21 Epilogue: Let me tell you a little story.

??: "Hans…"

H: "Hn…"

What…?

Something feels heavy…

??: "Haaans…"

And somehow, I hear someone calling my name. But it feels so nice to the ear, like a sweet melodic lullaby. I don't want to wake up…

??: "Haaaaans…"

But that 'something' keeps shaking my body. The weight is one thing, but I feel I two small hands on top of my chest that keeps pushing me to the ground. Am I still dreaming? I feel like I'm already awake though…

H: "Hn…?"

I tried to slowly open my eyes and peer through my heavy eyelids.

H: "Tia?"

T: "Really… Hans is hard to wake up."

H: "My bad… I was a bit exhausted yesterday. *yawn* What's up? Can't sleep?"

T: "…"

She didn't respond to my question as she hanged her head while sitting on top of me.

T: "That is… not it."

H: "Hm? Toilet?"

T: "D-Don't treat me like a kid! I… I can already go by m-myself! I think…"

She's still scared, huh.

I stood up from my mattress so I made Tia sit beside me. Based from the position of the moons, it's still middle of the night. The bright moonlight peeks through the window, illuminating the corners of the living room. We both lean on the wall while seated, as I wait for Tia to speak.

T: "…"

Hm. It seems like it's something hard for her to tell me. Alright…

H: "Tia. Let me tell you a little story."

T: "Hm…?"

Seems bewildered by my sudden words, Tia looked at me as if a question mark floats above her head.

H: "You see… There was once a boy who lives peacefully, together with his mother and father. He always had fun every day. Reading books, playing games, eating dinner, and being loved by his parents was his everyday life."

T: "Is he your friend?"

H: "Nope."

T: "Hmm…"

I continued the story as she hugged her knees while burying her face in it.

H: "But one day, his father was called by someone. His father said, 'Son, I have to go and protect our country. Just remember that I am doing this for you and your mother.' The boy was smart. He had already read several books and because of those, he already gained the knowledge which far surpasses that of a child. Just from those simple words, he already understood what his father meant. He was going to war."

T: "Ehh? Is the father okay after the war??"

H: "Well… That is, the war didn't end. And the father didn't come back at all."

T: "Ehh…"

H: "The boy grew up with his loving mother. The boy thought that if he has his mother by his side, everything will be all right. But… It was not the same for his mother. His mother missed his father so much and forced herself to work. Maybe, trying to forget the loss of his husband. And because of that… The boy's mother got ill and passed away soon after that."

T: "…!!"

H: "When her mother was on her deathbed, he told the boy, 'I am sorry, dear. This is something inevitable. Getting separated with your father was the last string to be cut off.' Even though the boy was smart, this time, he didn't understand the words of her mother. He was only left with a small crystal pendant. Her mother died shortly after giving it to him."

T: "Now he lost his mother…"

H: "The boy became alone. He had no one by his side anymore. But one day, a letter from his father was sent to him, brought by unknown strangers. He was brought into a strange place with only white walls and some unknown machines. After some time, he was trained to fight their enemies even though he was still a child. Then years passed, the boy became a grown man."

Pausing for a while, I feel Tia leaning on me. Is she getting sleepy now?

T: "What happened to him…?"

H: "Hmm… He became a soldier himself. Fighting at an early age."

T: "… I see."

H: "Then he became a commander of a squad. A secret military squad to be used for secret missions."

T: "…"

I don't know if Tia still understands what I'm saying, but I continue to tell the story nevertheless.

H: "But one day, during a mission. One of his subordinates rushed towards the enemy. So to save her, he had to fight all the enemies by himself. In the end… He perished."

T: "It's a tragic story…"

H: "If you think about it, yeah. Kind of."

T: "It is. He lost his father, then his mother, then he had to fight enemies even though he was still just a young boy. Then in the end, he even died…"

H: "But he died saving someone. Isn't that a great ending for him?"

