'Holy Warrior Brayden's holy sword didn't glow with light!'
That single remark from someone at the ceremony spread like wildfire among the attendees, and within days, the rumor had reached every corner of the world.
The Andras Empire tried to downplay it, claiming, "This has happened occasionally in the past, and whether the holy sword glows or not is no measure of a holy warrior's qualifications or strength." But they couldn't stop the idle talk from circulating.
After soothing and sending away a greatly flustered Brayden, the empire hurriedly convened a meeting to discuss countermeasures.
But this meeting was held in utmost secrecy, with only the emperor's most trusted handful of aides present.
Emperor Aurelius paced the secret conference room with frayed nerves before finally slamming his fist on the desk in frustration.
His closest confidants flinched in surprise but none dared to speak first.
After pacing for a long while and letting out a sigh, Aurelius asked in a low, sunken voice.
"This is unprecedented."
Though they'd publicly announced it as "something that occasionally happened in the past," that was, of course, a lie.
Never in history had the holy sword failed to glow during the empire's holy warrior appointment ceremony. The moment it happened, the emperor felt a dizzying shock that nearly made him faint.
"Has the goddess's power flowed elsewhere?"
"Our investigations indicate a very high likelihood of that, Your Majesty."
"The target?"
"We haven't identified them yet. We're searching not only across the empire but sending people elsewhere as well, so we should have some news soon, Your Majesty."
"Suppress any doubts about this holy warrior's legitimacy from the outset, decisively. Assign him missions where he can rack up achievements to build his reputation.
If the holy warrior's legitimacy is questioned and it comes out that the goddess's power has dwelled in someone else, it poses a grave threat to our prestige and rule. You all understand what I mean."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Aurelius issued various orders, then bit his lip and twisted his expression.
'Someone definitely holds the goddess's light. I must find them...!'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I finished tying up all the bandits and extinguished the Light Saber.
The blade of light, which had grown larger than its original size, reverted to its shabby old sword once the brilliant glow faded, leaving the bandits staring in stunned silence.
"H-Holy Warrior, sir, please spare our lives at least..."
"Keep yapping and I might change my mind about just tossing you quietly into a Carrot Duchy prison."
"...!"
The bandits immediately shut their mouths, and I headed to the cargo hold to wake Ravi.
This cargo hold would now hold the bandit scum, while Ravi and I would take the more comfortable inside of the merchant wagon.
"Hey, Ravi. Sorry to wake you while you're sleeping, but get up for a sec...?"
I stopped mid-sentence and widened my eyes upon trying to wake her.
Ravi, whom I'd thought was asleep, was staring straight at me with her eyes wide open.
"You were awake?"
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"Since you got down from the cargo hold, Alvis."
"What? So you've been awake almost from the start. Why were you just sitting there?"
"Well..."
...
Ravi hesitated, unsure how to respond to Alvis's question.
Had she missed her chance to jump out? No.
Was she scared? Hardly. Those bandits were such small fry she could have taken them all out in ten seconds if she wanted.
Had she known from the start that Alvis would handle it? No.
Sure, as an academy graduate, Alvis wasn't completely incompetent, but Ravi hadn't hung around him much, so she didn't know his skills precisely.
So why hadn't she stepped in?
Ravi thought for a moment and quickly found the answer.
'Kill us, defile my friend, and sell her off? You must think Bunnyfolk make great human trafficking goods, but did it not occur to you I wouldn't let that slide?'
Right before the fight erupted, Alvis's words made her pause just as she was about to climb down from the cargo hold.
I should help him.
But knowing that, Ravi wanted to hear Alvis's true feelings about her and the Bunnyfolk.
Anyone could say they liked Bunnyfolk in front of her, or claim they didn't understand the discrimination.
So Ravi wanted to hear if Alvis said the same things even without her there. She didn't know why she needed that confirmation from him.
'You came at us intending murder and robbery. You even planned to defile my friend, insult my beloved Bunnyfolk. Did you think I'd just let that go?'
A light so intense it illuminated the entire forest poured out, ending the "fight" in an instant. Alvis subdued the bandits and showed the same attitude once more.
This man was genuine. He truly liked Bunnyfolk, believed they were no different from humans, and saw her as a friend.
Thump thump.
Realizing that, Ravi's heart began to race.
He was the second person to show her this attitude, after Brayden.
She'd thought he was just a brainless fool who spouted nonsense and threw leers, but the day after her heartbreak, he'd sensed her mood and comforted her, calling her a friend without a trace of discriminatory views toward Bunnyfolk.
