<Authors Note>

I wasnt able to finish writing this chapter in a week sorry.

I could feel her energy leaving Eves shoulder.

And then

[It may be just as you say.]

The feeling that had been encroaching earlier dispersed.

She surprisingly looks meek right now.

[Maybe, I certainly wasnt thinking about her feelings..]

[Liz is a really good child. Not wanting us to know what she wishes, she usually represses her various emotions very well- she hides them from others. I dont blame you for being so oblivious about it.]

Fufu

Eve let out a smile.

Next, she tapped her temples with the bottom of her palm.

Its as if

Get a grip, will you?

shes scolding herself.

[Thats right. Im so oblivious that I didnt notice it. However If I were to calmly stand by Lizs side, I might be able to understand. Spending my days only by earnestly waiting If our situation were to be reversed, just in itself is a pretty difficult thing to do.]

[And thats why Youre going to leisurely spend your time with Liz from now on.]

[Even so, Touka]

[Hmm?]

[If you ever need my help, you can always count on me. Dont tell me that youre also renouncing my membership in the Fly King Squadron, are you?]

I slightly rolled my eyes in response.

Then, I sighed.

[Well If thats what you really want.]

Satisfied, Eve nodded.

[Then, its good. Because it would be a very sad story if were dismissed from the Fly King Squadron as well.]

Saying that, Eve holds out her hand to me.

As if to seize her hand, I clasp her hand back.

[I know its clich, but I wish you well on your journey.]

[Yeah. I really appreciate your help. Thanks for everything.]

[Ive already said this before It is I who should be thanking you instead. I dont know what we would be doing now if we hadnt met you.]

And then, as we let go of each others hands-

[Wait.]

we almost let each others hand go.

I grasped Eves hand just as she was pulling away.

As if Im stopping her.

[W- What is it, Touka?]

Eve looked taken aback at the abrupt tug.

[If youre staying here, you wont be needing that.]

[UmuMhmm?]

She reflexively nodded her head, but

With a face that doesnt look like she understood what I said, Eve tilted her head.

Were in the Witchs Home deep within the Golden Demon Zone.

A place that is believed to be unreachable by others.

Theres no need for her to hide her identity here.

In that case- Theres no need for her to change to that appearance.

[Thats why]

I touch Eves bangles.

[Im going to return you back to your previous appearance.]

After I left Eve and returned to my room, I told Seras about what I talked about with Eve earlier.

[I see So, this is where our journey with Eve ends huh]

Now, we were sitting side by side on the edge of the bed.

Seras white skin still looks flushed after she took a bath.

She was wearing a single, thin, cardigan-like piece over her refreshing, thin clothing.

[I had actually forgotten about it too.]

Seras wrily smiled.

[I felt that Eve would always be with our journey from now on However, now that you mentioned it, we originally had such arrangements with Eve huh]

Her eyelashes lowered, Seras put her hands on her exposed white knees.

[Besides, its probably better for Liz.]

[If Eve stays here, she can protect Erika. Well, Im sure Erika would already have all sorts of defenses planned but Eves presence here may be useful sometimes.]

Most of all

Going through a journey for revenge has never been a decent idea.

Good people like Eve and Liz mustnt be involved with it.

[So]

Keeping my eyes forwards, I ask.

[What about you?]

[Me? Err, does that mean youre asking if Im going to stay here too?]

[Yeah.]

[I- I am your knight. Of course, I will follow your journey until the end.]

[I see.]

Saying so, I flop down on my back.

Pomf

[]

Twisting her upper body, Seras turned around towards me.

[Touka-dono?]

[Ive already heard about your resolution before.]

Staring at the ceiling, I continue.

[So, now that Ive had the final confirmation about you following my journey, Im not going to tell you anything else anymore. However]

Bringing her fist on her chest, Seras gulped.

After a few moments, I spoke.

[I dont like the word absolute very much Thats why I wont declare that Ill absolutely protect you. However, I will use every ounce of my strength to protect you, Seras- and that, I promise you.]

Squeeze

Seras clenched her fist.

[Touka-dono]

[Im already thinking of taking care of Seras even until the end.]

[]

[Thats only if youre okay with it though.]

The High Elf Princess Knight has a slight smile on her face.

And then

[Of course Im fine with it. Ye- Yes, but of course If Touka-dono will take care of me until the end If youre willing to take care of me I could never wish for anything more than that.]

Closing my eyes, I gently spoke.

[Alright.]

Again, I open my eyes.

[Youre going to have to keep me company until the end, Seras Ashrain.]

Seras eyes- opened wide.

Her sky blue pupils looked moist.

Her hand on the bed tightly gripped on its fabric.

[Yes]

Her white porcelain cheeks were slightly flushed.

Because she has just got out of the bath- is probably not the reason.

[This Seras Ashrain as the masters knight, I will accompany you until the end. Wherever it may be. Yes]

Seras shortened the distance between us.

[Even if it were in the farthest reaches of the world.]

The light of the artificial moon shone through the window.

Its as if the light is somehow blessing Serass beauty, faintly- and affectionately illuminating her.

..

The next day.

I told Liz first thing in the morning.

That this is the end of her journey.

At first, Liz reacted sadly.

But, she accepted.

I had planned to stay silent about it and quietly leave this place.

However Considering Lizs feelings, that didnt seem like a good idea.

What came to my mind- was the relationship Seras had with the Princess.

We havent even finished saying goodbye with each other properly.

Seras had a lingering uneasiness in the past because of it.

However, after she had a satisfying goodbye with her, she feels better.

Thats why I thought we should give ourselves some time to say goodbye to Liz.

Well, its not necessarily a lifelong goodbye with her though.

