Smiling at the goblin soldiers who were also part of his group, Suzuki slowly walked over to Nephira.

"Nephira."  

In front of the gathered demons, Nephira forced away her happy expression and put on a scowl.

"I\'m sorry I ran away so abruptly and didn\'t call you until now."

Hm. Nephira snorted, but inwardly she was relieved. It seemed that Suzuki was no longer angry with her.

(Ah--- I\'m so glad!)

"Let\'s leave it at that. Anyway, the military duel was splendid. From today onwards, you are a Bronze-rank soldier, two ranks above a Stone-rank soldier. Once again, you will be granted permission to have slaves. I will also give you a small territory of your own."

"Thank you," Suzuki answered and smiled happily. 

While Nephira was staring at him, thinking how cute he was and how she wanted to kiss him, Excella walked up to them. She bent her hips in front of Suzuki and bowed her head politely.

"I\'m Excella. From today, I will serve you, Lord Hero, as your slave."

"Y--You don\'t have to be so formal! Or rather, instead of master-slave, let\'s be friends, you and me!"

And then they both laughed together. While watching that scene, Nephira was suddenly enveloped in a feeling of loneliness.

(Ugh, Suzuki...! Are you going to leave me just like this...?)

However, Suzuki told Nephira with a smile on his face.

"I\'m going out for a bit now! I\'ll be back at the castle for dinner."

"Huun? Are you, coming back to the castle?"

"I\'m Nephira\'s familiar, right? I\'m supposed to be around as much as possible."

"I--I see! That\'s RIGHT! You are, my familiar!"

(Ufufu! That\'s right, that\'s how it is---! Suzuki is my familiar---! We don\'t have to separate just because he received territory, right?! Ufufufu!)

While Nephira\'s head was a field of flowers from joy, Suzuki and Excella had left the training ground together.

◇◇◇◇◇

"Um... Lord Hero. Where are we going?"

"There is someone I want you to meet, Excella!"

Takashi held Excella\'s hand as he walked happily through the town. His destination was Leelou\'s cabin on the outskirts of town.

(Pritis, impressive! Actually, Master Leelou is even more amazing for thinking of such techniques!)

During his training, Leelou was very strict with Takashi. He could hardly remember her praising him. However, Takashi became a Bronze-rank soldier and gained territory.

Imagining his master\'s smiling face while saying, "Well done!", Takashi arrived at the mountain cabin.

"Master!! I, did it!! Thanks to Pritis, I won a duel!!"

He opened the door and shouted, but the cabin was empty, like a haunted place.

"Master...?"

He thought she might be out shopping, but he soon realized something was wrong. The bookshelves were empty. The blankets and other things were missing. It didn\'t have a lived-in feeling; it was as if she had moved out of the house.

Takashi soon noticed that a letter and the scroll of Pritis had been placed on the table, the same table where Leelou used to read her books.  

Takashi took the letter in his hands.

"Hey, Suzuki! It seemed that Serphiano, the Demon Lord\'s Army Chief Advisor, had noticed my presence with her third eye. I will leave this country before Serphiano comes back to Leirune again. I bid you farewell."

"N--No way! Master...!"

Takashi\'s hand trembled as he held the letter.

"I\'m going to tell you the truth. There are other reasons for our parting. I thought it would not be good for either of us if we stayed together. I am human. Your ability does not work on me. Yet it is strange. As I stood by your side, I grew to love you more and more as I watched you work so hard. It is not proper for a master to be charmed by her pupil.

"If you have charmed even me, a human, then surely you can save the world with your cuteness. Polish up your techniques even more. Let us work together under the same sky to create a new world. We may be far apart, but our feelings are the same."

The letter ended there. Next to Excella, who was looking at him with concern, Takashi clutched the letter in his hand.

"Master whaaaaaaaaaaaaa--!!"

Then, Takashi hugged the letter and wept inconsolably.

(I... never thanked my master even once! I made fun of the Pritis she created for my sake! And yet... I can\'t believe we\'re parting ways like this!)

...After letting him cry for a while, Excella spoke to Takashi in a gentle voice.

"Lord Hero. You achieved your earlier victory thanks to this person, correct...?" 

"Ya. That\'s right. It was all thanks to Master Leelou."

At that moment, Excella put her hand over her mouth as if she had just realized something.

"If I may ask, is that master a peach-haired person?"

"Do you know her!?"

"With peach-colored hair, named Leelou. If so, it must be her. I heard that she was killed in battle at the hands of the Demon Lord\'s army during the Great War but... she is still alive, isn\'t she...!"

Excella was so moved that she burst into tears.

"Excella. Who in the world is Master...?"

"Lord Hero\'s mentor is the greatest mind among humans------ Former Grand Tactician of the Imperial Army, Lady Leelou Dimension. No doubt."

"Former Grand Tactician of the Imperial Army...?"

"During the Great War, we used to say things like *\'Demon Lord\'s Army has Serphiano, but the Imperial Army has Leelou\' *to lift our spirits. The Demon Lord\'s Army had an overwhelming disparity in military strength over the Imperial Army, not to mention the difference in individual abilities. But even so, we were able to hold out for several years because of the presence of that one person."

Excella wiped her tears with her finger and smiled.

"It seems that Lady Grand Tactician is also working to save the world. If you continue aspiring to save the world, Lord Hero, I\'m sure you\'ll meet her again at some point."

"I see...?"

Takashi recalled what was written in the letter. That\'s right. He is not alone. His master is fighting for world peace in a different place, using all her wisdom.

(Then, someday! Just like Excella said, I\'ll meet you, Master!)

By then, He\'ll have become a splendid Hero worthy of the title---Takashi was determined to do so.