In Sanuf

Luna looked upset.

“This! This! You can’t fool my eyes!”

“? I made that.”

“So, you called a woman when no one was around… Huh?”

Why are you so surprised?

How many years have I been living alone?

“I was alone last night. The situation outside isn’t good, so I made something with what I had.”

I can make sandwich sauce better than you, Luna.

“O-oh, I see. Ahaha…”

Luna scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed, and avoided eye contact.

I can guess what she’s imagining.

There was a demon invasion yesterday; wouldn’t the prostitutes be taking a break too?

‘But if it’s Scarl, that’s more likely…’

“I’ll make dinner!”

As expected, the dinner Luna made after running away was terrible.

‘I should have just said I’d do it.’

It’s easier to deal with Luna when no one else is home.

Instead of the usual cramped office, we sit in the spacious lounge and enjoy tea time together.

“The president came today and informed me about your enrollment in the academy. Don’t worry about tuition; they’ll cover everything. Tell me if you don’t want to go.”

“I’ll go. I want to go to the academy too.”

“Alright.”

By the way, should I just fire all the servants while I’m at it…

I change my mind when I see Luna pushing the tray and taking the empty plates and teacups.

I still need someone to do the housework. Especially the cooking.

“Scarl.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Do you have any plans for the vacation?”

Suddenly?

“I’m thinking of calling you and Flare to the mansion and teaching you. Can’t have all the academy students from Bernatore Territory being at the bottom, can we?”

As a hardcore gamer, I can’t tolerate the Heroes I’m raising slacking off—

“Can’t we go on a trip? I… I’ve never been on a trip before.”

‘…This isn’t a game.’

Even though it was just an event, they were all excellent for first-year, first-semester students, just from seeing them fight the Demon King.

And if Luna goes to the academy from the second semester, her skills will improve quickly.

‘…With me around, how could they not clear it?’

“I’ll consider it.”

‘I should tell Kasha to make a list of resorts when she gets back.’

More importantly.

“Change out of those clothes.”

It’s too much.

“Just let me do the dishes!”

In the end, Luna made all sorts of excuses to keep wearing my clothes until I forcibly ordered her to change.

The next day.

Flare came to room 404 in the morning.

She had a softer expression than usual.

“What’s wrong? The first semester of private tutoring is over.”

“Professor Scarl. I heard everything from my sister.”

‘Heard what?’

Flare, sitting in front of me, kept touching the transformation ring on her finger.

‘Good instincts.’

“You came to help back then, right, Professor? It’s a little late, but I came to thank you. Thank you so much.”

Luna must be working really hard behind the scenes to improve our relationship.

‘It’s embarrassing to receive thanks from Flare as Scarl.’

“Alright.”

“There was another senior, though, Professor, that you might not know about.”

This must be about Hati.

Feeling guilty, I cover the ring with my other hand.

“So? I didn’t see any other students.”

Flare looks somewhat disappointed and places the coat she borrowed on the desk.

“I brought the clothes here. Thanks to you, Professor, I was able to avoid showing an embarrassing sight. After that, people came rushing in…”

Luna and Flare were better off than the naked Sophia, but they were still practically half-naked.

They must have been very sensitive at that age…

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

Flare only gives an awkward smile even after I cut her off.

Does this mean my relationship with Flare is getting better?

‘Is it just me, or is this incredibly easier than with Luna… Is it just my imagination?’

It must be all thanks to Luna paving the way.

“Yes. I’ll be going now. Thank you so much, Professor.”

Kasha showed her face the next day.

Apparently, she couldn’t go on vacation because Sophia asked her to help defend the capital from the demon invasion.

‘The Second Princess title is powerful, indeed.’

In the palace, she’s a confined princess with no power, but outside, she’s treated as a member of the royal family.

From what I hear, Kasha seems to have had quite a conversation with Sophia. She’s saying interesting things like this.

‘Supporting Sophia in Aiden’s name to gain a foothold in the palace…’

I remember Sophia trembling in the separate palace at night.

The little girl who couldn’t say a word against the Emperor and obeyed him.

If the world has made her a liar, I think it’s not bad for someone to help make that lie a reality.

‘She’s not that bad of a kid, and if I help her from behind, Sophia might not betray me.’

“Good. Don’t spare any support for Princess Sophia.”

“Thank you for listening to my opinion, Master.”

Then, when I told her to find a resort, Kasha’s eyes sparkled.

“I would like to go with you, Master.”

“Really? Then you choose the travel destination and accommodation. Don’t skimp on the budget and choose the best place.”

“Yes.”

That’s how the travel destination was chosen: the beach Kasha wanted to go to.

The city of the sea, Sanuf.

At first, the group was just me, Luna, and Kasha.

