Equal Release, And Then...

The dwarf territory in the southwest of the Fortis Kingdom.

Mürnberg, the dwarves’ city, was located in a region of massive mountain ranges.

The mining town spread up and down as if clinging to the mountain wall of a steep valley.

The inside of the mountain had also been hollowed out and turned into an inner town.

Liricia and I were in the lord’s mansion near the mountain peak of that territorial capital, Mürnberg.

It was a sturdy three-story building made of white stone.

In the basement of the building, a round sphere about one meter in diameter was installed.

A Dungeon Core with an oxidized silver surface.

Near the core were not only us, but also the territorial lord, Dwarf Duke Gustav, and his daughter, Lady Hilda.

Gustav was a stately man with a better build than a human man, and today he was wearing heavy clothing befitting a duke.

Meanwhile, Hilda was also not dressed like an adventurer as she had been when I saw her on the road, but wore a dress that emphasized her small curves, which still retained a childish look.

I immediately took two cores out of my Magic Bag and said.

“I hope these are the right ones.”

I showed them the yellow and brown jewel-like cores.

Hilda shook her brown hair and opened her eyes wide.

“Th-those. Those are them!”

She reached out her slender hand and grabbed the cores.

She shook the hem of her dress and approached the Dungeon Core at a slight trot.

Then she pulled open the side of the round sphere and placed the two cores inside.

Whiiiiin—

The oxidized silver surface of the sphere flashed violently.

As Hilda watched with a serious expression, her hand pressed to her large chest for her height, the Dungeon Core spoke in a refined voice.

“Oh my, young lady, master. I am glad to see you both appear to be in good health.”

“Se-Sebastiaaan!”

Hilda threw her whole body around the sphere and began crying.

It seemed the Dungeon Core that managed the dwarves’ dungeon had revived. Its memories had also remained properly intact.

The Dungeon Core called Sebastian made its oxidized silver surface glow and spoke in a polite tone.

“It appears that time has advanced. It seems I caused you considerable worry, young lady. I apologize.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! As long as you came back to life, Sebastian! —Uwaaaah!”

Hilda cried even harder while hugging the sphere.

Sebastian released a gentle light and spoke as if smiling at her.

“Hehe, young lady. A proper lady of your age must not lose her composure in public.”

“Yes, yes! I know! But just for today!”

Hilda clung to Sebastian and sobbed.

—It was just like a young lady and her butler, I thought.

Seeing Hilda’s tears, I could tell they must have shared an especially deep bond of trust.

Liricia, who was by the wall, smiled while wiping tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips.

“I am truly glad he was able to come back.”

Leaving Hilda to sob like a child, I spoke to Sebastian.

“I’m Alec. Nice to meet you.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Sebastian, serving as this house’s butler. —Oh my, I have received a notification. It seems you have won through the World War. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. How are you feeling? Is there anything you need?”

“Your concern is unnecessary. I have already rebuilt myself into perfect condition.”

Hilda wiped her tears and said in a tearful voice.

“You see, Sebastian’s cores. Alec-san got them back for us.”

“I see. I sincerely apologize for causing you so much trouble. Rather, I must be the one to offer you some form of thanks.”

“No, it’s fine. I already promised to receive my reward from the duke.”

“Is that so? Nevertheless, allow me to offer my thanks again. I am delighted that I was able to meet the young lady once more. Thank you very much.”

“Yes, please keep working hard for the dwarf territory.”

“Thank you very much.”

He was polite, but I thought he was a Dungeon Core with a dependable, mature atmosphere.

—He’s completely different from our Kou. She’d probably get angry if I said that, though.

I left Sebastian’s side and went over to the duke standing by the wall.

I had thought the duke was just standing there pompously, but his eyes were moist. He seemed to have been moved by the sight of his daughter crying in joy.

The duke was also a parent, I thought, even though that should have been obvious.

“So, Duke. Will you put in a good word for Liricia’s release from unconditional slavery?”

“I know. I shall write a letter—no, perhaps I should go to the Royal Capital and appeal directly.”

“Is that all right?”

The duke shook his beard and grinned.

