"I-I'm sorry. I fell asleep in Makoto's room…" (Lucy)
Lucy apologized sullen.
"No, I don't really mind." (Makoto)
That's a lie... But I also enjoy it deep inside my heart.
Anyway...
The misunderstanding was safely dispelled.
"Aaah, how nice. I should sleep in Takatsuki-kun's room today." (Aya)
Sa-san said with an sultry tone...
"That sounds like fun! Can I come play too?" Prince Leonard said in innocence.
"I am fine with that, but I will be training, okay?" (Makoto)
Looks like Sa-san and Prince Leonard will be coming to hang out in my room.
I don't really mind that.
The bed is big enough to accommodate six people.
I noticed the gaze of someone and turned to that direction.
I smile and with a teasing tone...
"Will you be coming to sleep in my bed too, Princess Sofia?" (Makoto)
"?! W-What are you saying?!" Her voice goes a little bit higher and a blush creeping into her face "Well... i-is that okay?"
With my teasing just taken seriously... I can't just tell her that it was a joke. I will be a jerk if I do that.
I look at her eyes and just agreed.
"It's fine... If your okay with it princess"
Princess Sofia when he heard the confirmation of Hero Makoto look away to hide her face who was beaming in joy, her cold facade starting to melt as the corner of her lips are starting to move upward and her heart beat is beating faster and faster.
But who she is? She is a princess! Using her skill [Cold Heart] she start to recollect herself and face Hero Makoto.
"…Hero Makoto, I have something to talk to you about, so please come to my place in the evening." (Sofia)
Princess Sofia turned her face to the side and said this.
"Hey, where are we going shopping today?" (Aya)
"Eeh? Isn't it my turn next?" (Lucy)
"Makoto-san! Let's train magic together!" (Leo)
You people are really energetic.
In the end, I accompanied Prince Leonard in his magic training, went shopping with Lucy, and had tea with Sa-san.
Well, it was quite the fulfilling day.
<> O <> O <> O <>
In that evening...
I met princess Sofia as promise...
She show me the captured preparator that cause a massive incident in the Capital of Rozes.
And also to give me an information that they extract.
Well...
I indeed got some information.
Like the destroyed nation of Moon Country Raphloaig
The Devil god...
And an information where the next attempt of attack will take place.
In the Sun Country.
Anyway...
When we get outside of the underground jail.
I invite princess sofia into dinner.
We go to the most expensive restaurant in the capital of Rozes.
Although... Her mood is not good due to the recent interaction with the criminal.
Well... That's why I invite her to get atleast lessen her burden or let her relax on her duty as a princess.
"I am sorry, Hero Makoto. I think it wasn't a pleasant meeting, but considering your position, I thought that it would be better if you were to meet them in person." (Sofia)
Princess Sofia says this apologetically.
"No, I didn't know this, so I learned a lot. And this is a burden I will come across so you have nothing to apologize princess" (Makoto)
I really didn't know at all.
This world has a lot going on.
It really weighs on me.
The books of the Water Temple didn't have that kind of dark history in it.
"The Devilkin are also pitiful people… After the Great Demon Lord's defeat, they were persecuted in the West Continent, and they were unable to live in the harsh environment of the north continent… As a result, they became a vagrant race with no country, discriminated against for a 1,000 years." (Sofia)
"Why couldn't they have a country in the north continent?" (Makoto)
"The devilkin are looked down upon by the pure demons as well. They are called half-demons." (Sofia)
"Hmm…I see." (Makoto)
Hated by both humans and demons.
What a tough way to live.
A food place in our table but the mood is still not relaxed yet... But it's fine.
"What became the support of their heart was the Evil God Religion." (Sofia)
"Eh? Evil God?" (Makoto)
I shook.
(It is written differently. It is written as Snake God, and read as Evil God.) (Noah)
Aah, in that way.
Thanks, Noah-sama.
That really got me nervous.
I really thought... I will need to abandon my duty as a hero here if it was a case.
(Geez... Makoto you worry too much) (Noah)
"Is something the matter?" (Sofia)
"N-No, nothing. So the devilkin belief in the Snake God, huh." (Makoto)
"The Snake God is the other name for the Demon God King, Typhon. In the legends, it is said that the Great Demon Lord was the Apostle of Typhon. The religion was spread due to this." (Sofia)
"I see, that's the history it has." (Makoto)
I should arrange the information…
I might not be able to remember all of that at once.
Silence was descend for a few minutes... She also take her foof and I also take mine.
To break the silence I initiate a different topic.
"By the way, is it true that the capital of the Sun Country is being targeted?" (Makoto)
"There were apparently documents regarding their plans in the base of their church. There were no exact details about it, but there were traces that they have been investigating the Sun Country's capital…" (Sofia)
"…I see." (Makoto)
As someone who is going to be heading there, this is dangerous information.
"The Water Country will be providing you as much protection as possible for you." (Sofia)
"N-No, there's Prince Leonard, so it is fine to keep it moderate." (Makoto)
Or more like, won't Princess Sofia be the one in most danger?
Having a princess as the target of terrorists is quite the common situation.
At any rate, the racial and religious problems run deep no matter the world, huh.
I am the believer of a God that I can't tell others about, so I might not be in the best position to give my opinion though.
Now that I think about it, I should ask this just to confirm.
"In the Water Country, is having a belief other than the Water Goddess prohibited?" (Makoto)
I heard that from Noah-sama.
"No, religion is free." (Sofia)
"Eh?" (Makoto)
Wait, Noah-sama! That's not what I heard!
"The Water Country has a lot of adventurers and travellers, so if we were to limit the religion, there wouldn't be people coming anymore. However, spreading a religion other than the Water Goddess Eir-sama is prohibited. If you are found doing that, you will be exiled, and when it is of ill-intent…there's severe punishment." (Sofia)
"…I see." (Makoto)
Having your own belief is free, but persuading others is a no.
It would be against the law to increase the believers of Noah-sama then.
I am glad I confirmed.
"If I remember correctly, you said you believed in a God different from that of the 6 Great Goddesses, right?" (Sofia)
"Yeah, it is a minor Goddess…" (Makoto)
When I was designated as a Hero, they advised me to convert, but I told them I believed in a different God and refused.
"If you were to convert to the Water Goddess Eir-sama, I would have been able to ask of her to give you the best Divine Protection that could be provided though… But that would be an insult to your belief, right? Please don't mind it." (Sofia)
She is a diligent one.
It would be troubling for me if I were to be pushed to convert, so this is great.
Anyway...
We continue our night date.
We talk a lot of things... Like our childhood and she also become interested in earth.
Although...
All I teach her is the game I played.
But she listen to me attentively.
I also learn many things to her. Like her skill [Cold Heart] that make her maintain an utmost rational in a dangerous situation and her complain as a princess.
Until we reach the Rozes Castle...
"Well... It was quite a pleasant evening princess Sofia. I enjoy it very much" (Makoto)
"I also enjoy Hero Makoto" (Sofia)
I take her hand and kiss it in a courtly manner.
"Well then... Good night princess" (Makoto)
"Y-Yeah... H-have also a pleasant evening Hero Makoto" (Sofia)
As she said that she immediately turn her back and walk a little bit faster.
I look at the night sky...
And I can't help but smile...
Indeed...
This indeed a pleasant night (Date)...