T: "I think so too… But… It's just sad for the boy…"

I couldn't help but smile by Tia's innocent remark. Tia can be quite mature, well, of course she would be because of her age. She's already 20. But that being so… I heard from her that she was raised as a proper princess and I think because of that, she haven't had the time of her life.

H: "But it's not that bad after he died, you know?"

T: "Eh? What do you mean?"

H: "He was revived to another world."

T: "Ehh??? Really?? What happened then?"

Tia abruptly stood up from her place because of her surprise. Perhaps, because of the term 'another world', which caught her attention. Even though it's not something impossible, being summoned from another world or to another world is still something that happens, though quite rare and legendary. So just by hearing it, people would usually get interested. Or at least, that's what I've heard from other adventurers.

H: "Do you want to know?"

T: "I do, I dooo!"

Tia jumped from left to right with each foot, placing her clutch fists on top of her chest. Her eyes brimmed with excitement as she waited for me to continue the story.

H: "He saved a head chef and a little girl from a dangerous man, fought a huge wolf, and formed a contract with a cute Faunalian."

I said so with a smile.

T: "… Eh?"

Tia stopped from jumping and looked at me with a surprised expression.

H: "Tia?"

T: "EHH????"

H: "Tia. You're being loud. You will wake up Ceres and Anya."

T: "Mmp!"

She then hurriedly covered her mouth as she resumed her jumping from a while ago. Then while hushing her voice into a whisper…

T: "Then! Then! You are that boy…??"

H: "Yep. I told you that I will tell you my secret too, right?"

T: "*nod *nod*"

H: "Well? Think you could sleep now?"

T: "How could I after hearing that! Tell me more about it!!"

H: "Haha. Some other day. You have to sleep for now."

T: "Eehh…"

Tia puffed her cheeks in protest. Darn, I want to poke those.

T: "But… Hans. Before I sleep then."

H: "Hm?"

Tia changed her tone into a serious one so I listen to her intently.

T: "I want… I want to thank you!"

H: "For what?"

I already know what she is talking about. But to help her with what she wanted to say, I intendedly acted like I don't know what she's talking about.

T: "For being my contract partner…"

H: "I see."

T: "I also feel like I forced you to form it with me. And I feel bad about the things I placed on your shoulder because of it…"

H: "I don't mind."

T: "But…"

Tia gripped the hem of her shirt, perhaps due to her surging emotions. So I pat her head as a comfort and reassurance.

H: "You told me not to think about it, right? Isn't it weird if you're the one minding it after saying that?"

T: "That is…"

H: "Tia."

T: "…?"

I looked straight at her now teary eyes.

H: "I've already told you before we formed the contract. I saved you because I want to. I helped you because I want to. I didn't think about what will happen or what will not. At that moment, I just wanted to save you, that's all."

T: "Hans…"

H: "And that's what I feel even now. If you're crying, I will make you smile. If you want to be spoiled, I will spoil you rotten. If you want your head to be pat, just tell me and I will do so."

Saying that, I once again reached for her head for a pat.

H: "If Tia needs help, I will come running."

T: "…!"

H: "Of course, it's not just me. Anya and of course, Ceres. They both want to help you and be there for you. That's why, you don't have to mind it. A princess should just puff her chest out and be proud all the time."

T: "I see… Okay…! I will do that then!"

H: "Good. That's the spirit."

T: "… Ehehe… Hans. Really… Thank you."

H: "Do you think you can sleep now?"

T: "Mm! Thank you. That is why… Hans."

H: "Hm?"

Without any warning, Tia closed her distance to mine and…

T: "*kiss*"

H: "…"

T: "Ehehe…~ Good night!"

After bidding me her good night, she ran towards the bedroom's direction pitter-pattering while holding her cheeks. And after seeing her silhouette off, I ran my finger to the spot where she landed her kiss.

H: "Is kissing on the cheeks a sign of gratitude in this world…?"

Recalling the sensation of her lips on my cheeks, I lie down on my mattress with a lighthearted mood. Bathe with the moonlight, I close my eyes, looking forward to what will happen from here onwards.

…

..

.

Epilogue End