The next morning.
I went to the door of the room to check on the girl I had rescued yesterday and knocked.
From beyond the door, a voice called out.
“Y-Yes! P-Please wait a moment. I’m just changing now.”
“Oh, sorry. I came to see how you were doing. How are you feeling?”
“Thanks to you, I’m much better. I’ll open it now.”
After some commotion inside, the door finally opened.
Standing there was the girl, looking much more cheerful.
As soon as she saw me, she bowed deeply.
“Thank you so much for what you did—oof!”
She swayed and stumbled towards me again.
I caught her, just as I had yesterday.
“Hey… I told you not to push yourself, didn’t I?”
“Ugh… I-I’m sorry for causing you trouble again… This is strange… It shouldn’t be like this…”
“Don’t worry about causing trouble. Focus on your health first. Alright?”
“Yes…”
The girl shrunk down, looking as meek as a small animal.
Seeing her, I found it endearing and gently patted her head as she was cradled in my arms.
Then, it struck me.
I had absentmindedly patted her head again.
I quickly let her go.
“Ah, sorry. I shouldn’t have done that to someone I just met. I did it yesterday too, didn’t I? I guess it’s a habit; when I think something is cute, I do it.”
“N-No… Actually, I feel happy, or rather… I don’t know how to describe it…”
The girl blushed and fidgeted.
Among my wives, who had been following behind me, Elen let out a suggestive “Hmph?”
Meanwhile, Seraphina cautioned the girl.
“That’s not good. Even with a healing magic, you won’t recover in just one night. You need at least three days of rest.”
“B-But, that’s… I am a Holy Knight of this country, sworn to protect its people. While I’m resting, there might be people in danger!”
The girl said this, looking at me with a pleading expression.
I sighed.
“I haven’t even asked your name yet. I’m Douglas, a traveling adventurer.”
“Ah… My apologies. I am Aurora Mariani. A Holy Knight.”
“Understood. So, Aurora, are there no other knights in this country besides you? And you have soldiers too, don’t you? Maintaining public order and defense isn’t solely your responsibility. Is it?”
When I asked this, Aurora averted her gaze and clutched the front of her clothes tightly.
“Th-That is true… But right now, we’re short-handed for defense efforts nationwide. I’ve heard about various incidents like the mass slaughter, the attack on the barracks in the city, and other problems occurring all over the country… And besides…”
“And?”
When I prompted her, Aurora presented her sword and showed it to me.
“And I have been granted the power of the Holy Sword; I am one of the chosen ones. That’s why I have to do my best. I have a certain responsibility as one who has been given this power—or so I believe.”
The girl spoke with earnest eyes.
…This is troublesome.
What Aurora is saying does have some merit—
However, there was something else that caught my attention.
“Aurora, does your sword possess intelligence, or can it transform into a human form?”
“…? Intelligence or a human form, this Holy Sword…?”
Aurora tilted her head, not seeming to understand what I meant.
This implied that her Holy Sword was not an intelligent sword or one with a materialized form.
“So, it’s different from Lombardia. Hey, Lombardia, do you know anything about this sword?”
『Well now… It’s unlikely that only I was forged by the blacksmith god Dilmund, so it’s not impossible for there to be similar items, is it? I also recall Dilmund excitedly calling me his greatest masterpiece.』
“I see. In that case—”
So, Aurora’s Holy Sword was a sibling to Lombardia, created by a god, but it didn’t possess the same power as Lombardia.
As I was pondering this, Aurora hesitantly asked,
“U-Um, Douglas-san, who are you talking to…?”
“Ah. This is— Lombardia, show her.”
『As you wish, my lord.』
At my request, the Holy Axe Lombardia glowed and transformed.
A small girl with tan skin, dressed in a maid’s uniform, appeared.
Lombardia, now in her human form, leaned into me, and I gently embraced her.
Aurora stared in astonishment.
“Eh…? The axe… turned into a girl…?”
“Yep. This is the Holy Axe Lombardia, my partner.”
『That sword of yours seems to possess some power, but… it likely doesn’t compare to mine.』
“So, whether you were chosen by a god or not, you’re not the only one who’s been granted power. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“H-Haa…”
Aurora still looked bewildered, as if she had been bewitched.
I placed my hand on the girl’s head and patted it.
Aurora blushed again and looked down.
Now then—
My feelings were leaning towards helping this overly dedicated Holy Knight girl, even if only for a while.
I felt reluctant to leave her to continue fighting in her weakened state.
Fundamentally, this was an issue that only she could resolve by changing her own perspective.
However, it was a matter for her to consider, not for me to force my opinions upon her.
All I could decide was my own actions.
I looked at my wives—Miina, Elen, and Seraphina.
Upon receiving my gaze, all three nodded with smiles.
Having confirmed their assent, I told Aurora,
“Understood. If you absolutely won’t stop pushing yourself, then I have an idea. At least until your stamina recovers, I’ll help you. Aurora, I’m worried about you.”
“Eh…?”
Perhaps surprised by my words, Aurora stared at me blankly.
“Help… with what…?”
“With your missions. I want to see you fully recover.”
“But… why…?”
Aurora looked as if she had no idea what was happening.
It was true that a mere traveling adventurer offering to assist in the nation’s defense was unusual.
But—
“Why? I just told you. Aurora, I’m worried about you. We just met, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
I said this and gently petted Aurora’s head again.
The girl let out a small sound of pleasure and accepted it.
At this moment, “free spirit” might be a more fitting description than “adventurer.”
I had plenty of money, so I didn’t need to be tied down by work.
I do it because I want to.
That reason alone was enough.
“Ugh… Th-That’s… Thank you… But I’m so sorry…”
“If you feel that way, then rest well and get better as soon as possible.”
“I-I understand… But I need to return to the city garrison and report. If I act on my own, it will cause trouble for the entire Holy Knight Order.”
She truly had a strong sense of duty.
Her resolve to protect people at the cost of her own well-being was admirable, but perhaps too admirable.
“Alright. Then we’ll go to the city and report to the garrison. And we’ll accompany you. Is that acceptable?”
We were outsiders, but having saved Aurora’s life, they likely wouldn’t turn us away.
Besides, it seemed like there was an issue with the Knight Order itself for forcing a girl in her condition to continue working.
As the ones who saved a member’s life, I wanted to lodge a complaint.
“Y-Yes… But, truly, for everything… is it really alright…?”
“It’s fine. Aurora, you need to be a little kinder to yourself. Make sure to include yourself among the ‘people you need to save.’ Also, the only one who can make you happy is yourself. Above all, take care of yourself.”
“Take care of myself…”
Aurora murmured, sounding dazed.
