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“……And that is what happened.”

Hamel recounted the events in the West, summarizing them clearly. It hadn’t been a long time, but there was still much to tell. After speaking for quite a while, Hamel cleared his throat.

“…….”

The listener merely watched him in silence. Hamel didn’t mind. It was the reaction he had fully expected. Hamel stood up from his seat and spoke to the presence perched on the edge of the bed.

“Time has truly flown by. Mother.”

“…….”

As expected, there was no reply. Hamel slowly lowered his head and said, “I will come again.”

Hamel stood up composedly. And at that moment—

Tap.

Something patted Hamel’s shoulder. When Hamel looked up, a single tentacle waved back and forth in the air. Would it be too much of a stretch to imagine it looked as if it were waving goodbye?

“…….”

Hamel bit his lip for a moment before bowing low in greeting. He would definitely bring her back. Just as his mother had done for him, he would do the same for her. Hamel renewed his resolve and ascended from the basement.

The moment he closed the basement door—

Knock, knock.

Someone tapped on the study door.

“Come in.”

At Hamel’s answer, the door opened and a weary-looking Ono entered.

“What are you doing?”

“I was attending to some business for a moment.”

“You workaholic. Everyone is waiting for you, you know.”

“Is that so?”

Hamel bowed his head in apology and stepped out of the study. A moment later, at the entrance of the mansion, he saw everyone waiting together. Daniel, Antonio, Den and Dane, the Guard Captain, and even Apophis. Nearly all the men of the Haidern mansion had gathered.

“Is there a specific reason we all have to do this together?” Daniel asked awkwardly, and everyone nodded.

“Soldiers are used to this,” said Dane, thumping his chest.

“Once you go in, it won’t be that awkward,” added Apophis, looking more than just relaxed—he looked genuinely pleased.

With various reactions, they all stepped out of the mansion. Today was the day they had all agreed to go to the bathhouse together.

The bathhouse, built under Benjamin’s leadership, had become popular with many people. Submerging one’s body in a tub filled with heated water was actually quite a luxurious act. It required a vast amount of firewood to boil that much water. However, upon hearing that there was a hot spring near Haidern’s salt mines, Benjamin immediately set to work on the business. That was how this public bathhouse came to be built.

‘Thanks to that, the number of people coming and going from the salt mine village has increased.’

Now, there were even people who visited the estate specifically to enjoy the baths. He had heard that starting next year, they could cover the construction costs and turn a profit, so there was no need to further explain how well it was doing.

Of course, Hamel hadn’t initially planned to visit personally. However, words from Antonio, who had returned from the Diocese, became the catalyst for everything.

‘It would be nice if we could all bathe together before everyone leaves……. But I suppose everyone is busy, so it can’t be helped……’

‘Let’s go.’

‘Huh? Really?’

Hamel had accepted so easily that Antonio was taken aback. Hamel had decided to cherish every bond. At first, he had only intended for himself to go, but……

‘You’re going, my friend? Then I’m going too.’

‘Ahem, if my friends are going, I cannot miss out.’

Somehow, an atmosphere was created where everyone was joining in, and eventually even the reluctant Ono and Daniel were dragged along.

“It feels a bit strange for us all to wash together.”

“Don’t be shy; you’re a grown man.”

Ono scolded Daniel and then immediately asked the Guard Captain beside him, “Is it okay for you to go into the water? Don’t you, like, melt or something?”

“I am fine.”

“Oh, really? I thought maybe a demon of paintings would be afraid of water.”

“…….”

His tone was far from worried; it was mocking. The Guard Captain remained silent for a moment, pondering a retort, before smirking and saying, “I am more worried about you, Lord Ono. Look at your body.”

“……What about it?”

Ono was already on edge, as if he knew the answer the moment he asked. It was to be expected. It was because of the people he was with.

Daniel, Dane, and the Guard Captain—being knights or fighters—were pure muscle. Even young Den, Apophis, and Antonio had solid, fit physiques. On the other hand, Ono had been neglecting his training lately and frequently indulged in snacks, leading to a noticeable belly.

“……You need to exercise a bit. You.”

“…….”

Even when Daniel spoke as if he were looking at something pitiful, Ono couldn’t offer a single rebuttal. Then, as if suddenly curious, Apophis looked around and asked, “What about our friend? He’s been cooped up in the study lately; hasn’t he gained weight?”

“Come to think of it……”

Just as everyone turned their heads in curiosity—

“……?”

Hamel merely tilted his head at the gazes focused on him. At that, the party was momentarily speechless.

“…….”

After a brief pause, they all began heading toward the bath area, grumbling.

“The world is disgustingly unfair.”

“I mean, I knew he was handsome, but for his body to be like that too……”

“If he dressed a bit lighter, wouldn’t he be even more popular than he is now?”

“Men would have hated it.”

“That’s true, too.”

As everyone swarmed into the bath area, Hamel scratched his cheek and followed them in.

Splaaaash—

After rinsing off, they submerged themselves in the hot water.

“Heeeya.”

“……This feels better than I thought.”

“Didn’t I tell you? It would be good.”

Each person shared their impressions. Hamel didn’t say anything, but the feeling of becoming languid wasn’t bad. He couldn’t remember the last time he had relaxed his tension this much.

‘This is nice once in a while.’

He felt his fatigue washing away. Even if he hadn’t realized it, fatigue must have been steadily accumulating in his body.

