SIDE: Herman.

　Lately, every practice session of the Order ends with a mock battle between me and Alma.
　Alma and I will fight in the middle of it, surrounded by people.
Then let it begin.
　At Bernold's signal, Alma immediately set it up.
　We're inside the building, so we can't use slashes.
　So at a time like this, we'll be in close combat right away.

　I'll use the magic eye to dodge Alma's attacks with the minimum amount of movement necessary.
　Then Alma will surely make a wacky attack.
　When I succeed, Alma wins. If I fail, I win.

　And today it was soon enough.
　I saw Alma back off a little bit and then she came at me head-on.
　Now what do you think Alma will do?

Say!
　I won.

Hermann wins today.
　When Mr. Bernhardt declared victory, the knights around me started to shout more than me.
　Lately, they've been playing games among the knights to see who will win, me or Alma.
　Well, we're not fighters.

Oh... I knew we were too aggressive today.
　Alma, who had been defeated by me, lay down on the ground in frustration while people were buzzing around her.

'I don't think so. I don't think Alma can be that aggressive. Today's was a bad idea because I was a little unsure whether to attack or not.
　At the end, I shouldn't have let Alma get lost in how to move from the front feint.
　When I'm in a good mood, it doesn't even give me a chance to look at the magic eye .

''Oh ...... that. If you ask me, that's what I thought.

Right?　It made me more predictable in my attacks.

''Of course. ...... You have to be careful tomorrow. Don't get confused about the attack. When I decide to go, I go!
　With that, Alma slapped herself on the cheek and got up.

'Yeah . I think that's fine.
　I agreed with Alma and helped her get up.

　Then the betting stopped and Mr. Bernhardt started yelling at everyone.
"Okay. That's it for today's lesson.　For the first time in a long time, we're not having afternoon training today!　Off-duty guys, go play in the city as much as you want!　You ready?　You guys get paid a lot of salaries, Master Leons, because it's your job to spread that money around the city!　Go ahead and play your part, go ahead and do your part!

Oh!
　We all shouted loudly at Mr. Bernold's call.


'What's Alma going to do after this?'
　While everyone else was heading out to play, I was asking Alma what we were going to do.
　I don't have anything to do, so I'll just go along with Alma. What a thought.

"Yes ...... I haven't decided anything in particular. But I'll do some shopping in town.

Yeah, I know. I need to spend my paycheck.
　I don't want anything in particular, but as Mr. Bernold said, we have an obligation to shop in town. .......

'So why don't we go out to eat then?　In a nice little restaurant.
　Food. That's nice.

Yeah. That sounds good. Uh, why don't we go to that restaurant where the masters used to take their wives?
　Master says it's in the center of town.

'A restaurant frequented by Master Leons?　That's good. I'll be right there.


　Then we changed out of our sweat-soaked clothes and headed out together.
　It was a long walk from the training ground at the edge of town to the restaurant, but of course it didn't matter to us, we got there quickly.
"Wow. So this is it. We're in the center of town. It's bound to be good.

Yeah. I wonder if you're available: ......?　Sorry!

Hey. Hey, guys?
　When I called the clerk, a woman came out .
　Ah, this could be the person Master was talking about .



Yes, sir.

Then I can take you there in a minute.
　It just looks like a couple of seats were available.
　Lucky you.

What can I get you?
　Alma asked in annoyance as she showed me the menu.
　Just like me, Alma wouldn't normally come to a restaurant. .......
　I think she doesn't know what to ask for on the menu.

''My master said to leave it to you.

Yeah. Can I recommend it?

Yeah. I'm sorry.
　With Alma's approval, I called the waiter while folding the menu.

'Yes, yes. Have you decided on your order?

Yes. Recommendations, please.

'Recommendations?　Mm-hmm, good. I'll be back in a minute.
　The waitress was a little surprised at my order, but she was quick to respond with a smile.

　And then she said, "Wait a minute.
"Yes, ma'am. It's our specialty.
　The waiter brought out two plates of delicious-looking pasta.

"Wow. Yummy.

"That's good. Yeah. It's been a long time since I've ordered a recommendation.

Is that so?

Yeah. I used to be a boy who had three beautiful children with him.

Huh.
　Thinking it was Master, we let out a bit of a surprised voice with a body we didn't know.
　''Master must have been a burglar back then .

''Now that I think about it, it must have been Lord Leons. And with him were Master Shelia and Master Rihanna, and then there's Master Leons' favorite maid. You're all knights, aren't you?　Didn't you hear that the lord was snuck into our restaurant or something?
　Oh, I knew they knew it: ....... That's because Master is a man who stands out in many ways.

''No . Especially ......

Yeah?　I hope you won't come back!

Master Leons is very busy at the moment: ......

That's what I heard. The city has developed so much ...... that this city has changed a lot over the last few years. Not only that, but the war with the kingdom is also led by Master Leons, isn't it?

You're in the know: ......
　Where did you find out about the war?
　It hasn't been confirmed yet, so the public shouldn't know about it: .......

'Of course . . we're running a shop in the heart of a city in the center of the world, you know?　I think I know more about this world than most of the informants out there.

I see. ...... That's awesome.
　And come to think of it, there are merchants from all over the world here.
　That's going to help.

That's not true. Oh, I'm sorry. The pasta's getting cold. Enjoy your time.
　Humbly, the clerk went to the back of the store.

'You're funny.'

'Yeah. My master also told me that the people at the store were funny.
　Maybe the Master was talking about that man .

