episode_0151

A platform rose from where the toad died.

Ian saw that and tried to put Lucia down.

“Ahh, I hate it, I hate it. My legs hurt. Oh, it’s hard. If you go down, you will definitely fall.”

“Ugh. Are you a kid?”

“Mite?”

“I’ll throw you onto the platform, so prepare for the landing.”

“I won’t.”

While the two were joking, Dora Party and the Fruit Warriors looked at each other.

Whose contribution was objectively greater?

It was difficult to discern easily.

Dora Party thought this.

‘They were the ones who decisively defeated the giant toads as well as the Frogmen who gathered around them. They are better than us… .’

The fruit warriors thought this way.

‘I’m sure it would have been quite difficult if they hadn’t led us. In that respect, those people… .’

Vivian and Dora’s eyes met awkwardly as they were about to give in to each other.

“Ah, uh… . Would you like to go up first?”

“No. I think the juniors are right.”

Dora shook her head.

“And, if we don’t move up first, we’ll be embarrassed as seniors, right? Juniors are relatively less embarrassed.”

“Umm… !”

That made sense.

“Well, then… . Excuse me… .”

“Don’t pay attention! The cutie has done enough!”

Katarina, who had already grown to like Vivian, shouted energetically.

Vivian blushed, but carefully stepped up the stairs.

If she is not the right person, an intangible force will bounce her off.

While everyone is watching with bated breath.

Again, do it. Vivian’s feet touched the stairs.

“Huh… !”

The dungeon acknowledged this.

When Vivian looked back, Dora Party did not look disappointed at all.

They acknowledged it by clapping, waving, or nodding their heads.

Ian said as he dropped Lucia off.

“The mites have to go too, right?”

“Mite?”

“… … .”

“Sorry. I really won’t do it. … No, Ian said it was a mite first, this time!”

“… ah. That’s right.”

Lucia grumbled but smiled as she approached the podium.

Together with Helena, the three fruits climbed towards the magic stone.

Ian found the Dora party, which was pure joy, very new.

‘They are much better people than the rumors say.’

Dora, Dylan, Marco, Katarina.

I decided to remember those four names.

‘… But where have you seen it before? It’s a strangely familiar name.’

Today, Lucia came down as a representative, holding a magic stone.

The magic stone found in the A-class dungeon was red.

“Congratulations on becoming a Class A hero, juniors.”

Dora greeted them with applause as they came down.

Class A warrior.

At those words, the expressions of the three fruits became confused.

It was not a level that could be reached in just a few months after becoming a warrior.

Their eyes soon returned to Ian, who shrugged his shoulders and said:

“Congratulations on becoming one of the 100 or so Class A warriors in the Empire.”

Only then did the fruits recognize the reality and smiled.

*

After leaving the dungeon, Ian and Dora’s party joined other B-class parties.

They heard from the elf that the dungeon attack had already progressed to a great extent outside.

Even just hearing the story, they acknowledged that it was beyond their ability to handle, and focused on clearing out the remnants of Frockman remaining in the city.

Thanks to this, the two parties who finished conquering the dungeon were able to return to the refugee camp right away.

Although the warriors were tired, they talked amicably.

By the time I could see the refugee camp in the distance.

“Wow-!”

We hadn’t even arrived yet, but we heard cheers.

There were even people running towards the returning warriors.

Ian stepped forward and stopped them.

“Everyone, please stop running. If you fall, casualties may occur.”

His voice was very serious.

“Now, I know you’re happy, but please calm down a little.”

Thanks to Dora coming forward and organizing the situation, people became calm.

The warriors walked proudly among the people divided on the left and right.

People were full of praise and cheers.

“Hehe… . Thank you… .”

Vivian continued to nod and express her gratitude, and Lucia waved lightly.

Suddenly, Helena stopped.

She found a girl who came out to look even though she was injured.

“Yo, warrior… !”

Helena crouched down in front of the girl and the girl was startled.

Helena silently healed the girl’s injured forearm.

“Thank you… . Black… !”

