Six days after the start of the escort, we continued to escort with no problems.
　There was another demon attack on the way, though, so we had a bit of a problem.
　
　However, since it was against a black orc, there wasn't any particular problem in terms of combat.
　Estelle, who was riding behind him, screamed when Noor's horse handling caused her to scream.

　When she came back to us after defeating him, Esther's face turned blue and she was trembling with tears in her eyes...she must have been really scared.
　He was in a good mood and rode his horse around at considerable speed, buzzing around.
　I didn't even have time to stop him because he charged in without saying a word.
　Noll was hit from behind by Esther with a poka poka, but I don't think it can be helped.

　After that, some flying demons came out of the sky, but they were shot down by Estelle's magical anti-aircraft interception.
　I thought it was my centimeter tarbula's turn........well, I still can't manipulate it enough to hit a flying opponent.

'Nah, it's uneventful and peaceful.

Where is the peace in this...

　The sun is about to set again today, so we stop moving and start preparing for the encampment.
　If we continue at our current pace, it looks like we'll reach Queles in a couple of days.
　That's thanks to Esther and Sisha's supportive magic.

　As for me, I had a relatively peaceful feeling, but Sisha didn't seem to be so sure.
　Estelle said she's going to turn around, so I told her to stop her in a roundabout way.
　Then, for some reason, Sisha said she could feel Esther's presence from behind.

　It can't be because I'm riding behind her.
　You're probably just paying too much attention to it and feeling something like an illusion.
　Anyway, Sisha, you're a lucky guy. I told him.

　The preparations for the encampment were finished, and I was about to sit around the lit wood as usual....

'Um, Esther?'

What's going on?

　I'm sitting on the ground with a seat on the ground and I'm sitting cross-legged, and Esther comes to sit on it.
　When I call out to her, she smiles and tilts her head in my direction.

'Why are you sitting with me?'

It's just for the night, right?　Hey, Sisha?

'Yes!　That would be very good, sir!

'Just keep it up and stop intimidating Sisha...'

　When Esther asked him why, Sisha buzzed his head up and down and agreed with it.
　If I do any more, I'm afraid I'll put a hole in Sisha's stomach, so I stopped.

'Mmmm, Esther. You are being watched again.''

'What?　...Oh my God, it's true.

She's looking at me more and more often, sir.

And you're quicker to look away when you realize you're being watched.

　I turned to look at Noll and saw Annelie looking at me again.
　Every time we are camping, she looks at us, as she does every time.
　And when we notice this, she turns away and runs away into the tent in a hurry.
　She must be really interested in Esther.

''Does it bother you that much?''

I think it would be crazy not to be bothered by that...

　I'm dealing with all the water magic and earth magic this time, but I still think it was noticeable enough.
　What's going on with the water jets that the demons are shattering and all that?
　For anti-aircraft, he shot down the small particles of water he'd used before, scattering them down, and then used his giant hands made of earth to smash them down.
　If it was fire magic, a small sun would have formed in the sky, so this would still be better........

''Ah, it was walking towards us!

What, really?

　This time they would go back to the tent again.
　Just as I was thinking that, to my surprise, Annelie was walking towards us.
　Behind her, Egon-san was following a bit further away.
　Even though she is close by, you can't let her act on her own by herself, can you?

　And when Annelie-chan came up to our eyes, she stopped for a while in silence.
　Her face is red and she is shaking her head from side to side as she scurries around restlessly.
　Is he too embarrassed to talk out of it?

Hey. Hey, you got a minute?

Is it me?

Yeah, yeah!

　As if she had made up her mind, looking straight ahead, Annelie-chan opened her mouth.
　Hmm, so she's finally talking to Esther.
　Would that mean that me and Nol and the others would be in the way?
　It would be easier to talk to Esther alone with her, who was about the same age.

Shall we stay apart?

'No, thank you!　Don't be so cautious!

　When I asked Annelie, she bobbed her head and refused.
　Apparently it was unnecessary.
　It was better to move away silently... but I couldn't do that with Esther sitting on top of me.

　I turned to look at Egon, who was watching over us a bit away, just to be sure, to make sure we were okay.
　Then he nodded and signaled that he was fine, so we'd continue the conversation.

'So, what can I do for you?'

'Well I'm sorry for ... well ... before we left, I'm sorry for questioning you!

　After furrowing her eyebrows a little awkwardly, Annelie-chan bowed her head towards Esther.
　She was worried about what she suspected when she left.
　That's why she just watched the whole time and didn't come over here.
　I guess I'm about to arrive in Queles, so I guess I'm just hungry.

'I don't mind, okay?　Something you can't help but wonder about.

Oh, really?

Yes, really. For that matter, why don't you sit down and not stand up?

Okay, so it's a yes.

　Esther accepted the apology, seeming not to really care.
　As it was, she urged her to sit down on the rug and made Annelie-chan sit down.

''Well, the name is...''

I'm Esther. Nice to meet you, Annelie.

How do you know my name?

Oh, my God, your father called you in front of us the day we left.

Oh, that's right.

　Annelie-chan didn't seem to know Esther's name yet.
　I was the only one who said her name on the first day, and Estelle and the others just bowed their heads, so it's only natural.

