Reunion With the Poster Girl

And so, we departed from Lastall, passed by Berqua, Afraal, and

Algren before finally arriving at the martial arts city Leolinea to

upgrade the Magic Blade Sword Hinokaguzuchi.

It need not be mentioned but, this was the place where I met Arca for

the first time and fought a fierce battle with her.

At that time, we were completely hostile to each other because we

were representing opposing shops, but now she had become my first

wife who claimed the position of the legal wife; you sure never knew

what life had in store for you.

"Okay, now that we're done checking into the inn, I'll go get this guy

checked, so everyone, you all can go spend the time however you

like," I told the girls, before starting to walk toward the Rafla Arm

Shop where Leia-san and Fio-chan were.

"""""..."""""

――Crwd crwd.

"..."

Yup, everyone's clearly following me.

"U-umm, everyone…?" I looked back at them and tilted my head.

"No, I just happen to have something to do at that arm shop, you

know?"

"Yes, so do I."

"Ou, me too."

"True. I have something to do there as well."

"Mm, I do too."

"..."

I see…

If they all had something to do there, it couldn't be helped, then.

Wait, there was no way that's true!?

◇ ◇

In any case, since they wanted to come along, it'd be better to just

let them to.

――Jingle.

I went through the door of the Rafla Arm Shop followed by the girls.

Then, I heard the sounds of pitter-patter coming from inside.

"—Welcome! Ah, Exa-san!"

"Hi there, long time no see, Fio-chan. How are you?"

The poster girl of this shop—Fio-chan.

She still looked really cute in apron as before.

She should be about 12 years old, if I wasn't mistaken.

"Yes, Fio's great! Fio's so happy to see you again, Exa-san!"

"Yeah, me too. Is Leia-san around?"

"Ah, please wait a moment! Fio will go call her now!" Having said

that, Fio-chan rushed toward the workshop.

After which, Arca said, seemingly somewhat happy, "Fumu, I'm glad

she's doing well."

"Yeah. Looks like Gunfleet Firm's been keeping to themselves, I'm

so glad, honestly."

Well, had they done something to Leia-san and Fio-chan, I'd have

immediately paid their shop a visit and burnt it to ashes.

As I was inwardly thinking, Fio-chan came back with Leia-san.

"Oh, it really is Exa. How are you doing?"

"Not bad, thanks to you. Leia-san too, I'm glad you seem to be doing

fine."

"Haha, I always do. Still, you seem to have carved out a pretty good

position for yourself out there. I mean, look at all these beauties.

Rather, now that I take a closer, the saintess from back then is

among them too, isn't it?" Leia-san made an astonished expression.

"Yes," I nodded to her, "a lot of things actually happened since then,

and now I'm traveling with them, who are saintesses."

"Well, color me surprised! You mean the other girls all saintess, too?"

"Yes. To start with, here's the 'Spear' Saintess Arcadia whom I

fought at the Martial God Festival, the 'Staff' Saintess Magmell, the

'Axe' Saintess Ophir, the 'Bow' Saintess Zana, and the 'Fist'

Saintess Tirna."

The girls gave a bow as I introduced them one by one.

"Getting to travel together with this many saintesses, you're so

amazing, Exa-san!"

"Haha, thanks, Fio-chan."

Fio-chan's head, which I patted for the first time in a long while, was

still as small and her hair as silky as I remembered.

Fio-chan blushed, seemingly very pleased. But then, as though she

just remembered something, "Ah, speaking of which," she said, "a

saintess like everyone gave us a visit before, and she seemed to be

looking for a person called the agent of Lord Fire God."

""""""!""""""

Could it be the 'Shield' Saintess, was the expectation we all held in

our hearts but,

"Her name should be—'Elma', if I remember correctly."

Wait, it's herrrrrr!?

The mention of my childhood friend almost caused me to fall down.

I mean, Elma sure was weak to titles.

If she heard the rumor about the appearance of the agent of Lord

Fire God, I bet she would try to add them to her party.

Yes, that must be the case.

"S-so, where did that saintess go?"

"Sorry… Fio doesn't know that much, but Fio thinks she and her

companion went looking for Exa-san…"

"I see…"

But well, it was as I had expected.

Looked like she had found a new companion, and she should be

doing well somehow.

And we were talking about her here.

Unlike me, that companion guy must be like a prince, having an

extremely cool and handsome face and all that stuffs, so I inwardly

thought to myself.