Afterwards, I couldn''t explain everything, but I told everyone that me, Viviana, and Deputy Commander Liberto were going to be away from here for a week or so on a mission.
Tina also asked me what the mission was, but as expected, I didn''t tell her that.
Tina seemed unhappy, but she didn''t ask any more questions.
Then we finished dinner and went back to our room with Elena.
''''Haha, I was really scared earlier...''''
''Haha, Tina, you feel like you can''t see the world around you when it comes to Eric.
Elena-san also says that with a bit of a bitter smile.
Well, I think it''s Viviana-san''s fault for saying something that made me misunderstand this time.
I wish that person would be a little more firm.
''''Was it two days later in the morning? We''re leaving.
''Yes, I am. So I''m just trying to make sure I''m ready for tomorrow.
''It''s tough being away from here for a week on a mission. Good luck.
Thank you.
Oh, Elena is really healing these days.
I wonder if this is what it''s like to be a husband who works alone.
Whoa, relax. I have a woman I love named Irene. And Elena is a man.
I''ll turn off the light. Good night, Eric.
Yes, good night.
Before the lights went out, I fell asleep to Elena''s gently smiling face as she crawled into the bed next to me.
And then - two days later in the morning.
I was up earlier than usual.
I got out of bed and immediately got ready to leave.
Most of it was done yesterday, so I just had to check and get ready.
I looked next to her and saw that Elena was still asleep.
For the past month, I''ve always been an early riser because I''ve had a lot of morning drills and such, but I''ve never woken up earlier than Elena-san.
When I woke up, I was already after getting out of the bath, or just finishing getting ready for the day.
So I see Elena''s sleeping face for the first time.
Her face is innocent and she is sleeping very peacefully.
Her mouth was half open and she was slightly drooling.
I''ve never seen her face so defenseless before, so I can''t help but smile.
Let''s wipe the drool off, so I can stroke that soft looking hair for a bit.
Thinking that, I approached Elena-san and tried to reach out to her.
''''Hmm ... good morning, Eric.''''
Oh, oh, good morning.
But the moment I stood next to the bed, Elena''s eyes fluttered open.
I was startled, I thought she was sleeping well.
''Excuse me, did I wake you up?''
No, I''m fine. I''m always up around this time.
He wakes up with a movement so hypervigilant that it''s hard to believe he''s waking up in his sleep, and stretches, "Hmmm.......
''''Eric''s early, too. Oh, I see, you''re on a mission today.
Yes, I do.
Good luck. Don''t get hurt.
Thank you.
When Elena smiles and says that to me, I feel very motivated.
I''ve got to do it right.
Then I''m off.
Yeah, have a good day.
We left the room with our bags. Elena smiled and waved at me until the end.
The carriage is already parked a short walk away from the dormitory.
I''m going to travel in that carriage for a week or so.
When I get there, there are already a few people around the carriage.
"Hey, Eric. It''s a beautiful morning.
''Oh, Christo. Very nice morning.
Christo and I exchange words and clasp our fists together.
It''s our way of saying hello, the way we''ve been doing it since a previous life.
In this life as well, Christo says he''s going to do it.
The reason for this is that he''s been wanting to do it when he has a friend.
You ain''t a friend if you hear this and don''t do it.
"Good morning, Eric. Did you sleep well?
Yes, Mr. Yelle. Good night.
It seems that Yelle-san has come to see us off as well.
Next to him is Liberto-san, the deputy leader of the group and the leader of this time.
"Hey Eric. You look good this morning.
Does Mr. Liberto have a hangover?
I don''t think so. I know it''s an important mission, so I made sure I didn''t leave it for the next day.
So you''re saying you drank the day before an important mission. That''s the same as always.
Next to Christo was the maid, Alisa, next to him.
She''s trying not to show her face, but she''s looking at Christo with great concern.
''''Good morning, Alisa-san.''''
'' Good morning, Mr. Eric.
He seemed surprised to be spoken to out of the blue, but he quickly recovered and bowed neatly.
''''I don''t need a surname.
No, if you''re a friend of Master Christopher''s, that''s not possible.