'But then again, I can understand Master Sherry and Master Leena, but you were able to get Belle to go with you there~'

'Between you and me, ...... Master, I've been doting on Miss Bell so much that I've had many shuras with Master Shelly in the past.
　It's well known that Master is jealous... but I think Master is even worse.
　If he continued to add wives, Master Sherry would be furious.
　Master's womanizing has improved recently and his relationship with Master Cherie is going well: .......

"Huh. What did you like about Belle?

The Forster family has been obsessed with beastmen since the days of our brave men. The first head maid of the Forster family was a beastman.
　My father says the hero loves beastmen too. The maid was so fond of the chief maid that the mage almost killed the hero.
　When you think about it... Sherry is a kind person.



Yeah. I guess a love of beastmen is in my blood.

Maybe. And then there's the hard work of Mr. Bell himself, I suppose.
　I have had the opportunity to see many maids in my life, but I have never seen a maid who cares about her master as much as Belle does.
　Her attention to detail is perfect ...... and she is always there for her master.
　It's only because she's Belle that she can do that job.

That's right. She was a bit out of it when she was at the orphanage, she wasn't that quiet.

Yeah. What was Mr. Bell like when he was in the orphanage?

She was a feisty, sweet sister. She used to keep me company.

Yeah. I knew you were strong, Mr. Bell?
　We don't stand a chance against Mr. Bell now at all, but what was it like then?

"Of course. There was no one in the orphanage who could beat her. The beast magic is so unfair.

What's so great about beast magic?
　I know it's a special magic that can only be used by beastmen, but I haven't seen it used in real life that often.

''Yeah. If I were to use an analogy, it would be like there's only one person who can use non-attribute magic.

Surely, that's no one to beat.

'Still, I was so close to having Belle graduate!　Oh, what a shame.

Yeah. I knew Alma would be great.
　You must have had an excellent sense for fighting since you were little.

Well.... I don't think it's possible to beat Belle now~

It can't be helped. Master's wives, they're all strong except for Master Elsie.
　After all, it was a dungeon with all the knights in attendance, and it was just the four of them that were conquering the dungeon.
　And they're further ahead than the knights.

No, considering that Elsie has the most money in the world, isn't she strong enough?

Well, that's good to know. After all, you're all five strong.
　No, you have to be outstanding in something to be a master's wife .

The strongest wizard, the saint, the most powerful body art, the richest person in the world, the one who can destroy everything...... If you list the names, they all sound like the main character in a story.

That's the main character. The protagonists of our world are our master and his wife.
　There's no doubt about it.

"Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Huh, strong people, that's cool.

"Strength can only be obtained through hard work. My master and his wife have worked very hard to become that strong.

'I know, I know. With Master Shelley's magic at your disposal, it's hard to say that you haven't tried.

That was amazing. I remember the first time they showed it to me at school, and I was like, "Wow, that's amazing.

'Oh, I forgot to mention that Hermann was a nobleman.

Aristocrat, I mean, he's the lowest of the low.
　It's almost like a commoner.

But for us commoners, we're on cloud nine.

I guess so: ......
　I mean, we're just like any other knight in shining armor. It's kind of a normal house.

Hey. What's it like at the highborn school?　Tell me about it.

'No matter what you say it feels like, ...... yeah. I guess meritocracy is the best fit for me.

"Meritocracy?

Yeah. They're ranked according to their academics, magic, and sword abilities, and that's how they're divided into classes.

Yeah. Which class is Hermann in, by the way?

Top shelf S class. My master taught me how to study and I got by.
　It's not that I'm great, it's that Master is great .
　I was such an idiot, but you got me into the S class. ...... Really, I can't thank you enough for being a great teacher.

''Huh . That's great. I knew Master Leons and Sherry and the others were smart?

''Of course . Master always got a perfect score, and Master Leena always came in second. Master Shelly was one of the top graders, and her name was always mentioned.

That's what I'm talking about: ....... As for Master Leons, he is truly perfect. He's strong, he's smart, he's kind, and I wish I could marry Master Leons.



Yeah, I guess so: ......
　Huh?　Something is wrong .
　It's normal for women to admire their masters, but ...... something is bothering me .
　I don't like the idea of Alma marrying a master?
　For a while, I was thinking about it while I was talking to Alma at random.

　Do I like Alma?
　We've gotten close enough to be together like this every day .......
　Yeah...... I wonder if being together this much means we like each other?
　If you think of it in terms of a master, it's ...... right . The women who are always with Master are all his wives .
　So I like Alma too.

　And on the way home after leaving the restaurant.
　I made up my mind and talked to Alma.
"Hey ......, that's what you were saying earlier. ......

Just now?

"She wants to marry her mentor.

'What?　Huh?　It's a joke, of course!　I'm married to Master Leons?　It's impossible, of course.
　I was so nervous to ask, and I felt like an idiot for asking, but he answered in a light tone.
　But I kept my nerves up and spoke to Alma again.

"Hey, Alma.

What's the matter, you've been acting so unlike yourself for a while now: ......
　I stopped to talk to her, and Alma looked back at me curiously.

　When I saw that Alma looked back, I went on with my story.
"I don't think I'll ever surpass Master ...... no matter how hard I try.

Ummm, yeah, .......

But I'm going to work hard and get stronger and stronger. So go to .......
　Phew. I bowed my head and said it all in one breath.

"When I'm strong enough to beat Alma three times in a row, please accept me as your wife!

'Yeah, yeah ......?　Hey, here?
　We're in the middle of the street.
　I proposed to you without thinking, and now I'm so embarrassed.
　But as a man, you have to put up with this much.
　I kept lowering my head, not caring about the voices around me.

　Then Alma tapped me on the shoulder.
Yeah, okay. ...... Do it if you can.
　When I looked up, Alma, who was blushing with embarrassment, replied with a smirk on her face.