　This little exchange may have lifted some of the tension, but Annelie-chan gradually began to talk more and more.
After talking for a while, the topic of conversation changed to magic, which I was still interested in.

'Esther is amazing!　I've never seen the magic of water coming out of the water like that with such force!

'Hmm, thanks. That makes me want to show you some of my other magic.

What? I can do something else!

Yes, of course. I've got one thing going for me here, and that's fire magic, which is what I do best--

No!　If you use that thing in the dark, the demons will come to you!

Oh, that's a shame.

　Annelie-chan raised her hands in front of her chest, looking a little excited.
　And maybe that made her feel better, Esther said with a crisp look on her face that she was going to show me some fire magic or something.

　Of course I couldn't make her do that, so I stopped her from doing so.
　Then Annelie-chan, who had a happy expression on her face, slumped her shoulders in disappointment.
　Ugh, I feel guilty when you react like this........but if Esther uses fire magic when it's already dark, beautiful fireworks will go off and demons will come close.
　I want you to be patient here.

''Speaking of which, I've been wondering since earlier, why is Estelle sitting on that person?　Why don't you just sit down normally?

Because I have a special seat at the table. Hey, brother?

When did my lap become a special seat...?

　Annelie-chan tilted her head to ask if it was bothering her that Estelle was sitting on top of me the whole time.
　Then, as if to say it's natural, Estelle says that my top is her special seat.
　When I ride the magic carpet, I carry it on me but I don't want to be asked to agree with you.

I'm sure it's Estelle's special seat, but.......

'Wow, I'm going to support Miss Esther!　Please sacrifice yourself, Okura-san!

'Hmm?　Sisha, how do you put it that way?

Hi--I'm sorry!

　Sisha followed up here, but she chose the wrong words and Esther was staring at her with a smile.
　Then he quickly apologized and ran away to the vicinity of Noor.
　

''Esther is an awesome mage, so why is she playing an adventurer?

Is that unusual enough for you to ask?

'Yeah, it's rare. I have a friend of mine who wants to be a mage, but he's still studying at school. They don't usually become adventurers at our age.

　Annelie, who was watching our exchange, asked Esther a question.
　Is she going to Queles this time to meet her friend?
　Then you probably know a mage to some extent, so you asked me if I was really an adventurer.

''Well I don't have any particular reason for being an adventurer, but if I had to say--''

Hmm?

　Estelle made a gesture with her hand on her cheek as she thought about it and then stared at me.
　What, what?　You think I'm the reason?
　It's true, I called him up and asked him to help me out as an adventurer, so there's no doubt about it, but.......

You're doing this for that person?

'Hmmm, that's what I mean. You're my brother, you're my special person.

'Let's not say anything misleading, shall we?

　There's nothing wrong with that, but don't talk to me like that, because it's a dangerous way to take it, depending on who's listening!
　Mr. Egon, who was listening from a distance, blew up as soon as he heard it!

''Hmmm.......you're good friends with Esther. Um.........

Oh, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Heihachi Okura.

I am Noor Fanya, sir. You can call me Noor, sir.

I'm Sisha Alvi. It's a pleasure to meet you.

　Come to think of it, I hadn't finished introducing myself to Annelie yet.
　I say hello, and then I let the Nolls introduce themselves as well.
　They don't look nervous at first anymore, they're much calmer.
　I hope you'll get along with not only Estelle, but also the Nolls.

''Hmm, since we're here, I'd like to show you something magical, but... oh, how about something like this?　'Ei'

　She was not happy with Esther for not being able to show her anything when she expected to see magic.
　As she struggled a bit to find something to do aloud, she had a flash of inspiration and clapped her hand with a pan and shook it to turn her index finger with her usual shout.
　Then the ground nearby rose up and something gradually formed.
　Once the shape was completely solidified, Esther put her hand on it and the object was detached from the ground.
　Hmmm?　This looks very familiar.... familiar... what?

What the hell is that...

He's a big brother figure.

　The thing Estelle had created, it was a doll of me made of clay the size of the palm of my hand.
　She looked at it and nodded her head in satisfaction.
　Wait, wait, wait, that's not right. Why would you create a doll of me!
　Even the armor is well made, and the quality of the armor is strangely amazing!

It's amazing, sir.　It's quite an Okura-dono!

''To go that far......... Estelle-san, it's terrifying........

　Nol approached with a look of curiosity and received a Heihachi doll from Esther and expressed surprise.
　Sisuha's face was a little frightened by Estelle, who even created such a thing, or maybe her face was pulled up.
　It's an amazing technology, but I'm scared that they would make such an accurate doll........

''It's amazing, but........not quite........''

Oh, I see...

　Annelie-chan, who was watching that, gave a troubled and bitter smile.
　Yeah, that's not what I was expecting, after all.
　Then one after another, Esther's relatively safe magic began to be performed, entertaining Annelie-chan for a while.
　She was already creating scenes like everything, like little tornadoes and little rainbows on her palms.......she was even able to do that.

　In the end, she waved her hand back to her own tent, looking satisfied.
　She seemed to enjoy talking to Estelle and the others, and I hope it was a good memory for her, even though she was asking for an escort.