"Sorry, I wasn't much use during the fight."

Qatar spoke out all of a sudden as the two who were silently gazing at the wagon floor looked up.

Vixella let out a slight breath. "Your point?"

"Huh?" Qatar seemed a bit dumbfounded.

Alexei laughed a little.

"At least you didn't run."

"Of course... It's because I believed the Young Man and the Missy would be able to do it!"

"Hm, shouldn't we all be hugging each other and jerking tears right now then?"

Vixella leaned back and closed her eyes with a slight smile.

The wagon continued to rumble forth, heading forth towards their destination.

The latter encounters werewolves and weaker monsters, which Alexei took care of singlehandedly.

It was the next town towards the east where Qatar had to deliver some trade goods imported by sea from Merchantia.

There, they had also delivered off the unconscious rogue adventurers, Connor's henchmen, to the local guild branch's custody.

Although the authorities did not know that there was one corpse left behind.

The crossbow woman left to be gobbled up by the local monsters in that forest path.

Then, they continued on their way back towards Devankul, taking a safer path this time around.

Upon seeing Vixella quietly dozing off, Alexei shuffled out the front to speak with Qatar.

"Hey... Qatar, can you offer me a piece of advice...? It's about Vixella-"

"About earlier?" Qatar hinted at him to quiet down.

Alexei nodded, "You saw it too, right... How she..."

"Yep, but I don't think we should pay any mind to it-"

Alexei completely ignored Qatar's advice.

"How should I ask her about what happened earlier?"

"Kid, there are some things you are better off not knowing-"

There was then a slight shuffle in the back within the wagon covers, which caused them to freeze.

"Hm, it's not good to talk about me behind my back."

"What did I say, kid?" Qatar sighed, "Good luck."

Alexei gulped, "Right... Sorry-"

"Come on then!" she yanked him back into the wagon covers as Qatar gasped.

Vixella then set Alexei up straight, "Well? Are you going to ask me properly?"

"Tell me... I... I want to know... Everything about you!"

"Hm, this is quite the unexpected and bold move you're making."

"Ahm, what do you mean?"

"So, you said you wanted to know more about me...?"

Vixella suddenly grasped his gorget and pulled him in.

"Wait, Vix...!? I didn't mean it that way-!!!"

He flinched upon seeing her face approach up close- But instead, he was shoved over.

"I'm just messing with you. I'm a man on the inside so I'm not interested in guys. Clear?"

"Yeah... Well, if you say it like that then I can be at ease...!"

Alexei scoffed, "Should I start calling you 'bro' or something?"

"Sure? Also, let us go hang out one day..."

Vixella seated herself, "Let's meet Luna."

"Whose? Wait, that clumsy herbalist?"

"Clumsy? Maybe... But I bet she's a hidden genius."

"Hidden genius at being clumsy?"

"You sure love looking down on people, don't you?"

"Too bad Vix, that's how I've survived alone for all this time."

"No wonder you don't have many friends."

"As if you do either?"

"Ttch. Then again, you're still a virgin, how unfortunate that not even I am nice enough to do it with you."

"Hey-!? Do you think I want to do it with you-!? W-Well, I do... But that doesn't count! It's just a manly instinct!"

He growled, "plus, you said you're not into guys, did you not-!? So, stop messing around regarding this topic!"

She raised her hands in surrender and began to laugh out loud.

"Aahahaha, you got serious all of a sudden! I'm so scared...!!!"

...

After sending Qatar off, the two took an express carriage back to Devankul.

The sun had begun to set and the skies were giving off a reddish-pink color.

The two had just got their bonus rewards from the guild for the quest complete, four gold coins.

It was added with the amount they estimated that the rogue adventurers' gear would at least sell for.

In total, from the advance payment, the final payment, and the loot... They both received 4 gold coins each.

After handing over the proof of arrest to the Guild Authorities, Vixella was immediately promoted to Iron-Plate.

She now had barely enough 'pocket money' to idle for about three weeks without doing any dangerous quests.

Alexei, on the other hand, had already invested most of his savings with the Elderian Royal Treasury long ago.

The time following that week was spent well.

Some R&R (Rest and Recuperation) from the stressful and harsh reality of an adventurer wasn't too bad of an idea.

Not knowing much of the local aspects, Vixella decided to hang around with Alexei who also decided to take a break.