“It will be resolved faster if I go meet them in person. You would prefer it to be quick too, wouldn’t you, Alec?”

“Of course. I can’t accept Liricia remaining a slave. That helps a lot.”

“Hmph. One should sell favors while one can! —I shall count on you to favor the dwarf territory from now on, Alec.”

“Understood, Duke Gustav.”

I could only answer with a wry smile.

As expected of someone who stood near the top of a country. Cunning was the only word for him.

—But favoring the dwarf territory, huh…

Something suddenly occurred to me, so I asked.

“Is your Puchi Elixir stock all right?”

“We used more than three hundred bottles in the battle against the Great Demon King’s forces.”

“That many?”

“Yes. The damage was not caused directly by the dark monsters, but the inner town and tunnels collapsed. If we had not had Puchi Elixirs, people would have died.”

The duke answered with anguish on his face.

I grinned and sold him a favor in return.

“In that case, I’ll restock the warehouse on my way back.”

“That helps. I do not want our Puchi Elixir stock to run out.”

—For me, I was also happy because a bulk purchase would earn me a lot of money.

After that, I replenished the Puchi Elixirs in the warehouse at the edge of the mansion, then headed to the Royal Capital with Liricia and the duke.

The Royal Capital of the Fortis Kingdom.

Small birds crossed the peaceful blue sky while chirping.

I was walking along the Royal Capital’s main street with Liricia and Dwarf Duke Gustav.

The people in the Royal Capital looked at me and raised cheers.

“It’s Alec-sama!”

“Thank you so much!”

“You saved us, Alec-sama!”

“You are our lifesaver!”

“Alec-sama, hurray!”

Answering each of them would be bothersome, so I responded by silently smiling and waving at the people along the road.

After that, we went to the slave trader, brought the owner with us, and headed to the Royal Palace.

In the hall with the throne on the second floor of the Royal Palace.

At the back of the hall, there were two thrones at the top of a staircase. The elderly King and Queen were seated there.

I remained standing and reported to the King.

“Thank you for granting us an audience today, Your Majesty. The reason we have come today is—”

The King raised his hand and interrupted me.

“That is enough. I have heard from Duke Gustav. This concerns the release of the healer Liricia there from unconditional slavery, does it not?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The King rose from the throne, descended the stairs, and came beside us.

The guard knights in the hall stirred slightly.

However, the King paid no attention to his surroundings and looked at me with a gentle smile.

“Alec, you did well. To save the world—surely you are the true hero.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. And the slave release…”

The King smiled brightly and looked at Liricia and me. Finally, he turned his eyes to the slave trader.

“There is no problem. This is your reward for saving the world. —Slave trader, I and Duke Gustav approve it. No matter what, release Liricia from slavery.”

“Yes, sir! I understand, Your Majesty. —Then.”

The slave trader stood up and took his place beside Liricia.

He held his hand over Liricia’s forehead and spoke in a solemn voice.

“I declare Liricia released from slavery—Slave Release.”

Liricia was enveloped in white light.

The next instant, the slave crest vanished from the back of Liricia’s right hand.

Liricia stroked the back of her right hand, smiled, and thanked the slave trader.

“Thank you very much. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and my heart has become lighter.”

“I am glad. Please do not take on reckless debts anymore.”

“Yes, of course I will not.”

Liricia bowed her head to the slave trader.

Then she also bowed her head to the King and Duke Gustav.

I was pulled along and bowed my head too.

“Your Majesty, Duke. Thank you for putting in a good word.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, Duke.”

“Mm. From now on, live freely.”

“No thanks are needed from either of you.”

Liricia and I raised our heads.

Then applause broke out from every corner of the throne room.

When I looked around, knights and nobles, and even attendants and bureaucrats, had gathered.

Furthermore, for some reason, the voices of people making noise could be heard even from outside the Royal Palace.

“This way.”

The King invited us and led us somewhere.

The place we arrived at was a balcony facing the Royal Palace garden.

Many people had gathered in the garden. There were many townspeople, and there were also adventurers.

When Liricia and I stood on the balcony, the King stepped to the front and raised his hand.

