“Forfoza, we’re back!” Atilia yelled as the city came into sight, her energy had returned. The two slept for the entire trip and only woke up once they got close.

“What are you, a child?” Mimiyat snorted.

“Oh, you just have to ruin my parade, don’t you?”

“Part of my yawn… job.”

“Oh please, if you’re going to be sassy, at least don’t be sleepy at the same time!”

Mimiyat looked away, ignoring Atilia. Remy smiled wryly and looked out at the sea. It was already dark by the time they arrived, approaching midnight. The lights of the city glowed in the middle of the dark landscape, some of its light reflecting into the water below. He found himself genuinely wishing he had a camera. A small vessel carrying a port staff came to assist both ships into port. Louisa let go of the wheel, letting the port staff take control and guide them to their destination. Their arrival was, apparently, expected. As they pulled into port, a line of people waited below, anticipating their ship.

“Barett, you sure have a lot of fans,” Remy joked. Barett walked toward him, peering off the ship’s side. The second the people down there saw him, they began waving. Remy looked between him and the people below, not expecting this reaction.

“You know all of them?”

Barett narrowed his eyes.

“I think I recognize some of them… Oh. They’re from Lorto.”

“Your fellow villagers?”

“Mimiyat’s fellow villagers. I didn’t come from there.”

“Yeah.”

The ship pulled into port, the Ravart docked not far from them. Once the anchor had been lowered and the ship tied safely to port, they walked off the ship.

“Barett! Where have you been?!”

“Are you eating well? Are you alright?”

“Barett, welcome back! Little Mimi, thanks for telling us about this.”

“Little Mimi?” Mimiyat frowned at that nickname.

“Pfft. Little Mimi.” Atilia held back a snicker. Mimiyat turned and glared at her.

“I’m fine with Mimi, but not that!”

“Little Mimi, I’m officially calling you that now.”

“How dare you!” Mimiyat began wrestling with her. Another port staff came running in and broke up the fight.

“She hadn’t changed at all,” Barett commented before turning toward the crowd. He began speaking to them, greeting them and answering the questions they had. He looked like an idol who had just arrived at their concert location, with tons of loyal fans ready to greet him. Remy stepped aside, letting them catch up with each other.

“Sir Remy,” Louisa called him. Remy turned around to face her. She stood above the port’s wooden wharf, the pale moonlight reflecting off her smile. She did her salute, then bowed her head.

“Thank you so much for all you and your friends did. Admittedly, it is quite a wild ride.”

“We couldn’t have done that without you, either.”

“Yes. Who knows what would have happened had you not been there,” Atilia added, walking up and standing next to him. “Will you be going back to your ship?”

“I need to report everything in full detail to the captain. Please excuse me. I hope to be working with you again.”

“Same here. See you, and stay safe.” Remy and Atilia copied the knight’s salute. Louisa grinned and turned around, waving as she headed back toward the Ravart.

“So, back to the inn?”

“Sure, I’m tired.”

Atilia headed toward Barett and Mimiyat, who now stood together amid the crowd. She told the two that they would be heading out first before returning to Remy. They walked toward the shore, crossing the gate and entering Forfoza.

“Should we check in with the guild first?”

“Good idea.”

They turned and walked down the road toward the guild. Street lamps lit up the way, letting their white glow shine on the empty streets. It was a cold night, and from the way puddles filled the streets, it seemed that rain had passed. Remy looked at the skies above. A bundle of clouds floating freely.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

They soon arrived at the guild. Not many outworlders filled the guild, considering the hour. Most of the people there were bored-looking guild staff. Based on the stacks of paper behind the receptionist's table, there should be a lot of requests, but the guild didn’t post them this late. They walked up to one of the receptionists and Atilia began her report. The receptionist scribbled down every detail she said using a pencil, Remy made a note to buy one of them later. Atilia told the story from their departure, their crossing into the demon territory, their recovery of Barett, all the way until the ambush and how they managed to return.

Atilia decided to hide the thing regarding receiving her new weapon. The guild told them that their rewards would be processed and would soon be delivered to them. After the process was completed, Atilia tucked on Remy’s sleeve. Remy looked toward her and nodded.

“Is that all?”

“Yes, thank you for the information you provided. We appreciate it.”