The girl burst into tears, and the crowd applauded her.

Cautiously, Helena looked at Ian.

Ian, who read his thoughts from the gaze he met, chuckled.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Even though it is difficult, I think it is something that must be done. But if Ian doesn’t allow it… .”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Huh… ! Thank you!”

“The warrior’s duty is important, but Helena’s safety is also very important to me.”

“… … .”

Helena, who was excited to help the injured person, blushed.

The heat rose so quickly that it was even hot.

“Well, then, go to the place where the injured people are!”

To hide it, Helena moved quickly.

Marco and the other B-class party priests also decided to follow Helena and help the injured.

The remaining warriors went around among the refugees, announcing their victory and receiving greetings.

With that alone, the entire refugee camp began to come to life.

Warrior.

The times needed heroes, and they willingly responded to that need.

Someone slowly approached Ian as he walked behind Vivian and Lucia.

“Hello. Ian. This is Ivanov, the mayor of Veneto.”

“This is Guard Captain, Gaston.”

After politely introducing themselves, they walked and spoke at Ian’s pace.

“We are deeply grateful that we were able to recapture Veneto at an early date thanks to the noble performance and dedication of our warriors. Therefore, I would like to provide a place for the warriors, even if it is a small amount.”

“Seat?”

“Yes. After the city is rebuilt, we would like to invite the warriors and treat them to a treat. It’s like holding a small festival to celebrate the recapture.”

It’s not a bad suggestion.

As difficult as this battle was, it will provide comfort to the warriors.

Although Veneto is small, it is not a city that lacks money.

So, even if the festival is small, it will be meaningful.

“I will ask the parties involved.”

There was nothing to ask.

The Fruit Warriors nodded vigorously before the questions were finished.

In particular, Helena’s agreement was the strongest.

It seems that he was regretting not being able to participate in the banquet held in Fiorene.

Ian expressed his intention to attend and asked one question.

“Are you attending other parties as well?”

I asked purely out of curiosity.

Mayor Ivanov shook his head.

The reason is.

The B-class party was rejected because they judged their contribution to be too insufficient.

Dora’s party declined, saying it was a place where Ian’s fruits should stand out.

In the end, only the fruit party was allowed to attend the small festival in Veneto as the honored guests.

*

“Cute.”

Ruby said.

Vivian, Lucia, and Mercy, who were standing together, also smiled cutely as they looked at the target among them.

On the other hand, Helena with orange hair in the middle grinned.

“You can’t be cute!”

She stamped her feet and spoke passionately.

“This is my first time going to a festival and this is my first dress! It’s not supposed to be cute! I’m coming of age soon too!”

There was a reason why Helena went on a rampage.

Vivian and Lucia wore dresses that fully revealed their elegant, alluring, and adult charm.

On the other hand, the dress Helena wore was a little different.

The dress that extended to the knees was light, and the ample sleeves and ribbons and frills here and there were extremely cute.

The dress color was orange, similar to her hair color, and she even wore a green headband.

Now, no matter who sees it, it is clearly an orange itself.

‘You created a human orange.’

That’s what Ian commented.

“No, no. This look suits Helena perfectly right now.”

“This, this… . Isn’t it too childlike…? !”

“It’s a child, right?”

Lucia giggled, and Helena clenched her fists.

“What does Ian think?”

Ruby turned her question to Ian.

Helena’s head tilted back towards him.

“Yes? Ah, well… .”

Ian reflexively checked Helena’s appearance from head to toe.

Although it wasn’t the look Helena wanted, it definitely suited her well.

It’s hard to imagine her dressed up as elegantly as strawberries and grapes.

I could trust Ruby’s aesthetic sense without having to think too long.

“You suit me well.”

“You heard that, right?”

Ruby asked again, patting Helena on the shoulder.

Helena looked at the mirror again with her lips pursed.

He had a rather funny expression as he had to hold back the corners of his mouth that kept turning up.

still… .

‘It seems like they fit well… .’

Helena nodded.

“I like it too!”