“Everyone, listen well. The Great Demon King came attacking from another world, and the world nearly perished. But the ones who saved us from that crisis were the former hero Alec and Liricia, who possesses the power of healing! Alec is the true savior, and Liricia is the true messenger from heaven! —Praise these two who saved the world with all your hearts!”

At the King’s words, the people praised us while smiling and shedding tears.

“Alec-sama, hurray!” “Liricia-sama, hurray!” “Thank you for saving us!” “Eternal blessings upon you both!”

A strangely clear voice reached my ears. When I turned my eyes, it was Saint Sophia.

When our eyes met, she stuck out her tongue like a child caught playing a prank.

That blessing was early. It was still too early.

Liricia stood beside me and linked her arm with mine.

“You have been rewarded, Master.”

“We’re not in a master-servant relationship anymore, you know? Please call me Alec without any title.”

“S-so suddenly—! A-Alec—shama—fweh…”

Liricia’s face turned bright red as she tried to call me by name without a title, but it seemed impossible.

Even so, her profile as she bravely tried her best was very dazzling.

—Ah, I’m glad I worked hard for Liricia’s sake.

Feeling refreshed, I waved my hand to respond to the people’s voices.

Among the people were familiar faces.

The children from Edgar’s party were there. The landlady was there too. The cafeteria lady and the Guild receptionist were there as well.

Everyone praised me aloud.

Under the clear blue sky, the people’s voices of praise did not cease for a long time.

Night.

Liricia and I had returned to the forest mansion southeast of the Royal Capital.

We had finished dinner and taken a bath, and now we were sitting side by side on the bed in the bedroom.

Liricia, who was silently looking down, had her smooth cheeks dyed red and was fidgeting with her fingers in front of her large chest.

Her glossy silver hair fell as if hiding her beautiful face.

I wrapped my arm around Liricia’s delicate shoulders, drew her close, and said.

“Liricia, thank you for obeying me until now. You’re free now. You stand equal with me.”

“Y-yes!”

“So please call me Alec without a title.”

Liricia’s bright red face looked troubled, but even so, she mustered her courage and tried to say my name.

“Yes, Mast—no, Alec—shama.”

Though her ending was almost vanishing, Liricia still did not remove the honorific.

—Cute.

I almost burst out laughing, but somehow held it back and tried to persuade her.

“We’re equals now, so it’s fine to call me by name. —Come on, Liricia. Call me Alec.”

“A-Alec————shama.”

Because she whispered the honorific after a beat, I could not help bursting out laughing.

Because she was laughed at, Liricia puffed out her cheeks to express her anger.

I looked into that cute face and repeated it.

“Liricia, it’s Alec. Alec! Alec, Alec, Alec, Alec…”

When I continued chanting it like a spell, Liricia grew dizzy and flailed in my arms.

“It is impossible so suddenly, Mast—Alec-sama! —At least let me call you Alec-san!”

“Alec-san, huh… Well, I suppose that can’t be helped for now.”

“Yes!”

“Then call my name. Liricia.”

“Yes—Alec-san…”

She said it like a whisper beside my ear. My name was murmured from her cherry-blossom-colored lips.

At that instant, I felt a shock as if an electric current had run up my spine, and I instinctively embraced Liricia’s delicate body.

“I love you, Liricia!”

“Hyau! Alec-san!”

Liricia’s body trembled in my arms.

Her large chest pressed softly against me.

My feelings grew even more intense.

“Liricia—I love you!”

“Yes, Alec-sa—nn!”

Unable to endure the impulse rising from my lower body, I sealed her lovely, petal-like lips with a kiss.

Our tongues entwined, and wet sounds echoed indecently through the room.

Then I slowly pushed Liricia down onto the bed.

Liricia looked up at me from below, her cheeks flushed, and smiled shyly.

“…Please be gentle, Alec…san.”

“Of course, Liricia!”

“Hyah!”

When I firmly pinned her down, Liricia gave a cute scream.

While kissing her, I took her chest and body into my hands.

Even as she let out frail cries, Liricia continued calling my name, “Alec-san, Alec-san!”

On the equal horizon I had reached at the end of my adventure, I continued to dive deeply and strongly again and again.