There is no lack of opportunities for us to meet again.

And thats why, well-

Liz is now spending time with Seras outside the house.

Eve is also with them.

Her clothes are the same she had yesterday, but she already had her original appearance of a Leopardkin.

And

[Pigyii]

[Pakyuu~]

Pigimaru and Slei were also happily playing with Liz.

These two have been really attached to Liz huh

Then

[Why did you suddenly decide to postpone your departure by a day? I thought that you would surely be leaving today.]

I was looking out the window of the house when Erika called out to me.

[I wanted to give Liz some appropriate time to say goodbye.]

Slouching beside me, Erika placed her elbows on the windowsill.

Her bluish-purple eyes caught the appearance of Liz and the others happily chatting.

[You know, I have a feeling that Touka is especially sweet to Liz.]

[That childs circumstances resemble mine Shes a lot like I was before. Im well aware that Im giving special treatment to her.]

[By being nice to Liz, are you indirectly trying to save your own past?]

[Well, I guess so.]

[Ara, youre not going to make excuses on that?]

[Thats because its true. It may not be entirely true, but there certainly are part of it thats true.]

[I dont know if youre trying to be honest or not]

Erika raises her slouching upper body.

[However, theres something else to it, right?]

[Hmm?]

[The reason why you postponed your departure.]

This Witch sure is sharp.

[Putting me aside, the others are still tired.]

Leaning my back against the wall, I look over my shoulder and watched Seras and the others.

[Its good that theyre doing their best, but theres a tendency for everyone in the Fly King Squadron to try too hard. That being the case- As Im the one who brought the group together, Ill see to it that I will make regulate things when theyre tired.]

Even if theyre tired

Do it.

If I tell them, theyll probably do it.

They will do it.

Whether its Seras

Pigimaru

Or Slei.

[Especially regarding Sleis fatigue Id like to give her at least one more day of rest. Slei is also the one who worked the hardest on that Princesss situation so]

Shes the one who pushed herself the most.

[Ive also been thinking about leaving Slei here for a while. Or rather To be honest, Im still hesitating to bring her with us.]

Ka-thunk

I lightly knocked the back of my head against the wall.

[However, thinking about the future Theres a wide difference between having Slei around us and not.]

[Unlike Eve, shes irreplaceable?]

[Yeah.]

The ability of Eves eyes and ears certainly is reliable.

However, to be honest, I could actually substitute to that role instead- though the quality of my ability is naturally inferior to her.

[Just like Seras and Pigimaru, Sleis abilities cant be replaced.]

[Well, it should be alright Up we go.]

Placing her buttocks on the windowsill, Erika looks out the window.

[Slei certainly looks like shes attached to Liz, but from how this mistress sees it, Slei still likes Touka and Seras the best. I think it would be more painful for that child to be separated from you two. Besides Slei isnt exactly normal. From what Erika could see, she may not be as tired as you think she is. Rather than that I even get the feeling that shes stronger than before she went to the Northern Demon Zone.]

[..]

Slei was only a newborn.

Half a year hasnt even passed.

In other words

Shes still on the process of growing up huh.

Even though she already has that much power.

[Even though you said that, I think I should still be careful not to let Slei do anything unreasonable. This is my journey for revenge If I had to make her do the unreasonable, I will make sure that Ill do everything I can myself first.]

Erika shrugs her shoulders.

[Its because youre like that, Touka, that everyone is doing the unreasonable just to help you Anyway, you should take as much time as you need to rest, okay? Im saying that as this places landlady.]

[Yeah, thanks. Besides I also want to give Seras and Pigimaru a little more time to rest.]

Rather than rushing things through

I think it can be more efficient in everything you do if you take your fatigue out of the equation.

Rest is an important fact in everything in life.

[Even Seras It seems that shes been nervous all these days until she met the princess.]

Its not just physical fatigue.

She needs to rest her mind as well.

Beyond Erikas line of sight, Seras bent down and gave Liz a gentle hug.

After a short pause, Erika spoke.

[Say, Touka.]

Erikas gaze turns back to me.

[What happened with Seras last night?]

[We just confirmed our intentions for one another again.]

[Hmmm]

[.]

[.]

[By the way, Erika.]

[Hmm?]

[Ive actually been wanting to ask you for a long time- no, its just that Im curious about something. So, if you think that this question may have been too intrusive, you dont have to worry about it.]

[What is it that you have to be so formal about it? Youre special after all, so I guess Ill answer this somewhat intrusive question of yours.]

Sitting on the windowsill, Erika crosses her legs and makes eye contact with me.

[So, what would you like to ask this Erika Anarveil, Fly King-dono?]

[Im just wondering if theres a reason about it.]

[Reason?]

I tell her what I want to know.

[The reason why you havent smiled even once from the time we met.]

<Authors Notes>

I was recently informed that Volume 2 has been reprinted again. Id like to thank all of you who have purchased volume 1 and volume 3 of the novel, which have already been reprinted. Thank you very much for your support.

The second volume of the manga will be released on June 25 (Thursday). I would be grateful if you could watch out for the manga as well, where everyone could see the genuine entry of Seras and Mist. By the way, just saying it It seems that Hazure Waku has reached #9 for the ranking of the Niconico Mangas Top 100 for the first half of 2020. Im glad to see that many people are reading it and supporting it on Niconico Manga as well I really appreciate your support. The latest chapter on Comic Gardo was updated just yesterday, so please take a look at the manga as well.

(T/N: heres the link if anyones curious about it.)

Also, we have received one review since the last update. I am always encouraged by your support in many ways, not just in reviews. Thank you very much.

In the , it looks like we will finally be leaving the Witchs home.