Well then.

Now that my sword is being forged, I have some free time.

I could just idly pass the time, but I only arrived at Rastal Village last night.

I went straight to sleep without exploring much, so since I’ll be staying here for a while, I should at least learn more about the village.

And so—

Led by Raymira, I set off to explore the village.

For now, I had to part ways with Kaya. Apparently, she received an urgent request.

She pouted and said,
“Oh no, that’s so lonely!”

But I couldn’t keep an A-rank adventurer like her tied down forever. I was already grateful that she’d accompanied me this far.

“Look, Arios! That’s the fountain! It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s the village’s symbol!”

“Haha… I see.”

“And that over there is Rastal Inn! The old lady who runs it is super scary!”

Unlike the excited and lively Ray, I felt a bit embarrassed.

After all, the villagers had to know who Ray really was.

The Second Princess.

And here she was, walking around with some unknown man.

Of course, we were attracting attention.

The only saving grace was that this was a small village, so there weren’t many people around.

“What’s wrong, Arios? You don’t seem like you’re having fun.”

That must have been why Ray suddenly leaned in, peering at me with concern as I quietly walked beside her.

“No, it’s not that…”

“I’m happy, you know! It feels just like a date!”

“Hey, stop dropping bombshells like that!”

If a royal got married, it would be major news.

We were already attracting enough unwanted attention, and now she was making it even worse.

“Haha, Raymira, you’re totally in love! You found a good one!”

“Right!?”

And of course, the villagers were all too happy to play along.

Seriously, these people…

“And next up, over here is—”

Raymira excitedly resumed giving her tour, brimming with enthusiasm.

She looked so genuinely happy that I actually felt guilty.

“Well… I suppose this isn’t so bad once in a while.”

She was enjoying herself so much.

If that was the case, then maybe going along with her “date” wasn’t such a bad idea.

“And over there is the famous—”

Smiling wryly, I followed behind the ever-energetic Ray.

★

Before I realized it, the sun was setting.

The village wasn’t that big, but we had stopped for a meal at 《Habbari》 and taken several detours along the way.

By the time we had finished exploring, a decent amount of time had passed.

But thanks to that, I gained something valuable.

“Hey, Arios! Next time, drop by my shop too!”

“Haha… Maybe someday.”

“Oh my, I love seeing young people around!”

Before I knew it, I had become acquainted with most of the villagers.

Of course, none of them knew my past.

To them, I was just “Arios the newbie adventurer.”

Some also seemed to think I was Ray’s fiancé, but I made sure to correct that misunderstanding.

Unlike the people in the royal capital, the villagers of Rastal were warm and welcoming.

Even to a newcomer like me, they showed no signs of rejection.

Truly—

I was really grateful.

Back in the capital, the moment I was revealed to be an 《Useless Skill Holder》, I was cast aside.

But for the first time, I felt the warmth of people’s kindness.

“Ahh! It’s so cold!”

At the fountain square—

Ray let out a delighted shriek as she played in the flowing water.

Seeing her playing so freely in the light of the setting sun gave me a strange sense of nostalgia.

That’s right.

A long time ago, we used to play together like this.

Back then, I was certain I would become the Silver Sword Saint.

I thought I would always be by Ray’s side.

I believed those days would never end.

—I thought those days would never return.

But here she was, unchanged since back then.

It was only me… I was the one who lost confidence.

“Hey… Thank you, Ray.”

Sitting on a bench in the fountain square, I turned to her and expressed my gratitude.

“I had a great time. Truly.”

“Really!? I’m so glad!”

Bathed in the glow of the sunset, her smiling face was as radiant as an angel’s.

“Skills don’t matter at all! Even if you’re not the Silver Sword Saint, I like you just the way you are, Arios!”

“Ray… Thank you. Truly.”

I lost everything when I was cast out from my family.

But even so—

Right here, there was someone irreplaceable to me.

And for the first time in a long while, my wounded heart felt just a little bit healed.