Brayden had the same attitude, but in the end, he abandoned her for Celine.
Whereas Alvis...
'Gasp!'
Ravi shook her head in sudden shock at that thought.
'Even after getting dumped, to flip my feelings for Brayden in just a few days like this—doesn't even I think that's too fickle?! Am I that kind of woman...?'
...
I shrugged at Ravi, who was hemming and hawing without answering.
"Whatever, doesn't matter why you stayed put. No issues handling the situation. Anyway, we should switch spots. Load these trash into the cargo hold and move us to the cozy wagon interior. Might as well travel comfortably the remaining two days."
"Huh? Oh, yeah..."
Ravi looked noticeably flustered.
I had no idea why, but... maybe she saw me fight and was shocked by my strength?
But those bandits were weak enough for her to handle alone; nothing to be impressed about.
After stuffing the bandits into the cargo hold like luggage, Ravi took the reins from inside the wagon, and we smoothly reached the Carrot Duchy.
Unlike the academy city, the Carrot Duchy reeked of rural backwater.
Vast fields dominated the landscape, the air thick with fertilizer stench, and Bunnyfolk farmers dotted the expanses.
With its backward image widespread across the continent, Ravi flushed and hung her head upon arrival, her words dwindling.
"S-Sorry. Not much to see... But you helped secure these goods big time, so even if it's nothing special, we'll treat you as best we can."
Perhaps due to a long history of discrimination, she seemed plagued by an inferiority complex.
"Ravi, you keep putting down your country and people when you're relaxed. You don't have to with me, so loosen up."
"Ah... It's a habit... Most people aren't like you, Alvis. From childhood, we were taught to downplay ourselves when introducing our kind to others..."
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue in irritation at the world that fostered this mindset, sighing in annoyance.
As we passed fields of farming and entered something resembling a town, Bunnyfolk citizens spotted Ravi and cheered, waving.
"It's Ravi!"
"Back already?"
"Wait... There's a human in the wagon!"
"An envoy...? No word of another one today."
"Nah, she went to the dungeon alone, so no way she'd tangle with humans. Who's that then?"
"Oh no... Whoever it is, crowding and buzzing might annoy them into causing trouble. Better clear out first."
The Bunnyfolk citizens, noticing me, mostly slunk away discreetly.
Ravi panicked at the overt avoidance, and I chuckled at her.
"You're popular, Ravi."
"Ugh... Sorry. Our people have seen so many trash humans, they instinctively avoid them. Don't take it to heart."
"No big deal. I'd do the same."
How much havoc humans had wreaked in the Carrot Duchy was occasionally mentioned in the original Loveholic and more blatantly shown in Holy Warrior Brayden NX.
No wonder hatred brewed where there was none before.
The wagon continued to the Carrot Duchy's castle. Guards recognizing Ravi saluted, stepping aside to open the gates.
"Princess Ravi has returned!"
Moments later, Ravi's father, Duke Liebv, emerged to greet his daughter.
"Ravi! Back so soon!"
"Dad!"
Ravi leaped from the wagon in one bound, landing beside her father. The parent-child duo poked each other's cheeks with their noses a couple times in greeting.
Perhaps due to bunny traits, they both hopped lightly in place.
"Safe and sound? No injuries?"
"Yep! Mom's good too? Nothing happened while I was gone?"
In typical noble families, children showed immense deference to parents, but as Bunnyfolk, they showed none of that.
This was one reason humans looked down on Bunnyfolk. To me, it just looked like a warm, normal family—heartwarming.
"No major issues, but something did come up. Though..."
Duke Liebv eyed me warily as I stepped out of the wagon.
"Who's the human with you?"
"Oh, a classmate from academy graduation. Ran into him at the dungeon by chance. I'll explain inside."
"Hmm... Tricky timing. With what happened in the empire recently, envoys from Arborness are here, and we have no spare capacity for more guests."
"Something in the empire? Envoys? From Arborness? What's with the elves coming here? What happened?"
"Better if I explain directly."
From the ducal castle emerged a tall elf—nearly my height—with a golden blonde ponytail swaying as she approached.
Her emerald eyes glanced at me before turning to Ravi.
"So why's that guy with you? Thought I wouldn't have to see him again."
"Elfin!"
The envoy from Arborness that Duke Liebv mentioned was Elfin, granddaughter of an elf elder and another defeated heroine from the original Loveholic.