"Uwaaaahh... Flitz-saaaan!!! Why won't you answer my call!"
Inside the luxurious carriage, Haru shouted toward Flitz, who was moving farther away. Without realizing it, they were already standing before the Warp Gate.
This was Kushida's first time seeing a Warp Gate. When she looked at it, it reminded her of the temple gates in her own world—though with some striking differences.
"OPEN THE PORTAL!"
A holy knight shouted at the mage who was controlling the Warp Gate.
Moments later, the carvings on the gate began to glow, and then ripples of light formed at its center, expanding until they covered the whole passage of the gate. Beyond that light lay the Holy Kingdom of Vilmun.
Haru ignored the scenery and kept staring out the window in Flitz's direction. She even pressed her face against the carriage window, making her expression look weird and funny.
"Uwaaahhh Flitz-saaaan!!!"
After that, their carriage entered the Warp Gate, ignoring Haru's cries and leaving behind the cheers of the citizens.
"Ooooo."
Beyond the gate's light, they were welcomed by the people of the Holy Kingdom, far more numerous than those in the Kingdom of Jatumheim. The crowd parted to make way for the carriage.
At the end of the road, Kushida saw a building even larger than the castle in Jatumheim. Surrounding it were several beautiful statues. It was the Cathedral of the worshipers of the God of Life, Urt.
Even Haru, who had been making a fuss earlier, fell silent when she saw the building.
After passing through the crowd for a while, they finally stepped down in front of the cathedral. They followed a fully armored holy knight who had appeared from who-knows-where. He guided them inside the cathedral. For some reason, Anna looked gloomy as she followed the knight, but Kushida and Haru didn't notice.
Inside the quiet cathedral, only their footsteps echoed. At the altar, a woman stood waiting for them. Her robe was long and white, embroidered with gold at the edges. Even from her back alone, she radiated an air of majesty.
As the distance closed, the woman slowly turned toward them, her eyes still closed. Then, she gradually opened them, revealing her cold yet beautiful blue eyes.
In front of her, Anna and the holy knight hurriedly knelt and bowed their heads respectfully. They did so because the woman before them was the most important person in the Holy Kingdom of Vilmun—Saint Mari.
Seeing the two kneel, Haru and Kushida followed suit. They had been told by the knight beforehand that the one they were about to meet was the most important person in this country—the Saint.
"....."
For a while, there was only silence. They couldn't bring themselves to raise their heads and look at the Saint. What they saw was Saint Mari extending her arms while smiling at Anna. Though her gaze was cold, her smile seemed sincere.
"....."
Haru and Kushida glanced back and forth between Anna and the Saint. Their eyes seemed to say, Look! The Saint looks like she wants something from you. Hurry up and do it so we can end this staring contest already!
Receiving those looks, Anna clenched her teeth. Unable to endure anymore, she stood up with a groan.
"Aaghh, this is why I didn't want to come here!!"
"Huh?"
Ignoring Haru and Kushida's confusion, Anna approached Saint Mari and hugged her. The Saint also returned her embrace.
"Huh?"
Haru and Kushida grew even more confused seeing Anna and the Saint hugging each other. Feeling their puzzled stares, Anna's face began to turn red in embarrassment.
"M-mother— I mean, Saint! Could you let me go now?"
"No! Just a little longer!"
The Saint, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. Her voice was beautiful, but carried a hint of sulking.
With much effort, Anna finally managed to free herself from her embrace.
"Haa... haa... why are you so strong?"
"You're fine now. Here's your favorite milk, I prepared it for you, so drink."
While stroking Anna's head, the Saint handed her a bottle of milk. Seeing this, Anna curled her lips. She brushed away the hand stroking her head and complained.
"Agh, can't you stop treating me like a child? I'm already 16 years old! Sixteen!"
This was the reason she didn't want to come here—she didn't want to meet the Saint, whom she considered like her own mother. Every time the Saint saw her, she was treated like a little child. It had been fun back then, but now that affection only embarrassed her.
"Sixteen? That's still far too young! Five or sixteen, there's hardly any difference."
"Are you blind!!"
"Ara!"
Haru and Kushida could only stay silent as they watched the two interact. At the same time, the holy knight kneeling beside them let out a resigned sigh.
After listening to Anna's complaints, the Saint turned to Haru and Kushida.
"Welcome, Heroes from another world. I am the Saint of this kingdom. You may call me Saint Mari. The Holy Kingdom of Vilmun warmly welcomes your arrival."
**********
"So, Grandpa Magnus, where are we going first?"
High above, hundreds of meters in the air, Adelia asked Magnus about their destination. Meanwhile, Agatha was busy eating behind her.
After Haru and Flitz's group had departed, Magnus invited Agatha and Adelia to go on an adventure.
At first, King Cyrus refused to allow Princess Adelia to go, but Magnus insisted, saying that she needed the experience. After a long discussion, Cyrus finally gave permission—especially after Adelia pouted at him.
"Is there somewhere you want to go?"
Stroking his beard, Magnus asked Adelia in return.
"What about you, Lady Agatha?"
"Me? I don't know, you decide."
Hearing that, Adelia pondered their destination. After some thought, she finally made her decision.
"I want to go to the Republic of Knights, Armun!"
"There? Do you have a reason?"
Adelia nodded and told Magnus her reason. She looked a little embarrassed, as her reason was rather trivial.
"Mm. I want to see snow! I've never seen snow before, so I want to see it."
"Hohoho... Very well then. Our first destination shall be the Republic of Knights."
Saying this, Magnus released a great amount of mana and carried his two disciples at full speed toward the Republic of Knights.
**********
Long ago, because of a single woman, the balance of the world was shattered and the world itself was destroyed. By a miracle, that woman repaired the world, making it even better than before.
But it was not without consequences. Because of her actions, the world's situation became unstable. Some said the world would collapse again, while others said everything would be fine.
The woman was uncertain, but she thought it best to prepare for the worst. And so, she made a plan to summon Heroes from another world, hoping they would save it if the worst came to pass. When those Heroes were summoned, the story of the Heroes from another world began...
"So what happened then? Did the Heroes save the world in the end?"
Bisca, who was listening to the man's story, asked curiously. But all she received was disappointment.
"Who knows?"
"Eeeh? Come on! Come on! Tell me!"
"I'll tell you when you're older."
"But I want to hear it now!"
The man only laughed while patting Bisca's head. After a while, Bisca's mother came out carrying a basket of bread. Approaching the man, she saw Bisca clinging to him and said,
"Bisca! Don't bother the customer. Go to the back, your father is calling you."
Hearing her mother's words, Bisca left for her father, disappointed.
"Sorry, my daughter is bothering you."
"No, it's no problem. In fact, I enjoyed talking with her."
"I'm glad to hear that. Here's your order."
After paying, the man took the basket of bread and left the shop.
"Hmm?"
Bisca's mother noticed a book left beside the seat where the man had been sitting.
"Looks like this is his book."
She picked it up and quickly went outside to return it. But when she stepped out, she no longer saw the man anywhere.
"Did he already go far? Well, I'll just keep this book. He'll surely come back for it."
Saying that, Bisca's mother went back inside her shop.