“……”
The moment Amir spoke those words, the sounds of hammering and bellows in the entire hall came to a perfectly synchronized halt.
The gazes of all the dwarves snapped in unison to Amir’s face.
At the same time, Histori silently facepalmed.
…I knew it.
Who asks for things so directly?
Does she think this is a vegetable market buying cabbage?
I was actually thinking of learning about the United Kingdom’s way of dealing with people from her, but now it seems maybe she should be learning from me.
Though, given Amir’s strength, she really doesn’t need to consider these things, I suppose.
Sure enough, Baron’s previously somewhat polite expression visibly flushed a deep red the instant he heard the words “Sacred Artifact.”
His sparse beard bristled with anger, and veins bulged on the back of his hands.
“…You’re saying you want to borrow our Sacred Artifact?”
Baron slammed the hammer in his hand down onto the ground with a deafening crash—
“Amir, I respected you as the Hero of the Unified Kingdom, the savior chosen by the deity, which is why I tolerated you a bit! But you are far too arrogant!”
“Let me tell you, the Anvil of Thunder is the supreme glory bestowed upon us by the God of Forging! Forging something for you is one thing, but lending you the Sacred Artifact is a completely different matter! And forget lending it—aside from me, even getting a look at it is a privilege reserved only for the most core elders of the Great Forging Assembly!”
“But, I heard from the guards that the Dwarf Race is about to hold the so-called Great Forging Festival.”
Amir shrugged nonchalantly at him—
“Aren’t you going to personally forge a weapon with the Sacred Artifact during that festival? At that time, won’t anyone be able to see your supreme glory?”
“…Th-that’s a different matter entirely.”
A flicker of something微妙 flashed in Baron’s eyes, but it was quickly drowned out by his booming voice—
“Moreover, since you know our Dwarf Race’s Great Forging Festival is next month! What’s the rush now? To ensure the festival proceeds flawlessly, our Sacred Artifact is currently undergoing maintenance and preparation in the deepest part of the Great Forging Assembly!”
Having said that, he pointed unceremoniously toward the door—
“Therefore, no outsiders are permitted to approach the Sacred Artifact half a step before the Forging Festival begins! Even you, the Hero, are no exception! Please leave!”
Amir calmly glanced at Baron, who was on the verge of erupting, and thoughtfully rubbed her chin.
“…Alright then.”
She gestured with her chin toward Histori behind her, then turned without a hint of reluctance—
“Let’s go, Histori. Since we’re not welcome, we’ll leave for today.”
…Huh?
J-just like that? Giving up so easily?
Wait, you weren’t this quick to give up when attacking the Demon King’s Castle, were you!?
Although I never tried to talk you out of killing the Demon King!?
Histori, who had been ready to mock the dwarf for overestimating himself but instead witnessed Amir getting the cold shoulder, stood frozen for a few seconds before snapping out of it and hurrying after Amir’s retreating figure.
—
After leaving the Great Forging Assembly, Amir didn’t linger in the city of forges.
Instead, she led Histori to a remote corner on the outskirts of the city and rented two somewhat shabby-looking rooms in an inn.
For some reason, even though the underground of Vulcania was still filled with the same magma, by nightfall the temperature of the entire city had dropped significantly.
The温差 was so great that Histori had the illusion it was even colder than a forest night.
Still, this was just fine.
Compared to that unbearable, stifling heat, the current temperature suited her much better.
Standing at the door of her room, after casually bidding Amir goodnight, Histori gave a small yawn, quickly shed her clothes, and changed into the pajamas provided by the inn.
…I was afraid Amir would get annoyed with me, so I never made any requests of her.
That’s why, even when my clothes were once soaked with sweat, I didn’t have a chance to change.
Now, I finally have a bit of personal space.
I can collapse onto the bed without a care for my image and let my tail sway freely in the air for a while.
Histori sipped the iced drink provided by the inn, her gaze drifting vacantly to the moon outside the window.
…So, so tired.
Ever since Amir took me from the Demon King’s Castle, it seems like I haven’t experienced many good things.
First, getting the Blood Contract planted in me by the Demon King in the dead of night, then encountering the United Kingdom’s cavalry, followed by pushing Amir off a cliff, nearly having my true identity exposed by Amir at the Face-Changer and Bicuizi’s place, and so on and so forth…
But, if you really think about it, were all these things actually caused by Amir?
From start to finish, Amir just logically killed the Demon King, humanity’s great enemy.
After that, no matter what I said to her, she seemed to just go along with me.
She shared her milk curds with me, helped me find a Face-Changer, and even agreed without a second thought to help me collect the world’s Sacred Artifacts.
Even those few times she laid hands on me were only because I had attacked her first.
Besides, according to what she said herself, she’s never been the gentle, kind, saintly type…
Huh?
Putting it all together, the cold and aloof Amir on the surface…
Is actually quite indulgent toward me?
Come to think of it, it feels like she’s been unusually gentle with me.
Why would that be?
Histori frowned in confusion, then turned to look at her own reflection in the windowpane.
…Could it be because of this delicate and beautiful face of mine?
Or perhaps because of the noble character I’ve inadvertently displayed?
Or is Amir just a simple lolicon…
“…Knock knock knock.”
Just as Histori was lying in bed lost in wild thoughts, her door was suddenly tapped lightly.
“Histori, are you asleep?”
“…N-not yet! What is it, Hero?”
Startled by the knocking, Histori flailed to hide her tail, grabbed the cloak nearby to throw over herself, and hurried to open the door for Amir.
Outside, Amir was no longer wearing her Demon King’s Army light armor.
Instead, she had changed into a more casual black linen tunic.
In the dim light of the hallway, her usually expressionless face actually seemed somewhat…
Gentle?
“It’s a bit stuffy in my room.”
Amir smiled, looking into Histori’s eyes, her tone soft—
“The moonlight is nice tonight. Would you like to come with me to the inn’s rooftop to clear our heads a little?”