No, a swordsman should fight fair and square from the front."
"Such an honest and good child. Well, in the not so distant future, you should be able to win. Give it your best."
"Yes. I will work my hardest to make sure all of my teachings until now won't go to waste."
After bowing her head to Reida, Nina turned to face Isolte.
"Then, what are you guys going to do from here on out? You'll be traveling together with Eris until part of the way, right?"
"Yes. We'll be returning to Asura Kingdom. I was invited to the castle to act as a sword instructor."
"Ah, is that the case? It'll get lonely, won't it?"
After Nina said that, Isolte smiled gently.
"Nina, if you come to Asura Kingdom as well, stop by and pay us a visit. I'll guide you around the city."
"No way. If some country bumpkin like myself goes to Asura Kingdom, they'll end up laughing at me over some strange thing."
After saying that while her scratching her nose, Eris blew air from her nose with a [Hmph.]
"It would be fine to beat up anyone who laughs at us."
Nina laughed a bit after hearing what Eris said and remembered exactly who the three people here were.
A Sword King, a Water King, and a Sword Saint.
The only ones who would be able to laugh at them would be some strong being, out of their reach, or a fool.
"Eris, it's about time we head off."
"I know."
After replying in an energetic voice, Isolte made a bitter smile and jumped onto the horse.
Eris jumped onto her horse as well.
The horse started to struggle from how roughly it was treated, but it returned to being docile when Eris pounded its neck.
"Everyone stay well."
Before anyone had realized, tear drops started to appear in Nina's eyes.
These past few years.
She was remembering the times since Eris's arrival.
It was a bad meeting.
Starting with humiliation, she had been forced to understand bitterness countless times.
However, thanks to that, Nina learned to use the mortifying experiences as springs and learned from them.
Since Isolte came here, she was saved countless times by her gentle mannerisms and way of speaking.
If it weren't for these two, she would just be another one of those Sword Saints laying around all over the place.
Never able to rise up to the stage known as Sword King.
In other words, if it hadn't been for these two...
"Hello. Mailman here, could someone please sign here?"
Then, they heard a voice from out of nowhere.
After brilliantly destroying such a moving moment, Nina was a bit irritated and faced the voice.
There was a man wearing heavy winter clothes.
He made a face as if he didn't understand what was going on with the people gathered here and then took out a single letter from his bag.
"Jeez, who is it for?"
"Umm, Eris Boreas Greyrat-sama."
After hearing that, Eris raised her eyebrows and then opened her eyes after hearing the next words.
"From Rudeus Greyrat-sama."
"Rudeus!"
Eris immediately jumped off the horse and stole the letter from the man.
Then the moment she was about to tear open, the letter was grabbed by the man.
"Just a minute, please sign. If I don't have that, I can't get the compensation."
"Where?"
"Ah, please wait just a second."
The man then took out something like a receipt and a board out of his bag and handed it to Eris.
Eris took the board and thought for a few seconds.
Trying to remember how to write letters.
Then, with bad handwriting, she wrote the name Eris Greyrat.
After looking at those letters for a bit, she nodded and said [Alright.]
"Yes, thank you very much. It's a pretty good job after all."
After the man confirmed that, he quickly headed off and returned to the north.
Eris couldn't care less about the man at all and just took the letter.
After breaking the seal, she found the letters Eris Boreas Greyrat shown.
It was certainly Rudeus's handwriting.
(Jeez, Rudeus must have been in a hurry, my name is no longer Boreas. Ah, he must not know.)
Then on the back, she noticed Rudeus Greyrat written very thoroughly.
He's as methodical and complete as always, while it still gives the feeling that it's missing something.
Eris smiled a bit while remembering how she always used to learn by reading and repeating this handwriting.
Then, she used a nail to open the end of the letter.
It wouldn't open.
After crunching away at it, trying to tear it open three or four times, she put her hand on the sword at her waist.
After throwing the letter into the air she pulled out her sword.
"Hah!"
A flash.
The letter wasn't cut into pieces, but there was just a clean cut on the end as it fell down into Eris's hands.
Eris pulled open the cut end and took out the paper inside.
Then, with an excited expression, she started to read it.
Started to read it and continued to read it.
However, that expression gradually changed into something unpleasant.
"Hey, Eris, what is written?"
"...?"
After Nina asked, there was no answer from Eris.
She just kept staring into space with a scary face.
"Hey, answer me~"
"Shut up! There's just a few too many words I don't know, so I can't read it!"
"Ah, is that so?"
"Nina, you read it!"
"Eh? I can't read words either."
"What! If you can't read words when you need to, then you'll be in trouble!"
"Even though you say that so arrogantly, you can't even read it yourself!"
During that argument, Isolte got off her horse.
"Well, calm down a bit. I'll read it."
"Ah, yeah. Please do."
Eris obediently gave Isolte the letter.
Isolte let her eyes scan over the page. Slowly reading it to herself.
However, her face gradually changed into something grim.
"What is with this person?!"
"Wh..what? What's written?"
"Eris. You've been giving your best until now for this person? Ah, how pitiful. Milis-sama, please save this poor child!"
After saying that, Isolte started praying to the sky and looked at Eris with eyes filled with pity.
"I won't say anything bad, but Eris, don't bother going to Sharia and come with us to Asura. There's no reason for you to be cheated by a bad man."
"It's fine, just tell me what is written there right now, or I'll beat you down!"
"I understand. Listen carefully now, this is what's written."
Eris put her hand on the sword at her waist, and Isolte started reading the letter with a voice filled with anger.
"Dear Eris-sama,
This is Rudeus Greyrat.
Time has flown by these past five years since we separated.
Do you still remember me?
I will probably never be able to forget that time.
The first night together with you. I swore in my heart to remain together with you for the rest of my life.
However, when I woke up the next morning, you were nowhere to be seen.
The feelings of loss and collapse at that moment brought about a deep darkness upon my heart.
The next three years were certainly painful, miserable, and empty.
Naturally, I don't hold a grudge about that any more.
Still, I would be greatly blessed if you could comprehend how deeply sad I felt at that time.
Now then, the reason I am sending this letter is because a certain person advised me in regards to your feelings.
I thought without a doubt that you wanted to completely cut off ties with me and set off on a trip by yourself.
However, this person informed me that it was all my misunderstanding and your feelings were always directed towards me.
Currently, I have two wives.
Both of them saved me from the dark and deep suffering I was experiencing.
Even in the case that there was a misunderstanding about how you felt about me, it is still a fact that I was deeply depressed and that they saved me.
However, in the case that you honestly feel the same way about me,
If you still wish to marry me and still wish to live together with me,
I have made arrangements to accept you.
Though you might feel unhappy about this, I have absolutely no intention of separating from my current family, so you would become my third wife.
In the case that you feel unhappy about this, I have already resolved to receive your fist.
In regards to this, please forgive me after two or three hits.
However, if possible, I do not wish to fight with you.
I feel even if you do not wish to become a member of my family, we could form a fine friendship.
That is all.
From Rudeus Greyrat."
"...