Mercy trembled as she looked at Helena, who raised her shoulders and looked satisfied.

“I also wear a dress… !”

On the other hand, Kati looked down at Helena, Ian, and her maid uniform with calm eyes.

Mercy picked it for me as a joke, but it wasn’t bad.

It suited Ian and his relationship very well.

However, these days, I have been craving a different outfit.

However, Kati had no reason to wear a dress like other warriors.

Just promised for later.

Anyway, what Katy wants is not a banquet dress.

*

Ian and the city coordinated their schedule to hold the festival relatively early.

The purpose was to brighten the gloomy atmosphere of the semi-collapsed city.

Although it was not completely restored, it was possible because it was sufficient to provide hospitality to the warriors.

The area around the main street was crowded with residents who had gathered for today.

The drum beat loudly above the noise of the crowd.

-Dung, Dung, Dung, Dung.

With the sound of drums, a ceremonial carriage entered through the central street.

“Waaagh-!”

The cheers that erupted as the carriage appeared drowned out the sound of the drums.

Pollen fell from the sky.

A seat that looks down on the crowd from a high position.

The person sitting in the first ceremonial carriage was Vivian.

Wearing the green dress she had tailored last time, she shrugged her shoulders in shame and looked around cautiously.

“I’m a warrior-!”

“Vivian! Vivian! Vivian!”

Occasionally, when she made eye contact with the person yelling, all she could do was smile awkwardly and wave.

That alone was enough to hit the heart of the person who responded.

It was Helena who sat in the second carriage.

“Helenaaa-!”

“Thank you! Helena, let the light guide your path!”

Although Helena was shy, she tried to respond in any way, such as waving her hand or bowing.

The combination of her foolish appearance and her girlish dress made people smile happily.

“LuciaAhh-!”

“Lucia unnie-!”

“Noonaaa-!”

Lucia was sitting in the third ceremonial carriage that came in.

She sat leisurely with her legs crossed and waved lazily to people.

He even showed fan service by occasionally catching falling flower petals and blowing them on people.

And, behind the third carriage, a neat and ordinary carriage followed.

It was a shabby carriage, one that might be used by a warrior’s entourage.

Ian was there.

“Ian? Why are you looking at me like that?

Mercy and Kati were also there.

“Monitor whether anyone swears or throws stones.”

“Oh my gosh. You seem to be worrying about everything. What kind of crazy person would do that? Isn’t that none other than your hero?”

“There are all kinds of people in the world.”

I couldn’t help it because it actually happened to me.

Something came up on Ian’s thigh as he stared out the window.

It was Mercy’s leg sitting in front of her.

“Don’t do that, just look here too.”

“… What are you talking about? What should I do when I see you?”

“Don’t they say that just looking at pretty things is fun?”

“… … .”

Mercy grinned and made a calyx on her chin.

Ian glanced at her and clicked his tongue.

“What is that reaction! Rude! It’s unpleasant!”

“… … .”

And then, one more pair of legs came up.

It was Katy who was silent next to her.

Kati’s legs rested on Ian’s thighs, with her toes tucked under Mercy’s ankles.

“This guy… !”

Mercy again tried to take the position under the bridge like Carty.

A fierce leg fight broke out between the two.

“It’s so cramped, what are you two doing? Stay still.”

“ cannot be done. It would be better to come to an agreement to post them one by one.”

Kati nodded reluctantly.

“Put them both away.”

Ian refused.

*

The ceremonial carriage crossed the main street and arrived at the central square.

There was a stage specially prepared for this day in the square.

The three warriors got off the carriage and went up to the stage and sat down in the prepared seats.

The fruits saw the crowd cheering and raising their hands.

Among them were four members of Dora’s party.

They participated today secretly, as spectators, to celebrate the fruits.

Dora made eye contact with Vivian and winked.

Soon Helena and Lucia also spotted them and smiled.

Afterwards, Mayor Ivanov personally came up to the stage and introduced the warriors.

What have they done so far and how did they save Veneto?

