How to Tame That Gentle Hero - Chapter 8.7

“After preventing the destruction, drinking with you in the Arnasus family garden until we’re completely drunk. Getting thoroughly intoxicated might be fun. Besides, since we’ll have prevented world destruction, we won’t have any worries at all.”

“Haha. Alright, Sister. That sounds fun.”

As Renard burst into laughter, Resena was all smiles.

“Then for that occasion, the red wine… Descente Plati 20-year vintage. How about it?”

“Hahaha. Sister. You can’t forget that wine we had at the birthday ball?”

“Yes. Of course, now we have to be careful about black mage attacks, so we can’t get completely drunk… But when that time comes, I want to drink and get drunk without worries. We still have 10 bottles left in our wine cellar.”

Well, at that birthday ball, she also approached His Highness the Crown Prince in the garden. To commemorate that, getting completely drunk with his sister might be fun too.

“Alright. When that day comes, we’ll definitely get completely drunk. Promise, Sister.”

“Yes. I promise. When that day comes, we’ll taste the Descente Plati 20-year vintage with delicious snacks in the garden.”

Resena intertwined her finger with Renard’s to seal the promise. Then she looked up again. The black mana was no longer visible in the sky, and a slowly descending hot air balloon caught her eye, suggesting they had finished.

“It looks like they’ve finished over there, too.”

“Yes. If we wait here, the hot air balloon will land right in front of us.”

Resena spoke to Renard with vibrant energy.

“Come on. Let’s wait until the hot air balloon lands, and when it’s completely down, let’s go greet Lorona and Sir Ian. They’ll be completely exhausted. While others have rested, especially Lorona must be extremely tired since she had to occasionally drive out people infected with black mana in the royal capital.”

“Seeing this, it seems like ordinary self-sacrifice isn’t enough to be a saint. Lady Lorona Weiz is truly amazing.”

As Renard clicked his tongue in admiration, Resena chuckled. She felt pleased seeing knights coming out to escort Lorona, suggesting there were others who thought like her.

‘Through this incident, Lorona and Sir Ian might have grown closer.’

Since Ian had also boarded the hot air balloon to prepare for any possible situation, there was a high chance that Lorona would feel more attracted to him. Resena wondered if Ian might be waiting for an opportunity to propose to Lorona.

‘Well, they do make a good match. Sir Ian is virtuous and intelligent… and in the novel, he always happily helped the saint. Besides, he’s the only son of the Fullecher Marquis family… To inherit the Marquis family, he’ll have to leave the temple soon, so if he proposes to Lorona, it will probably be soon.’

“Saint! Well done!”

“Are you alright? Let me support you.”

As they approached the hot air balloon, knights gathered around and held one of Lorona’s hands as she stumbled. Ian was holding her other hand, but the knights were busy competing to support the saint.

“Everyone, step back. The Saint must be tired, so I will carry her comfortably to the carriage.”

But everyone made regretful faces at Ian’s words.

“Ah. Sir Ian… Then, may I ask you? I’m too tired… I can’t stand.”

“Yes. Leave it to me, Saint.”

Huhu. Resena watched the scene with a gentle smile. Then she approached Lorona. Just as Ian lifted Lorona in his arms, Lorona, seemingly exhausted, dropped her head and leaned against him.

“Lorona. You’ve really done well. It must have been very difficult driving out all the black mana in the royal capital. Go to the hotel and rest comfortably. You can order anything you want… Just take a comfortable rest.”

“Mmm. Resena, thank you. I don’t even have the energy to lift a finger. I think I’ll need to shut myself in the hotel and rest for the next few days…”

As Lorona spoke tiredly, Resena firmly held her hand for a moment before placing it on Lorona’s stomach. Resena and Renard watched as Ian gave Resena a slight bow before heading toward the carriage.

Looking up at the sky, they could see a clear blue sky without a speck. Around this time, Crevasta would be busy preparing for the Founding Festival.

“The Founding Festival is coming up soon.”

“Who are you going to spend it with, Sister?”

Resena looked back at Renard and chuckled.

“Well… I want to spend it with both Vernas and His Highness Eldis.”

“Haha! Then you’ll have to meet one in the afternoon and the other at night.”

Renard continued to ask.

“Night would be best for watching fireworks together. Who do you want to meet later?”

Resena looked quietly at Renard before answering.

“Vernas. I want to spend the evening with him.”

“I see… His Highness the Crown Prince seems to need to work harder.”

Resena clenched her hand and giggled. Renard’s words were amusing, but she felt a little sorry for Eldis. But what could she do when her heart was drawn to Vernas?

“I miss him. Vernas.”

“What about His Highness Eldis?”

“Hmm… I miss him a little, too. But I miss Vernas’s sculpting fingers. You wouldn’t know how wonderful it is to see those beautiful fingers holding a chisel and carving wood.”

How calming it is to be by his side.

Resena smiled without realizing it. Watching her, Renard couldn’t help but know where his sister’s heart was heavily leaning. He felt a bit sorry for Eldis. But in a way, it was poetic justice.

If Eldis had once endured Resena’s pursuit, now he was the one pining for her. As someone who knew how much his sister had once liked Eldis, Renard thought it was somewhat even.

“Resena.”

“Alken.”

“It seems all the work is done now. Considering the possibility that black mages might still be around, we installed crystal panels at the city gates, but no black mages have passed through for about 5 days. I think we can return to Crevasta soon.”

“Thank you. Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing. It’s what I had to do.”

Resena smiled brightly. As Alken was drawn to smile in response, Renard suddenly thought that Alken and Resena would also make a good match.

‘But Sister doesn’t seem to have even a tiny bit of romantic interest in Alken, and Alken also seems to think of Sister as just a close acquaintance.’

Watching Resena engage in friendly conversation with Alken, Renard imagined the situation they would face upon returning to Crevasta. Resena might receive a title in recognition of her contributions to liberating the Amarast royal family, preventing war in advance, and commanding the removal of high-ranking black mages. Of course, Resena was the heir to Arnasus, but there was no harm in receiving a title in advance.

‘Alken and I will also receive rewards for our contribution in eliminating high-ranking black mages…’

If there was a next time, he would like to experience Resena’s command again. Renard smiled warmly as he watched Resena burst into laughter while conversing with Alken.

High in the sky, a desert eagle Crucher was spreading its wings while calling out loudly. Renard looked up at several Cruchers flying around as if celebrating the disappearance of black mana.

“Nice weather. I wonder if the rainy season has started in Crevasta by now…?”

Imagining Crevasta with its pouring rain, he anticipated the coolness of that time. As the hot air balloon was being packed up and Resena and Alken approached him, Renard opened his mouth.

***

“…What’s going on here, Eum? Suddenly, Ain can’t be contacted.”

Looking at Zergard, who was frowning, Eum spoke with a calm, soothing voice.

“Regrettably, it seems Ain has been defeated by the delegation.”

“What?!”

Zergard clenched his fist tightly. Seeing his trembling body, Eum slightly lowered his eyes and continued in a gloomy tone.

“We should have realized earlier that when Lady Resena Arnasus joined the delegation, she wasn’t simply participating as a guild master. It seems Jikan and Sharen, who had infiltrated the palace, were also defeated by Alken and Renard from the delegation.”

“…What on earth is going on? The original plan was to make the saint sacrifice herself instead of the king, whom Ain had taken hostage. But to be defeated so easily…?”