Atilia then pulled Remy out of the guild.

“What is it?” Remy asked.

“Let’s try the inn on the third level. I’m curious about that one.”

Ever since they arrived in Forfoza, they always spent their nights in the inn connected to the guild, down on the first level.

“That’s a good idea.”

The two began climbing, making their way up the slope that connected the cities’ levels.

“Ah… I’m dying for some sleep.” Remy stretched his hands, enjoying the cold night wind blowing on his tired body.

“If you die, you won’t need sleep.”

“Haha, yeah, you’re right.”

From the place where they stood, they could see the port and the walls that surrounded it. The port and all the ships looked tiny from this high up. The crowd that surrounded Barett looked like a gathering of ants, and they had moved away from the docks. It seemed that they finished their talks, and began parting ways.

“He sure is popular,” Remy murmured.

“Yeah. Ah, they’re departing.” Atilia pointed toward one of the moving ships. The Ravart opened its sails and began navigating the port, passing the opening between the walls and heading to the open seas.

“I hope we can see them again.” Remy did a knight salute, or rather, an imitation of it as he watched the ship depart.

“Louisa, Captain Adabert, and everyone else.”

The ship hit the open waters, sailing above the clear seas underneath the moon’s glow. The couple then turned around, heading for their inn.

* ••

“So soft…” Atilia stuffed her face into one of the pillows, and began rolling left and right on the bed. Remy sat on the bedside, looking at his sweet little angel, charmed by her cuteness. Unable to hold himself, he lay next to her and cuddled his wife.

“My sweet angel is so cute.”

“Nyaa-”

She didn’t resist, letting him mess up her hair.

“Nyaa~~”

He then sat upright, and lifted her with his hands underneath her armpit, much like how someone lifted up a cat. He let her sit between his legs.

“Why don’t you try growing cat ears?”

“Meow?”

She began shaking her head. Remy moved her hair, revealing her normal, human ear, and kissed it.

“Nyaa~~”

“You’re so cute.”

“Would cat ears make me cuter?”

“Maybe?”

“Would you love me more if I had them?”

“Of course not. I love you the way you are,” Remy said as he moved his lips to her neck.

“Nyaa- Oh please, boys always say that, but you do have your own preferences, right?”

Remy let go of her neck and began messing with her hair once more. “Well, as a human being, I do, but does it really matter?”

“Of course it does. What if you’re stuck with someone you don’t fit in with for the rest of your life? What if you got stuck with an annoying brat that is angry all the time?”

“That sounds like you when you’re with Mimiyat.”

“I swear she gets on my nerves sometimes. I wonder if she’s doing that on purpose.”

“I’m surprised out of all people, she’s the one that managed to pull your not-so-angely’ side.”

“Is that even a word? Pretty sure Kathy could do that as well.”

“No idea.”

Atilia leaned back on him, pushing him down to the bed. She then lay above him facing up toward the ceiling. Remy reached out and hugged her, pulling her closer, the smell of her hair filling his nostrils.

“Still… your hair really is sweet. I like it.”

“Eh? Thanks.”

“Anyway… I feel part of being a couple is learning to accept your significant other the way they are.”

“... Do you regret choosing me?”

“Nope. Not at all. Not the slightest.”

“Damn, that’s some confidence.”

“How could I? You’re perfect. If anything, I think you’re the one doing the heavy work by adjusting to me.”

“I told you, I don’t have a personality. Adjusting to others isn’t hard for me.” She grasped his hands tightly, holding them above her stomach. Remy squeezed in a bit harder.

“You feel like a body pillow now.”

“You do know that can mean a lot of different things?”

“Adorable huggable thing,” Remy said as he rolled above the bed, taking her for the ride.

“Hey, don’t say it with a ‘thing’,” she said after he stopped.

“Sorry, sorry, my dear angel.”

“.... Sometimes I wonder if you’re too nice?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?” Remy asked. “I don’t think I’m that nice. I’m happy to hear you think of me like that, though.”

“Don’t change, okay?” Atilia turned around, resting her face on his chest. Remy patted her back.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Atilia looked up at him, smiled, then closed her eyes. It didn’t take long for her to drift off.

“Good night, Atilia.”

He kissed her forehead and went to sleep.