The rain that had continued to fall for nearly two weeks weakened in intensity starting this evening and had completely stopped by nightfall.

This year’s rainy season had been spent somewhat differently than usual, with a more leisurely time together with Seriana and the others. But it seemed like it was finally coming to an end.

“Hey, do you think it’ll be sunny tomorrow?”

I asked Seriana, who had come to stand beside me and was also looking outside.

“…Yeah. At this rate, I think we can say the rainy season is over.”

“Oh.”

Previously, the adventurers in this city would take vacations during the rainy season.

During that time, they would maintain their equipment, keeping the craftsmen busy.

However, with the recruitment of workers from other territories, the burden had been eased.

That said, a dungeon had appeared, and since it was still relatively new, there hadn’t been much change this year. But who knew what would happen in the coming years?

Well, that wasn’t something for me to worry about.

Either way, this meant that hunting outside would soon be possible again, and the adventurers who had been staying in the city would begin heading out.

The ones hunting in the dungeon would be the same.

After all, right next to the city was a more profitable magical domain.

Even if the dungeon was their main focus, they’d likely go out for earnings once in a while.

This should also help alleviate the congestion in the dungeon.

Maybe it was time for me to start hunting in the dungeon again.

As I secretly psyched myself up—

“You’re going to be busy starting tomorrow, so you won’t be going out to play anytime soon.”

For some reason, I was stopped.

“Going out to play”—well, that wasn’t entirely wrong, so I let it slide, but what did she mean by me being busy?

I turned to look at Seriana beside me, but after making her statement, she was already looking away.

I’d probably find out tomorrow, but… what exactly was going to happen?

◇

Now then, today was the last day of the second month of autumn.

In other words… my birthday.

During lunch, Fiora also came to my room, and the usual group of women gathered.

I wondered what was going on, but then it hit me—oh yeah, it’s my birthday.

I was fairly good at remembering other people’s birthdays, but when it came to my own…

While I was making a conflicted face, gifts kept being brought into Seriana’s office and piled up before me.

I had received presents before, but this year, the quantity was on a whole different level.

The reason was simple.

Because I would eventually become an adopted son of the Müller family.

…Turns out, I was quite popular.

Even now, I didn’t have much authority, but I did have connections in various places.

Once I became a noble, how would that change?

Well, probably not much.

Even so, I’d have more opportunities, and there were probably many who just wanted me to remember their names.

But…

“Next is… oh? Another doll. A cat again.”

Opening a large box, I found inside a lifelike black cat figurine.

According to Teresa, who was reading the inventory list, it was from a merchant in some northern territory of the kingdom. But how many was this now…?

“…Why are there so many cats?”

I had received dolls and plush toys before, but they were usually snakes.

Yet this year, it was all cats.

I actually liked the snake-themed gifts…

“It’s probably because of Marieira. There were guests staying at the estate back then, so word must have spread.”

“…Ah, Call, huh.”

After my grandfather retired, the royal capital estate was entrusted to Marieira and her husband.

I had met Marieira during the commemorative festival at the estate.

And I also met her contracted familiar, Call.

Regardless of how the interaction went, the people who sent gifts must have heard about it and decided to change things up this year, resulting in this mountain of cat-themed items.

“Well… I don’t dislike cats, so it’s fine? But this amount is… Maybe Leo and the others can use them as toys?”

The three children had all turned one, and they probably wouldn’t cry even if they saw this army of cats.

I could keep one or two I liked, and the rest could be shared around…

“Hm?”

As I was considering what to do with all these gifts, everyone except me suddenly turned toward the door.

Did someone come?

“It’s Mio. She’ll be at the door soon, so let her in.”

Upon hearing that, the waiting servant immediately moved to open the door.

In the meantime, I tidied up some of the packages spread across the table—there were really so many this year.

Given my current status, people could send gifts more easily, but finding myself receiving presents from unknown people in unknown lands… was a bit unsettling.

“…Do I need to send something in return?”

“You don’t have to send gifts, but you should write thank-you letters.”

Seriana picked up on my muttered words.

So… I had to write letters, huh? But what should I even write?

Just as I was struggling with this unexpected problem—

“Princess, we’ve already prepared the thank-you letters, so all you need to do is sign them at the end.”

“That’s all!?”

Startled by Teresa’s words, I turned to Seriana, who calmly added,

“It’s best to write personal letters for close acquaintances, but for others, since the content is basically the same, it’s common to have them written by a scribe. I do the same… It’s a lot of work, isn’t it?”

“…I see.”

Now that she mentioned it, I had often seen Seriana writing letters, but she was incredibly fast at it.

So that’s how it worked…!

As I continued absorbing this newfound knowledge about letter etiquette, I noticed Mio arriving through the now-open door.

She seemed to be carrying something, and not just her—some female soldiers were carrying packages as well.

Judging by the situation, this was probably another delivery for me.

————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sera – 【Hideout】 +1, 【Prayer】, 【Mira’s Blessing】, 【Wind’s Mantle】, ・【Floating Orb】 +1, 【Shadow Sword】, 【Scarlet Bee Needle】, 【Fairy’s Eye】, 【Dragon’s Lung】, 【Amber Sword】, 【Danrem’s Thread】, 【Serpent’s Tail】, 【Ankle Bracelet】, 【Amber Shield】, 【Purple Wings】 ・15 cards

Seriana – 【Area Identification】, 【】 ・28 cards

Elena – 【】, 【Green Fang】, 【Amber Sword】 ・4 cards

Alec – 【Strong Strike】, 【Red Shield】, 【Fierce Horned Trumpet】 ・8 cards