Calliphe waited for Noah alongside everyone else.

Though several events remained before the Harvest Festival would conclude, the Youth Division of the Martial Tournament had ended, so they had no further business there. 

“Lady Calliphe, have you finished all your urgent matters?” asked Allen, who was holding Imelen in his arms. He had been fidgeting with eagerness to speak to her since her arrival.

“We were surprised when you suddenly disappeared. Fortunately, you didn’t miss Noah’s match, though you seem to have pushed yourself too hard. Your complexion…”

“My complexion?”

Gasp.

Calliphe suddenly realized the state she was in.

‘Never mind my clothes, but my hair isn’t even properly combed and I’m not wearing any makeup!’

Both Allen and Lynen, who must have been busy all night, were looking at her while displaying their usual sparkling appearances.

‘I look like a complete homebody! Lynen, you were up all night, weren’t you…!’

Slightly embarrassed, Calliphe half-covered her face with her fan.

“Ahem, I rushed here because I wanted to see Noah’s match. I may look somewhat disheveled from hurrying.”

“What are you saying?”

“Disheveled? How so?”

Lynen and Allen spoke almost simultaneously, both looking puzzled.

“This is when you look most like yourself.”

“You look more beautiful than ever.”

Their eyes met after these responses, both momentarily taken aback.

Blue eyes narrowed while reddish-brown eyes darkened.

The surrounding temperature seemed to drop.

“…”

“…”

Imelen, who was caught in the middle, shivered.

“Big brother, I’m cold…”

Just then, a spring breeze cut through the chill.

“Lady Calliphe! Duke!”

Noah came running toward them, his feet pattering along.

Though she had been by his side as Ferica, Calliphe felt a rush of joy like she was seeing him after a long time. She promptly folded her fan.

“Welcome, Noah… Wow!”

Thump!

Calliphe staggered slightly backward as Noah leaped into her arms.

‘Noah is hugging me? Is this real?’

This was the first time Noah had embraced her voluntarily, without being frightened. The corners of Calliphe’s mouth trembled with emotion.

Quickly covering it with her hand, she asked, “Ahem! Did you miss me that much?”

“Hee-hee. Yesss. Hee-hee.”

“…Are you alright? Did you eat something strange?”

“Nooo. I’m fine. Hee-hee.”

The child was grinning like his screws had come loose.

What happened to him?

When she instinctively glanced at Lynen, she saw him covering his mouth with a lightly clenched fist, turning his head away as he laughed.

Lynen was acting strange too.

Calliphe held Noah’s chin with one hand and examined his face from different angles.

Despite her somewhat rough handling, Noah just giggled happily. Apart from appearing exceptionally cheerful, there seemed to be nothing unusual about him.

“…Well, never mind. But weren’t you upset that I left without saying anything?”

“Nooo. It’s okay.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying.”

Noah detached himself from Calliphe’s embrace and smiled happily.

“I’m happy because you kept your promise. You were watching my match. The whole time.”

“I did see the final match…”

“Yes. And thank you everyone for cheering me on.”

Noah also expressed his gratitude to Allen, Dietrich, and their group. While everyone was smiling warmly, a mournful voice suddenly spoke.

—I’m wounded…

The startled group looked around. Lynen spotted the source of the voice.

“It’s at your feet.”

“Oh!”

Calliphe was surprised to see a translucent sky-blue jelly mass wriggling and clinging to the toe of her shoe.

“Ortie? I’ve been looking everywhere for you! Thank God!”

—R-really?

“No.”

—Waaah!

How amusing. Calliphe picked up Ortie with a wicked grin.

Struggling like a witch had captured it, Ortie jumped and attached itself to Noah.

—Small human! I protected you!

“Yes. I also heard about the witnesses the Duke brought.”

Of course, Noah knew those testimonies contained falsehoods. After all, Dillen had targeted him, not Ferica.

But for the sake of the two adults, he willingly pretended not to know.

“I’m glad you survived the explosion.”

—I didn’t really survive. I can’t even enter a sword now.

Ortie had become a mini-slime smaller than a palm.

Calliphe offered an objective assessment.

“You’re so pathetic I’m embarrassed to even call you a monster. It’s amazing you’ve retained any intelligence at all.”

—Sob. Humans… overthrow…

“Let’s send it to the Magic Tower, Noah.”

—Nooooo!

Sob, sob, sob. Ortie began to cry pitifully.

Noah gently stroked Ortie’s pudding-like body and said the words Calliphe had been hoping to hear.

“I’ll continue to take care of you.”

“Even though it’s not a magic sword anymore?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“It’s just a moving pudding with no use? You can’t even eat it.”

“That’s fine.”

Noah grinned.

“It’s my friend who protected me, so I want to protect it too.”

—Small human…!

Sob, sob, sob, sob, sob. Ortie wept even harder, rubbing itself against Noah’s thumb.

—I like youuu. Even when I eliminate all humans someday, I’ll spare you.

Calliphe snorted. She clapped her hands lightly to draw Noah’s attention.

“Well then, the winner deserves a prize.”

“A prize?”

“Yes. I’ll give you a wish. Is there anything you want?”

“No…”

Noah was about to shake his head when his eyes met Dietrich’s.

Dietrich frantically rolled his eyes, pointing toward Calliphe and Lynen.

‘Nothing? Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten our alliance?’

‘…Oh right!’

Just as Noah understood the meaning, Calliphe smacked Dietrich’s eyes with her fan.

“Can’t you control your eyeballs?”

Smack!

“Aaagh! D*mn it!”

Hearing Dietrich’s crisp scream, Noah remembered the mission he had momentarily forgotten.

‘They need to get married and adopt me!’

Which means the two of them need to get along better. The marriage must succeed.

This recent incident had strengthened Noah’s determination, and his enthusiasm blazed up.

“I-I do have a wish! But, I need a little more time to think about it.”

He needed to formulate a strategy.

This time, it shouldn’t become awkward afterward like when the three of them slept together.

Unaware of Noah’s inner thoughts, Calliphe nodded willingly.

“Alright. I’ll throw a party to celebrate your victory in three days, so think carefully until then.”

Nod, nod!

Noah and Dietrich exchanged some kind of meaningful glance.

* * *

Allen and Imelen returned after dining with Calliphe’s group at a famous restaurant.

“There, all done.”

As soon as they got back to their room, Allen helped Imelen brush her teeth.

Now clean, Imelen finally voiced what she had been holding in.

“Big brother.”

“Hmm? Why such a serious face?”

“Is this really the best you can do?”

“…Huh? The best I can do? What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you see Noah earlier? He’s already full of schemes.”

“Full of schemes?”

Allen laughed.

“I must have missed it. That’s a shame. Noah doesn’t usually show much expression, so such a face would be rare.”

“Argh! I’m talking about you!”

Imelen stomped her front paws on the floor in frustration.

“Hey now, Imelen. That’s not proper behavior.”

“I wanted to see you while big brother was away!”

“…!”

Allen froze completely.

“I was so worried about what suddenly happened that I couldn’t even sleep!”

“I-Imelen. Were you watching everything?”

His face gradually reddened.

As if to prove her point, Imelen widened her small button-like eyes.

“Instead of just standing still, you should express your feelings to her!”

“…!”

“If I wait for you to make a move, I’ll die of old age!”

“…!!”