But Luna asked if she could invite her sister, and Flare asked if she could invite Sophia.

‘That’s how Flare and Sophia were added to the travel group.’

In the game, Sophia only finds freedom after graduation as the hero party’s mage…

Kasha told me that she wanted to go, so she asked the palace about it.

‘Is it because of the Hero’s Marriage Partner event that popped up for me? How did the palace approve this?’

The four of them left yesterday morning, and I’m staying in the capital for business.

I barely finish my work past midnight and prepare to leave.

‘What could go wrong? I just need to bring the transformation ring.’

And I don’t mind paying for all the travel expenses…

‘Even if she’s a confined princess, it’s a bit much to not have a single guard.’

Of course, everyone except Kasha is capable of fighting.

‘I still don’t like the Emperor.’

I take a carriage to the train station at night, harboring blasphemous thoughts.

Sanuf, the city I arrived at after a 12-hour train ride from the capital.

‘Traveling alone by train is so boring. I can’t sleep enough, my back hurts, and it’s just dark outside.’

With half-closed eyes, I look for my group in front of Sanuf train station.

I see Luna’s troubled face in the distance.

‘Who are those guys? A random encounter?’

The voices get louder as I get closer.

“Come play with us? It’s really good! It’s amazing!”

“It’s okay.”

Luna stood with her hands up, protecting Flare.

“Please move. We’re busy.”

Kasha stood behind Sophia.

“You all look like commoners… Are you from the capital? My brother will treat you to the full Sanuf course! You’ve never experienced it before, have you?!”

I expected bugs to swarm them if they dressed up like this, since they’re all pretty.

‘Seeing it in person pisses me off.’

Two thugs with tattoos all over their arms, daring to hit on my group.

I grab their shoulders as I approach, smelling the salty scent unique to sea people.

‘These guys don’t look easy either…’

The expression I struggled to practice in the mirror comes out naturally.

“What? Get lost?!”

“Do you want to die? Huh?!”

The thugs’ voices rise and their lips tremble as soon as they see my face.

“Follow me.”

“Yes!”

“We’re sorry! We’ll be going now!”

I grab their shoulders tightly as they try to run away.

I see four lambs in the gap.

They’re looking at me with admiration, so I relax my expression and scoff.

“Wait a moment. I have some business to take care of with these guys. Wait here.”

All four pairs of eyes move up and down at the same time.

“You guys, follow me.”

I grab their shoulders as if to break them and drag them behind the deserted train station.

“H-hyung! It hurts!”

“We’re sorry! We won’t bother the ladies again!”

“Shut up.”

‘I don’t know where these bastards crawled out from.’

People behind the building quickly leave at the menacing sight.

I push the two guys against the wall as if throwing them.

“Who sent you?”

‘If I just knew which bastard it was.’

The guy with the beady eyes can’t even make eye contact and answers.

“W-we did it. The ladies were too pretty…”

“Don’t lie. I heard everything. Tell me straight. Which bastard sent you?”

“N-no, we really did it!”

It’s a truly touching loyalty, whether it’s a hyung or a gangster or whoever.

I approach, thinking they’ll only come to their senses if they get hit.

“S-save me! Hyung!”

“W-we’re sorry! We won’t do it again! Hyung!”

I’m about to swing my fist at the guys kneeling and begging when I see four heads peeking out from the corner.

‘…I told you to stay there.’

What a letdown.

I flick the thugs on the head and kick them away.

“Ouch! My head!”

“I can’t breathe!”

Such drama queens.

“Get lost!”

The two guys get up and run away without looking back.

“Y-yes!”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

Honestly, I want to crush their arms and legs so they can never do that again.

But aren’t four pairs of eyes watching me right now?

I let out a small sigh and approach the four people who are only peeking out their eyes.

“If guys like that come again, deal with them like this.”

“I’m sorry… We were scared.”

I close my mouth at Luna’s words, who stepped up as the representative.

Sophia has probably never had an experience like this, so she must be surprised and frozen, and Kasha doesn’t have any fighting ability.

It’s obvious why Luna and Flare, who are good at catching demons, can’t do anything against guys like that because of someone.

‘I suddenly remember those bastards who were harassing Flare.’

It’s annoying.

It’s all Scarl Bernatore’s original sin.

I awkwardly smack my lips.

“Then, let’s go… Kasha. Lead the way.”

“I have prepared the carriage.”

The accommodation is the best resort in this town.

We rented an entire separate building, so we’re the only ones who can use the facilities here.

The scenery visible from the carriage is the vast sea, the hot sun, and the sound of waves and seagulls…

As the wheels of the carriage roll faster and faster, the quiet four people regain their vitality like the scenery outside the window.

‘I’m glad it didn’t leave them traumatized.’

Sanuf.

It’s the perfect town to enjoy a vacation.