Saved Feelings

“Jonah!”

“Wap!?”

Duke Lanberg jumped off her horse, leapt at Jonah, and hugged him tightly.

Jonah, his face trapped against her large chest and unable to breathe, flailed his arms and legs instinctively.

“Fufu… Lord Lanberg, at this rate Jonah will suffocate.”

“Ah… y-yes.”

“Puhah! Hah… hah…”

Jonah was finally released by Patricia’s remark and drew a deep breath.

“Geez… that’s awful.”

“Oh, um, sorry.”

Duke Lanberg apologized to Jonah, who was pouting, but her expression showed no real remorse.

More than that, she was simply overjoyed that Jonah was safe.

“So, was the border safe?”

“Yes, thanks to you. We defeated quite a number of the demonfolk, so they shouldn’t be able to do anything for the foreseeable future.”

“Mm, we beat a lot.”

Titancia puffed out her chest in time with Duke Lanberg’s words.

Her expression was somewhat proud.

“How about Jonah and the others? Did anything unusual happen?”

“Well… Young Lady, actually…”

Petra, who had been standing by Jonah’s side, explained the circumstances that had occurred while Duke Lanberg was absent.

She explained that the longtime head butler had been an agent of the Demon King’s army, and that everyone in Gratz, including herself and the soldiers, had been manipulated by the head butler (whose proper name was Taromati).

“S-so, everyone is safe!?”

“Yes. We haven’t found the head butler yet, but thanks to you everyone is safe. There haven’t been any further attacks by the Demon King’s army.”

“I see…”

At Petra’s words, Duke Lanberg breathed a sigh of relief.

But then she noticed something odd about Petra’s explanation.

Why had Petra and the others regained consciousness if they were supposed to have been controlled?

Why had Petra realized that the culprit was the head butler?

“…I don’t know the details either, but the one who first woke us was Sir Jonah. So I believe it was Sir Jonah who saved us.”

Saying that, Petra looked at Jonah.

“I see… in other words, Jonah handled everything before we returned to Gratz.”

“E-eh heh.”

Jonah gave a shy smile at Patricia, who put her hand to her chin and peered at him with a grin.

Yes… there was no longer anyone in Gratz who would do harm to Duke Lanberg.

Because the Apostasy Taromati, who had driven Daniel to his death, was nowhere to be found anymore.

“Mm, Jonah really is amazing. Just like Zarichu of Hunger, you defeated them this time as well.”

“Wawawawa!?”

Not only was he hugged by Titancia, but she even nuzzled his cheek, and Jonah’s face turned bright red.

Even though he was still an eleven-year-old child, he was a boy. If a pretty girl like Titancia did something like this, it’s no wonder he would be embarrassed and nervous.

“Jonah… is it really true…?”

“…Miss Titancia and Miss Patricia know this, but I can use ancient magic. I was the one who defeated the Apostasy Taromati.”

Because she had heard from Patricia and Titancia on the way to the border, Duke Lanberg also knew that Jonah was not truly an ordinary child.

Still, Duke Lanberg could hardly believe that the cute little boy before her had defeated Taromati the Apostasy, who had tormented this land for five hundred years.

But Jonah affirmed it clearly.

That he himself had defeated Taromati the Apostasy.

“Thank you, Jonah… now that child… Daniel can rest in peace…”

Duke Lanberg, tears streaming, hugged Jonah.

Called a ‘heroine’ and known for her formidable skill, her heart was now saved.

By the strength and kindness of this small boy.