response shattered Lina's expectations entirely. She dumped a heavy pouch next to the Manur Fruits Isabela and Lucille were prepping. Gold coins and jewels spilled from the slightly open mouth, glittering brilliantly.
"Wh-what...?"
"Boarding fee."
Lina stared blankly from the pouch to Karen, who replied with utter nonchalance. It was an absurd sum—even the fanciest inn would comp you for life. Yet Karen had wheedled it from the emperor with a few words and handed it over without a second thought, all for "research funds." The emperor would spit blood if he saw, but Karen felt zero guilt. To her, lounging and pondering was real research, not peeling goddamn Manur Fruit.
"So... I can skip the manual labor?"
Gulp.
Lina glanced back and forth between Karen and the pouch. She wanted control, but that money was too tempting. The hero brought in zilch, and the household ran on her dad's earnings alone.
"F-fine. You paid up fair and square."
In the end, Lina bowed to the almighty power of cash. Lucille and Isabela, still diligently peeling away, shot Karen envious looks. They figured they could've just paid too, but Isabela led a wealthy elf tribe, while Lucille was flat broke following the hero.
"Which room should I use?"
"Th-this way..."
Control had fully shifted to Karen. Lina now treated her like honored guests, much to Karen's deep satisfaction.
"Hm? What's that?"
"Huh? Is something not to your li—"
Karen glanced upward, and after a brief delay, Lucille and Isabela did the same. Lina tilted her head at the three suddenly staring at the ceiling—
BOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion rocked the outside, and the four bolted out of the house.
"A d-dragon?"
Isabela, the elf, reacted first to the dragon's appearance. Even as queen with centuries behind her, the infamous bad blood between elves and dragons made her terror natural.
"Breath attack! To think I'd see one for real."
"Shouldn't we head to the palace?"
Karen's eyes sparkled at her first live dragon, while the most level-headed of the group, Lucille, voiced worry.
"The hero's probably rushing there now, right?"
"Probably."
Lucille confirmed to Karen's question, and they resolved to head to the imperial palace. Isabela hesitated, her dracophobia clear, but as elf queen, she mustered the courage to overcome it.
"W-wait, take me with you!"
As the three prepared to go, Lina shouted after them. She knew she couldn't help, but the thought of Allen in danger while she lounged safely home was unbearable—desperation etched on her face.
Isabela, Lucille, and Karen exchanged glances, then decided.
"Fine. Let's go together."
"I'll protect you, Miss Lina."
Seeing the three unexpectedly accept her pushy plea, Lina wondered if she'd been too harsh making them peel Manur Fruit.