“… So, I promise you this in the name of Mayor Ivanov. Veneto will welcome and help the three warriors, Vivian, Helena, and Lucia, at any time.”

After a round of applause, the mayor took a few steps back from the center of the stage.

And then a young man in charge of hosting the proceedings came forward.

Wearing brightly colored clothes, he looked pleasant to look at.

He proceeded with a booming voice.

“Now! In fact, that’s not the only reason today is special! This is because Hero Helena, who is here, has come of age today!”

Helena was startled.

It was true that today was his birthday.

But how did you know?

Helena never told anyone that.

Even to Ian.

“I heard that the city of Veneto has prepared a small gift for Helena, who has come of age, hoping that her path ahead will be filled with warm light and happiness!”

Something was going on independently of Helena’s questions.

Vivian and Lucia also opened their eyes wide as if they didn’t know.

Next, a servant dressed in a suit came up to the stage, pulling a serving cart.

A large silver tray with a lid was placed on top of the cart.

When the worker carefully opened it, what was inside was a cake.

On top of the pure white whipped cream cake, orange flesh resembling the color of Helena’s hair was placed as a decoration.

It was a fruit cake.

And next to it, there was wine that was said to be consumed at Seonghwagyo when one becomes an adult.

“We hope everyone will applaud and support Helena’s future!”

Leaving behind the pouring applause, the mayor approached and cut the cake himself.

Helena asked him.

“How did you know?”

“Ian said this.”

Helena realized right away.

If he had opened the personal information of MacDerlin Abbey, he might have known this.

Helena’s gaze returned to the edge of the stage.

Ian was there.

He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and his eyes were indifferent yet sharp as he watched the audience below the stage.

He always looks somewhere else.

Think broadly beyond the situation.

Even now, they are keeping watch to see if anyone acts unexpectedly among the crowd.

So that their warriors can be celebrated in the best environment.

Where no one was watching, he always did his best at his work.

Helena could now know him.

I looked deeply at him, and suddenly my throat felt hot.

I bit my lip tightly because I felt tears welling up.

It’s a nice place on a nice day.

I shouldn’t have cried.

Ian, who was looking offstage, glanced towards Helena.

When our eyes met, he smiled and raised his eyebrows.

Helena’s heart beat rapidly at the composure and slyness that said nothing.

“Congratulations. Helena.”

The mayor who cut the cake said with a soft smile.

“Thank you… .”

Helena ate the cake carefully, hiding her trembling voice.

Sweet and soft.

It was delicious.

It can’t be compared to any food I’ve ever eaten in my life.

“I hope everyone congratulates Helena with applause!”

The cake was also shared with Vivian and Lucia to eat together.

Helena decided to receive the remaining cake separately, and the worker went downstairs again pulling the cart.

“Now, and!”

The host said with a bright smile.

“This event cannot be missed in Veneto culture!”

The crowd shouted in agreement.

On the other hand, the fruits were confused.

“This is the custom in this culture. On the day you become an adult, you are entitled to a kiss on the back of your hand from someone you like!”

“… !”

“The target that has been pointed out cannot refuse!”

Helena’s eyes brightened.

“Helena. Who would you nominate?”

Crowd below the stage.

Regardless of whether they were men or women, they jumped up and down, raising their hands and saying they wanted to do it.

Helena’s eyes swept over them, but her consciousness was somewhere else entirely.

“Well, I… .”

When Helena finally tried to open her mouth, it became quiet, as if it had never been so noisy.

“Ian… I will nominate… .”

Everyone except Helena, who looks at the floor out of embarrassment.

The eyes of everyone present moved to one corner of the stage.

As numerous people turned to look at him at once, Ian was visibly embarrassed.

“… What is it?”

He belatedly remembered the conversation that had just taken place on stage.

A kiss on the back of the hand.

Nominate.

Ian.

“… … .”

Ian looked at the stage.

Vivien and Lucia look at themselves with sharp eyes.

And in the middle of them all, there was Helena, with her head down, red even to her ears.

The looks that Mercy and Katy gave each other from behind were cold.