The time they spent got them to know each other better, completely dispersing the perhaps invisible barrier between them.

She had also opened up to him, explaining everything about what 'summons' is... What she is... Does it matter?

In the end, Alexei decided not to question it any further and thought to just accept Vixella as the person she was.

Humans? Summons? What's the difference... In the end, they were all living beings with the same conscience.

From what Vixella had seen so far, Alexei was just your average normal person without too many faults here and there.

Yup, except that it just happened that he was involved in a traumatizing event where he lost all of his party members.

One of the party members who died, Layla, was also apparently Connor's blood-related sister.

It was probably the reason why he took action after seeing Alexei find a new 'woman'.

Anyways, after his party was disbanded, Alexei went to become a solo adventurer.

He had by then decided to only judge people by their ability to mutually stay alive.

This caused him to not fit in with most parties because the trust between them just couldn't be built properly.

Vixella didn't mind Alexei's temperament as much as the others since she was able to handle herself just fine.

Seemingly beginning to get along, the two decided to infinitely extend the party contract until either of them withdrew it.

After a few days, they decided to visit the herbalist Luna just as Vixella had suggested on the day Connor had attacked them.

"A-Ah! I-If it isn't Vixella... And Uhm... O-Oh are you two... Perhaps here to talk about... Pregnancy-!?"

Vixella casually presented Alexei before happily running up to take Luna by the hand.

"Yes! This is Alexei... And he's going to become my future husband! We're going to have five kids!"

It was sparkling all over, flowers began to bloom and-

"Oooh... C-Congratulations!"

Alexei, on the other hand, was trying his best not to laugh.

"Yeah? Anyways, we're not here to talk about pregnancy... I can't have children in the first place."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

A long moment of silence then came by as Alexei and Luna gaped at Vixella in mutual silence.

" "EEEEHHH-!?" "

A CENTURY LATER

(Disc Rewind SFX)

Summons cannot bear offspring.

This was further proven by the many attempts to do so for many generations.

Here's a quote from one of the more loyal companions of Xiveall Drofganl:

'You surely jest... Tis' your fault? No, we shall blame it on thy blessing!'

Luna took a deep breath as she tried to regain her usual self.

"Y-Yes... T-The news was just so... Shocking..."

"To think you carried such a burden," Alexei fell onto his knees, "My dear friend, Vixella... Whyyyyyyyyyyy------!?"

"Aah... To think that you cared this much for me... My dear friend, Alexei~!!!"

The two then began to hug each other in a brotherly way as they shed tears.

Luna awkwardly tapped Vixella, "Sorry to interrupt your... Manly moments...?"

The two, shortly returning to their usual composures, exchanged glances for a second then pushed each other away.

"U-Uhm... Yes... T-Then you m-must have s-some concerns regarding the hole on your b-breastplate...?"

"Wow, she's quite sharp for a clumsy one, huh."

Alexei subtly complimented Luna's insight.

Vixella winked as she pointed over.

"Told you she's a hidden genius."

"M-Mou...! E-Enough with the teasing, V-Vixellaaa~!"

"You're right," she took Luna by her hand, "Now... Let us have what they call a 'Girls Talk'...?"

The doorway leading up to the second floor was slammed shut in front of Alexei who was left alone in the dim-lit storefront.

"Wait, why did I even have to tag along in the first place then... Guys? Guys...? Oh, is this a joke? Should I laugh yet...?"

Since it was getting dark, Alexei could hear the crickets in the planted bushes alongside the railing of the landing outside.

...

...

...

A moment of silence came by as Vixella faced Luna under dim candlelight.

"I've studied many ancient works of literature about strange conditions yet I do not recall what you had described."

Luna spoke with a serious tone, not even stuttering once before closing her eyes to take a slight breath.

"Aah, that's unfortunate."

"Vixella, please be mind to not put yourself in reckless situations... That means no more armor testing."

There was a slight pause as she looked firmly into Vixella's eyes. "There might be dangerous results-"

"Hm, can't help it if the situation calls for it-"

"U n d e r s t o o d ?"

"Yes, ma'am..."

After the two walked back out into the storefront, Alexei was seen sitting by the waiting bench near the exit.

"Took you two long enough-!? Gah-!! Girls sure do take their time... Honestly, I would never understand-"

"Y-Yes-!? G-Girls take time when they d-do things-!? I-Is there a problem-!?"

