Takashi and Orneo built a grave for Allen in the garden. Of course, it was only a simple gesture, but they couldn\'t leave Allen\'s body where it was, at least for Kate\'s sake.

When Takashi returned to the villa, he found Excella by the table in the entryway with a tired look on her face.

"Excella. What about Kate?"

"She\'s in her room soothing Clarice. I think she\'s calmed down a little..."

"I see," Takashi nodded.

Excella gazed at him and murmured, "Are you really, going to fight Gharaga tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"I\'m against it. That guy is different from ordinary demons. Because Lord Hero\'s power does not affect him."

Orneo looked at Takashi with a wrinkled brow. He was looking at the wound on his cheek inflicted by Gharaga earlier. He advised.

"It\'s not too late to reconsider. Let\'s inform Nephira and call off the duel--"

"I\'ll duel him!" Takashi interrupted Orneo, causing the two to stare at him. "My power isn\'t completely useless. A little while ago, I was able to get Clarice back."

Takashi could not forgive Gharaga. While burying Allen, that feeling became even stronger. Orneo told him that Allen had taken his advice and told Gharaga that he was Suzuki\'s slave. And yet, Allen had been killed.

"I will definitely defeat Gharaga!"

"I understand how you feel. But there are humans and demons with broken brains. Gharaga is exactly like that. You shouldn\'t fight him. Lord Hero\'s power will be necessary for the future salvation of this world."

Takashi also understood Gharaga\'s abnormality. Takashi\'s legs trembled when his cheek got scratched. As Master Leelou had said, if he wanted to, Gharaga could kill him. Nevertheless...

"I will fight! This is a battle between Gharaga\'s ferocity and my cuteness!"

After saying this, Takashi wondered if he had said something strange about the bout. He noticed that Excella\'s eyes were on him.

"Not long ago, Lord Hero skipped all the way to the villa, didn\'t you?"

"Ah, yeah"

"Allen just got killed, and when Clarice was about to be killed as well, I couldn\'t believe you were skipping. It looked insane. Frankly, I thought of punching you in the face."

"I see... No, wait a minute! Did you really think that, Excella?"

"Yes. If Clarice had died due to that, I was going to wallop Lord Hero in the face."

"Moreover, wallop...!"

Takashi was shocked. As expected, from a human\'s point of view, they will think, "What is he doing? Gross!"

It was sad. He was trying. It had been his very best.

Then Excella smiled at him.

"But as a result, Clarice was saved. A swordmaster or a grand sorcerer couldn\'t have saved Clarice under such circumstances. In this world, there is only Lord Hero."

Then, Excella clasped Takashi\'s hand with both of her hands.

"I believe in you! In Lord Hero\'s power!"

Takashi nodded broadly to Excella. Maintaining the smile on her face, she put her hand on her bosom, took out a flower, and offered it to him.

"What\'s this?"

"It\'s a flower from the garden. Please put it in your hair if you would like. I hope it adds a little bit of cuteness."

Takashi did as he was told. He put the flower in his hair, then turned to Orneo and asked, "How is it?"

"Eh. No, well, that... I think it is cute..."

"N--Not so good, right? Let\'s not!" The princess pouted at Orneo\'s reaction.

"Or rather, Your Highness. I don\'t think that is what cuteness is all about."

"Is that so...? I apologize..." 

"N--No! I could understand your feelings!! Thank you, Excella!"

Although he removed the flower from his hair, Takashi still felt encouraged by her.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

One day, 30 years ago, Gharaga met a girl in the forest.

"Mr. Snake, Mr. Snake! You have such a cool face, you know!"

The little girl, not even half Gharaga\'s height, looked up at him and said such things.

Humans feared and abhorred the basilisk race Gharaga was part of. And Gharaga himself was taught from an early age by his parents that humans were slaves or food.  

And yet.

"I am Mimi! Nice to meet you, you know!"  

The girl was not afraid of Gharaga and even smiled at him.  

He thought about eating her, but the sight of the small, skinny Mimi made him lose his appetite.

Mimi took the liberty of telling him her personal story, even though Gharaga had not asked her about it. She had been living with her grandfather in a cabin in the forest, but he had died of an illness about a month ago.

"That\'s why Mimi, you know, was VERY lonely! But! I\'m so glad I met Gharaga!" 

"...I don\'t get what you mean!"