The next day.
When the early morning was yet to arrive, before the sunrise, I returned back to Sharia.
My destination the office that was in the middle of construction.
The office which was now in front of the remaining debris.
Zanoba and the rest who were working on the reconstruction were sleeping in a huddle over there.
This time, I was indebted to Zanoba as well.
He was someone I would like to have a give-and-take relationship with from now on.
“Well then, Rudeus. I’ll be relying on you from now on as well.”
And along with Orsted as well.
“Yes.”
I separated from Orsted outside the town, and walked in the morning mist that had covered the town.
I had many souvenirs in my hands from the Biheiril Kingdom.
Especially, a great sum of soy sauce.
If I have this soy sauce, then from now on, I would be able to live my whole life.
The town of Sharia was the same as before.
The people here didn’t change as well.
People who were working in the fields, the adventurers who were training in the gardens of hotels.
The university teachers and men with robes could also be seen.
While passing by them, I walked my way back through the snow, via the open place in the central part and towards the residential district.
That scene was somehow nostalgic.
I had walked this path almost every day, but I wonder why, a feeling that I’ve finally returned was welling up from my chest.
From the street, I entered an alleyway.
It was a narrow path through which not even a carriage could pass.
I had become accustomed to this path, which was just a little shortcut.
After exiting the alleyway, I could see my house.
Beet, who had twined itself around the gatepost, upon seeing my arrival opened the gate.
The kitchen garden lacked a little bit of grooming.
When the armadillo Jirou saw me, he snuggled up to me.
When I crouched and started petting his head, he rolled and showed his belly. He’s a cute pet.
At that time, the entrance to the house soundlessly opened.
The ones who came out were the Sacred Beast Leo and Eris.
“Ara, Rudeus. Welcome back.”
“I’m back. Where’s everyone?”
“They’re safe.”
“Not that, what are they doing?”
“......Lilia and Sylphy are preparing food. Roxy, the kids, and Mother-in-Law are still sleeping. I was just about to go running.”
“I see.”
I muttered and took Eris’s hand.
And Eris grasped my hand tightly as if to answer to that.
I wonder if she had just done practice-swinging, because it felt warm.
When I saw her face, she looked a little red.
“Wh-what?”
“Eris. Let’s take a day off today.”
“I-I got it.”
She said “I got it.” as if to say she had already seen through what we were going to do.
Bang on the money.
“Leo, it’s regrettable, but today’s stroll is cancelled.”
“.......Woof.”
Leo had a somewhat disappointed face, but he licked my other hand and then returned inside the house.
While holding hands with Eris, I entered the house as well.
And then headed towards the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Lilia and Sylphy were lined up and making food.
“I’m back.”
“Ah, welcome back, Rudi.”
“Welcome back home, Master.”
The usual smiles showed by Sylphy and Lilia with relieved faces.
“Lilia-san, thank you very much for your effort in looking after the house.”
“Not at all. I’m really glad that you were safely able to return back, Master.”
“Norn and Aisha will be staying there for a little while longer.”
“I understand.”
After bowing to Lilia, I turn towards Sylphy.
“Sylphy, let’s take a day off today.”
“Eh? Alright, if it’s a day off…….”
Tilting her head in confusion was Sylphy.
But it seemed the Lilia had quickly realized it.
“I understand. Madam, please let me handle the cooking.”
“Ah…..I got it now.”
While shyly smiling, she clutched my arm opposite to Eris.
As a result of cooking and washing the plates, her hands were somewhat cold.
“Lilia-san. Let’s go out to eat at noon.”
“I understand.”
A smile that looked as if she had seen through everything.
It’s a little embarrassing really.
But, it doesn’t matter this late in the game.
While holding both Eris’s and Sylphy’s hands, I head towards the children's room.
When I slowly opened the door, 4 kids could be seen sleeping peacefully.
Lucy, Lara, Ars, Sieg.
And as if to protect them, Leo was curled up at the entrance of the room.
In the middle of the fight, I got worried about the house many times.
But contrary to my anxiousness, the children were in peace. Perhaps some kind of fight took place in my ab-sence and Leo protected them all…….
Anyhow, after confirming the health of the children, I slowly closed the door.
Continuing from there, I descended down the stairs and headed towards Roxy’s room.
I knocked as part of my manners.
“.......Coming.”
After a few seconds, there was a reply.
When the door was opened, the half-asleep Roxy saw me.
She had bed hair and there were traces of drool below her lips.
“Ah…...Rudi. Welcome back.”
“I’m back, Roxy. I was thinking about taking a day off today, how about it?”
After looking blankly, she caught hold of the meaning of “day off”.
While playing with her bangs of her bed hair with her finger, she blushed slightly.
“I won’t mind, but……”
Among the two women on my left and right hand sides, she looked at one of them.
“Is Eris alright with it?”
I looked at Eris.
With a slightly puzzled look, her face was becoming reddish.
“I was going to ask her now.”
I faced Eris.
“Eris, I want to go to bed with all four of us like this, is that fine?”
When I asked, Eris seemed to have understood what I was trying to do.
Her face became even redder and she pouted.
If she wasn’t holding me like this, she would’ve taken her usual pose.
“If Rudeus wants to no matter what, then……”
Sorry Eris.
I want to reward myself today a little.
I want to say goodbye to the abstinent Rudeus.
“Thank you.”
I thanked her.
I didn’t say this to just Eris because she had given me permission.
I said this in regards to all the three that have supported me until now.
I thanked that no one went missing after the end of battle.
Gisu and Badigadi said that this was the end.
That Hitogami would no longer interfere with me.
Of course, I shouldn’t believe those words.
As long as Hitogami lives, he would be considered my enemy.
But let’s just take a day off for today.
So that I can work with more energy tomorrow, so that the day passes calmly.
So that I can still keep on laughing──
Just kidding.
I just want to have some sexy time.
Now then, from today onwards, the ban on Rudeus will be lifting up.
While thinking that, I headed towards the bedroom, three women in tow.