Luna lit the oil lantern on the nearby shelf before turning to face Alexei with puffed cheeks.

He felt somewhat guilty for what he said and scratched his head awkwardly. "Well... Not really..."

"A-Anyways!! A-As her husband, y-you should learn to u-understand... A w-woman's needs! W-We will do it as long as w-we want!!"

"Uh... I think we're on two different pages...?"

Vixella sighed in dismay to play along. "Aah, you're right... What an unreliable future husband he is... He can't even last five seconds..."

"And how do you know that-!?" Alexei pinched the bridge of his nose, "And Vix... Can you please not?"

Luna grumbled angrily in disapproval upon hearing Vixella's remarks.

"Y-Yes! You s-should just find a new man, unlike this worthless trash!"

"Ahm, for some reason..." Alexei grasped his chest, "That sentence hurt me real bad?"

Vixella sneered and walked over.

"Do you need me to heal you, Alexei?"

"Nah, these are wounds that can never be healed... and it's all your fault...!"

...

After having said their goodbyes to Luna, the two stepped out onto the evening streets.

Oil lamps hanging on their designated posts illuminated the way as they idly walked on.

Yawning, Vixella stretched her arms upwards. "Alright, chief... Which inn shall we crash at tonight?"

"Gah... The night's still young so let's go to the local barkeep and cheer things up!"

"Y'know Alexei, I'm not a fan of drinking-"

"It's fine! I know this hidden gem among barkeeps that even you'll come to like!"

Despite what Vixella said, the bar drinking times were more fun than she had expected.

One could say she immediately became best friends with the bar and restaurant owner, Sally.

Vixella fell in love with her cooking skills and proposed aloud to her, "Aishiteru, Sally-san~!"

Sally, on the contrary to Luna, didn't react to the weird attempt but instead asked if Vixella could use healing magic.

Upon affirming aloud with confidence, a burning hot frying pan fresh from the kitchen was then whammed into her face.

The more normal stuff was meeting people and having long talks while drinking as the night went on and on.

The most proficient drinker of them all was but, of course, Vixella... Who else could it be, hm-?

She was the last person who was able to stand straight, not to mention think straight, in the bar.

Despite being offered gallons of free drinks by the crowd, she just did not want to get drunk at all.

Having taken dozens of ale mugs more than everyone, Vixella was surely frustrated to great extents.

Not to mention her natural resistance, this added up to the fact that she had an absurdly high Life Force.

She was thereby able to negate most drugs, poisons, or at least slow their effect to a significant extent.

This, unfortunately, included negating and slowing down the much-wanted effects of alcoholic foods and drinks.

Alexei, on the contrary, was so wasted that he couldn't even get up from the table and didn't become sober even after a splash of water.

After the restaurant barkeep had decided to close for the night, she carried him down the empty streets as they looked for an inn to stay.

Much to Vixella's attempts to find an inn, they were all already closed as traversing the midnight streets were quite troublesome.

Carrying the fully-armored and drunk Alexei over her shoulder like a grain sack, Vixella groaned out loud in dissatisfaction.

She paced around the street's corner before glancing up at a hanging sign that dimly lit under an oil lantern.

Thanks to her frustration, she missed the cheesy heart symbols and etchings that were present on the sign.

"Why are we here? You'd probably ask tomorrow? Well, since we already kissed, this much should be fine... Right?"

Vixella mumbled to herself as she stripped Alexei down to his rather bulging underwear and tossed him onto the bed.

Little did Vixella hesitate as she shortly after took off her breastplate and hopped onto the bed to sleep on the opposite side.

Comparable to the quite muscular Alexei, Vixella seemed to have a relatively feminine, well-endowed, and doll-like figure.

Little would most people know that the elegant frame would have more strength than the majority of larger husky men.

After long minutes of silence in the dark, slight shuffling noises were heard as Alexei took Vixella by her right hand.

“Ahmm, noo... Vix, I thought you weren't into guys... W-Wait... You can't... Nngnn...”

"Come on, bro... Don't use my hand to do stuff like that----!? Woah, better clean that up..."

“Nnn... Vix... D-Don't polish my bastard sword, ngnn... II won't be able to hold me back if you... Gah!"

"Sleep talking? How many times can you even---!? Again-! Hm, it sure will be fun for the innkeeper to clean the bedsheets."