Oh, here you go.
Yeah, I'm not waiting for you at all!　I mean, I just came early....

　No, no.
　I'm insanely nervous.
　This is probably the first time my heart has been this fast, including in my past life.

I was planning to arrive early too, but........

　Huh?
　Is Miss Celestia nervous too?

　Then we sat side by side on a bench.
　There was a space between us, about two people.

".........

　We were silent for a while.
　It may have only lasted a few dozen seconds, but it felt like an eternity to me.

　What in the world is the story...?
　I don't want to be a waste of time, but I'm still scared!

　I can't wait to hear it, and the thought of not wanting to hear it is fighting inside me.
　Then finally, Celestia-san finally opened her mouth timidly.

''Today, I thought I'd........thank you for that........''
Oh, thank you...?

　The moment I heard those words, I was released from my nervousness.

　Yes!
　They didn't find out that he and Leila had been swapped out!

What can I do about...?
'Yes, no, it's nothing. Please continue.

　Relief seemed to show on my face, and Celestia wondered why I was wondering.
　Somehow I managed to fool her.

''Well, could it be that it was during the joint training?　But that wasn't anything to be thanked for.... I just did what I had to do as a participant.
But, thanks to Ark-san and Leila-san, we were all able to come back safely while dealing with so many demons. That's why I'm really grateful to them.
Yes, sir.

　I can't believe you came all the way out here to thank me for that.
　He's such a disciplined person.

But that's not the only thing I want to thank you for.
What?
Do you remember...?　Four years ago....
Four years ago...

　Celestia-san said in a tone that sounded as if she was going to tell you an important secret.

''Actually, I was once saved by Ark-san!　But, of course, I don't think you remember...
Oh, no, no, I remember that, remember?
　Oh, I remember!

　I remember it well, of course.
　I was searching for a necromancer who could control the undead, and I met Celestia in the royal palace.
　Even though this was not the case, I couldn't help but fall in love with her.

　Naturally, I couldn't say that because I'd be embarrassed to do so.

''Let's see, you were attacked by a chimera and an enemy ringleader, and it was pretty dangerous, wasn't it?
Oh, yes!　Just when it seemed like it was all over, a boy with red hair appeared and knocked me down in a flash........!　Ark-san, it was you after all, wasn't it?

　The space that should have been for two people earlier had become almost zero before I knew it.
　It was because Celestia-san, who looked excited, was approaching at once.

''But at that time, you were gone before I could thank you... so I've always wanted to express my gratitude to you!

　So Celestia-san stood up from the bench and bowed to me as much as she could.

''Thank you so much!
Wha...

　I got up in a hurry too.

"Oh, please raise your head! I don't want you to bow to me!　I'm a princess........!
.........

　Celestia-san raised her head, but for some reason she looked shocked.
　Did I say something wrong...?

Ceres.
What?
You can call me Celestial.
Well, that's a good point.
I'm fine!　Because that's what Leila calls it, too!

　No, you didn't call me!
　You're Ceres' big sister and this is even more embarrassing for a man to call you.

You're a lifesaver to me. So that's why I don't want you to call me princess, which is an unattractive term to use.

　The last words were spoken like a sulking child.

　Ka, cute.....

''Wow, I understand, Mr. Celes.
Ceres is fine.
Señor Celes.
''Ugh, there's no way around it...''

　In addition to being a princess, she is also an older woman.
　In my previous life, I was a Japanese with a strong sense of seniority, so this is a non-negotiable point for me.

　........Well, if you put that former life together, I'm probably older than you.

　Then Celes-san and I sat down on the bench again, side by side.
　Without a care in the world, Celes-san is getting closer to me than before.

''Even so, the two of you keep surprising me. ........If you ask me, you're only twelve years old, right?　Four years ago, you weren't even blessed yet, were you?
'Well..... But I've been trained by my father since I was very young.

　Both of us were a little less tense, and we were able to afford to have a normal conversation.

"........I don't think the 'profession' or skill barrier can be helped by training or anything else.......
'Really?　I'm unemployed, but I'm getting by.
That's not some kind of mistake...?

　It's true, though.
　Since the S class, when I claimed that I was "unemployed", people didn't believe me at all.

I believe it! If you think about it, Ark-san, who was only 8 years old, was that strong.........................There must be a secret that no one knows about, right?
I guess it's more of a secret, I just trained the way my father told me to train. Like me, he was 'unemployed' and spent years mastering every skill he could on his own.

　When you think about it, he's a real monster.
　If it was me, I would have given up when I was "unemployed" to begin with.

By the way, my father used to say that you don't need skills to become strong, what's important is that you don't set any limits.
''........She's an amazing person. I'd love to meet him if I get the chance.