Just then, Den, who was only dipping his feet in because the water was so hot, spoke up as if he had discovered something fascinating.

“Now that I look at you, Guard Captain and Sir Daniel look very much alike.”

“……Oh?”

“You’re right. Are you two perhaps brothers who were separated as children?”

Dane, who didn’t know the Guard Captain was a demon, joked lightly, but to an outsider, they truly looked like they could be brothers. It was only because both of them usually kept their faces hidden behind helmets that no one had noticed.

Hamel also looked at them with fascination.

‘Wait. Come to think of it, wasn’t Sir Daniel’s surname Tyrian as well?’

The Emperor of the Empire, who was the original model for the Guard Captain, shared the same surname: Leopold von Tyrian III. Of course, the important part was the king’s middle name, ‘von.’ Those with the surname Tyrian were actually quite common. However, for their appearances to be this similar……

‘Perhaps he is a distant branch of the royal family.’

Hamel nodded to himself as he thought this. Meanwhile, the two men, also fascinated by each other, quickly grew closer.

“Indeed, a man should be a knight. A knight galloping through the battlefield is what you can call a true man.”

“You know your stuff. That full plate armor you were wearing was magnificent; where did you get it?”

“Ah, you noticed? That was made by the Empire’s greatest craftsman in the North……”

Ono and the others quickly developed weary expressions watching them. They were perfectly in sync. Hamel gave a slight smile and closed his eyes. He had to fully savor this moment. It wouldn’t be long before they set out on their journey again.

The party finished their fifteen-day rest. Of course, during that time, everyone had rolled up their sleeves to help with the estate’s affairs, but even that had felt like a rest. However, they couldn’t stay here forever. Hamel knew exactly how the peace and happiness of this place were being maintained. And he also knew how easily and helplessly it could be shattered.

“Let’s go.”

“Right.”

“Yes.”

Daniel and Lena followed behind composedly.

“Can’t we rest just a little longer? Just a tiny bit……”

And there was Ono, with an expression that said he would rather die than leave. Hamel and his party began to move forward once again. Their destination was the capital of the Empire. The Inquisition located there.

‘I have to confirm it.’

What the Archbishop was thinking by excluding the Church and acting alone. What his relationship was with the Evil Gods, including the Garden of Purification. And what the hint Leo Benedictus mentioned truly meant. All the answers were there.

Hamel rode his horse rapidly toward the capital. The goal of this journey was information gathering. He planned to gather information discreetly once they reached the capital and approach the Inquisition step by step. However, Hamel realized within a single day that the plan wouldn’t be easy.

“Eh? Are you perhaps…… Lord Hamel Haidern Gilmore?”

“……?”

At an inn in a nearby village where they had stopped just to rest, the innkeeper stared at Hamel with wide eyes.

“Wow, you really are the Saint? Heavens, to actually see the hero of the rumors in person……”

The problem was that the moment those words were heard, the inn fell into a sudden silence. And in the next instant—

“What, Hamel Gilmore?”

“Is it true?”

A massive commotion broke out. The party was flustered as a crowd swarmed them instantly. Something was wrong. Just then, a child’s parents approached and reached out.

“Saint, please, a blessing for my child……”

“No, I don’t have that kind of power……”

“P-please, for my child too!”

Despite Hamel’s refusal, people everywhere looked at him with sparkling eyes. Hamel had no choice but to place his hands on the children’s heads and recite a prayer. It wasn’t a special ritual, but the parents still expressed their gratitude with joyful expressions.

After the commotion, the party hurried into their inn room. They wiped away sweat, unable to hide their bewilderment.

“Wh-what was all that madness?”

When Ono asked with shaking pupils, Hamel slowly shook his head as well. He had no clue. Just then, Daniel said something that sounded plausible.

“Isn’t this place close to Haidern? That’s probably why you’re more famous here.”

“……That sounds plausible.”

Otherwise, this level of popularity didn’t make sense. It wasn’t that people hadn’t recognized Hamel in the North, but the reaction hadn’t been this intense.

“We will slip out secretly at dawn.”

“Right. It’ll probably lessen as we get closer to the capital.”

Daniel comforted Hamel, telling him not to worry. The next day, the party slipped out of the village and rode toward the capital again. When they arrived at the next estate—

“The Saint has arrived!”

“The hero of the East has come to our village?”

A commotion broke out before they could even reach the inn.

“…….”

He couldn’t help but feel that something was very wrong. Hamel finally grabbed one of the villagers and asked.

“How does everyone know about me?”

“Good heavens, is there anyone in the Empire who doesn’t know the Saint’s name?”

“Even so, everyone’s reaction is a bit……”

As Hamel’s voice trailed off, the villager clapped their hands as if they had realized something.

“Ah! Have you perhaps not heard?”

“……Heard what?”

“The song about Lord Hamel. The one made by the Bremen Musicians who journeyed with you.”

“……?”

“It’s said to be a huge hit in the capital these days. They say there isn’t a bard who doesn’t sing it.”

“……??”

Hamel was dumbfounded. He had thought the Bremen Musicians might become famous. But wasn’t this going too far? To spark this much popularity in less than two months.

“It’s probably because of that. To the people, the Saint is the very hero who appears in the lyrics.”

“……I see.”

Hamel nodded reluctantly, thinking that this journey might be arduous in a completely different way.