“…I liked the crab sandwich, Licht.”
“And Mardol’s bear-shaped sandwich was so cute! You’d like it too, Helmet Guy!”
The hero couple joined in as I stared at the Glass Knight with a peculiar expression. I just wanted them to hurry up and get lovey-dovey.
“How about a chocolate crepe, Kainel? Didn’t you like that?”
“Huh? Helmet Guy? No, I don’t like that, right?”
“Ariel..! No, you know I hate sweet things!”
Kainel vehemently shook his head in denial, which made Ariel smile knowingly. As expected of the perceptive red-haired feline.
“…Hehe, our Kai is still a picky eater like a little kid, huh?”
“What? Ariel? What are you saying…?”
“Oh, nothing. I’ve just known you for such a long time, Kai~!”
“…”
She expressed her feelings indirectly, looping them around, unable to be honest.
‘Tsunderes don’t always resort to violence or shouting, after all.’
I gave her a small nod to signal that she was doing well. It seemed Kainel’s near-death experience had brought about a big change in her. Her approach was much more refined now.
“I… I can eat some, Ariel.”
The blonde hero’s timid voice trailed off, causing the corners of her mouth to curl into a delighted smile. That was her way of saying she found him adorable.
“Then Kai, should we… uh, I don’t want to eat it with you or anything!”
I noticed the tiny inscription next to the chocolate crepe on the menu. Kainel lowered his head, staring intently at the table.
‘Couple’s Set. Classic.’
She’d clearly planned this from the start. What an innocent pair. Inside my helmet, I couldn’t help but smile. No, I shouldn’t laugh. I had to hold it in.
“Is the crab sandwich good too, Kai?”
“Uh… Want a bite, Ariel?”
“W-what..! Ah, uh, sure, if you’re offering…”
Kainel, oblivious to her embarrassment, handed her the sandwich he’d been eating.
“It’s good, Kai!”
Nibbling on it like a squirrel, Ariel mumbled her approval. Her red hair seemed to grow rosier as she blushed, a shy smile gracing her lips. Kainel, relieved that she liked it, watched her with a soft expression.
‘Looks like I need to give them some space.’
Kainel needed to be Ariel’s alone. Watching him learn to love what he once disliked—if that wasn’t love, what was?
There was no room for me to butt in.
“Mardol, could you step outside with me for a moment?”
Since I was making myself scarce, I might as well drag the Crown Prince with me. I had something to give him.
“Licht, what is it?”
“…It’s just something I need to do.”
It had been over a month, and I’d been so caught up that I’d forgotten about the item. The Glass Knight followed me out of the bakery into a quiet alley not far from the hero couple.
“Here, Queen of Hearts.”
“…What?”
After checking that no one was around, I handed Mardol a card. A playing card featuring a striking queen adorned with a heart symbol.
The hostage taken by the Demon Lord of Truth needed to be returned to her family.
“…This, could it be?”
“Yes, I recovered it from Magic Hat. Empress Bellin Gransia is here, isn’t she?”
Mardol’s trembling hands carefully took the card, his gaze fixed on it as if it held the world.
“I’ve been holding onto this for over a month. I completely forgot in all the chaos.”
There hadn’t been an opportunity to hand it over until now. The moment I escaped his bear hug, Kainel had been spinning me around like a roasted chicken.
“…I’m sorry it took so long.”
Excuses wouldn’t help. I’d originally planned to return it after resolving Magic Hat’s powers, but keeping it any longer made me uneasy.
“Mardol?”
Having confessed my mistake, I waited for his reaction. But he didn’t move. He just stood there, clutching the card like it was a treasure. Concerned, I stepped closer.
A faint voice broke the silence.
“Th-thank you, Licht… Truly… I’m so… weak…”
His hands shook incessantly, and his golden eyes under the helmet lost focus. He was crying. His muffled voice carried the weight of sorrow.
“…It’s okay, Mardol. This wasn’t your fault.”
“But I couldn’t save her… Licht, you did…”
As I patted his armored back, I offered him comfort. I hadn’t expected this level of reaction.
‘I miss my parents today too.’
Mardol had slumped onto the ground, sharing his grief. I sat beside him, uncaring that we lacked proper seats.
“Don’t say you didn’t save her. If you hadn’t stalled Magic Hat, I wouldn’t have been able to do it either.”
“…You’re not lying, are you?”
It wasn’t a lie. Mardol had bought me time by keeping Magic Hat occupied, allowing me to use Vacuum Slash to create an opening.
“You know how bad I am at lying.”
With his help, I’d saved Kainel and Ariel and completed the Demon Lord transformation. If the hero couple had faced Magic Hat alone, they’d have died.
‘He kept fighting to the end. He could’ve run, but he didn’t.’
Even with top-tier gear, facing a Demon Lord required immense courage. If Mardol hadn’t risked his life to resist, I wouldn’t have found Empress Bellin Gransia.
“Thank you for fighting till the end.”
“Even the weak can protect something precious.”
“Yes, exactly. So hold your head up—Mardol?!”
Suddenly, a heavy shadow fell over me.
“…I’m sorry… for leaving you to fight alone.”
Mardol collapsed toward me, pulling me into a hug.
“I was scared, Licht… terrified of losing someone again…”
His armor weighed heavily on me, but unlike before, he wasn’t squeezing me. He simply clung to me, sobbing.
“It’s okay now.”
I continued to pat his back. People might think it strange to see two men like this, but this was no time for appearances.
‘He must’ve gone through so much.’
I sighed internally. At least he wasn’t crushing me out of frustration but leaning on me for support.
“Everyone feels fear, Mardol.”
I’d run away from the Saintess out of fear myself. In that sense, we weren’t so different. Understanding his feelings, I reassured him.
“Everything is fine now. You’ve even gotten your mother back, haven’t you?”
“…Thank you, Licht.”
I stayed with him, comforting him until the hero couple finished their meal. Whether or not this raised flags, I couldn’t leave someone in such despair.