Master Christopher, huh?
I already know that he''s in the shadows, or rather, he calls me by my nickname when I''m alone with Christo.
''Are you worried about Christo?''
Yes, especially this time.
This time we are going to the Kingdom of Harzion, the land of the demon race.
The demon race is belligerent, and although the Kingdom of Harzion is not such a country, it''s in a very unstable state right now.
It''s natural to be worried.
''''I promise, Alisa-san,''''
What can I do for you?
I will protect Christo. I promise to bring you back home safely and without a scratch.
'' .... nice to meet you, Mr. Eric.
Alisa bows deeply to me again.
''Yes, I''ll take care of it.''
''Please be safe, Eric-sama, too. You are Christo''s only friend, so please protect yourself as well.
I understand.
I was a bit amused because I didn''t expect him to say anything about me either, but I knew he was a kind person.
I could see why Christo would fall for him.
I thought we were about to leave, but one more person hadn''t come. It''s Viviana.
It''s already just in time, but perhaps you overslept?
It''s possible, he''s going to do it.
"Here you go!
Just as I was thinking, I heard a loud voice in the distance.
I look over and see Viviana coming towards me with a wave of her hand, and Tina next to me with a large package.
Hmm? Why is Tina here too?
Viviana, it''s a little late.
I''m sorry. I just took a while to get ready.
''Well, and why is Tina here too?''
Mr. Yelle asked Viviana a question.
''Well, I always get up early to make breakfast, but today I knew Viviana had to get up too, so I woke her up with me. So we were getting ready together.
''I went to bed early yesterday to get up early, but I went to bed too early and forgot to get ready for today!
Viviana, seriously.
I''m not sure I''m going to like it.
Well, you''re the deputy head of the Magic Order, so you must have some ability.
''''What I want to ask is how did Tina-san also know about this top secret mission?
Ah, yes. I didn''t tell Mr. Yelle that I told Tina and the others about the mission.
"Mr. Yelle, I''ll explain it to you.
Eric?
It would be quicker for me to tell them than for Ms. Viviana to explain.
I told her that I had to explain the mission to Tina and the others the night before last because of Bibiana-san''s gaffe.
When I heard the explanation, Yele-san gave a small sigh and glared at Bibiana-san a bit.
''Get a grip, Viviana-san. I''d really like to leave the sermon to Anne, but it''s time to go, so I''ll do it when I get back.''''
"Uh huh, I see...
Viviana sticks out her tongue and looks disgusted and depressed in an understandable way.
No, I think she just deserved it.
''Eric, who knows about the mission?''
This is Tina, Yulina, and Elena.
Are you sure it''s just the three of them?
Yes, sir.
''Okay, I think those three can handle it, but I''ll tell them to keep it to themselves later.
Excuse me, please.
Finally, we are ready to leave.
Christo gets in the carriage first.
By the end, Alisa was staring at him with anxious eyes.
''Eric! Viviana! Come back safely!
Yeah, thanks, man.
Take care of yourself, Tina!
Tina smiles off at me.
''Eric you, Viviana, Liberto. Good luck for the next week. I know it''s a dangerous country, so make sure you don''t get hurt.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Me and Viviana respond to Yelle''s words, but Mr. Liberto grins and doesn''t respond.
''''Oh, come on, Yelle. Don''t dress it up with such pretty words, say it right.
''I didn''t mean to, sir.
I prefer Yelle''s tone of voice.
What are they saying?
I don''t know, but Yelle sighed - and stared at us.
I felt myself tighten up all at once as he stared at me.
''You guys,''
It''s not Yelle''s usual gentle voice that speaks in a gentle way, but a low voice that resonates deep in my chest.
''That''s an order--don''t die, get out alive.
''Ha! Roger that!
Liberto-san happily replies to Yelle-san''s words.
I was astonished as well, but I think those words stung my heart very strongly.
''''Yes, I understand!
Yes, sir!
Me and Viviana-san also reply strongly.
And so we left the Kingdom of Begonia and set off on our journey to the Kingdom of Harzion.