After Estia took the holy water,
The voice I'd been hearing—*'I don't want to be alone...'*—could no longer be heard after some time had passed.
"Heh, heeuuk... heeh..."
Drip drip—
Drool spilling from her mouth.
Estia let out only breaths steeped in pleasure, without any other movement.
"Estia."
"Heh, heeh... heuheuh..."
She seemed to be feeling good, as occasional laughter could be heard.
So drinking one bottle of holy water leaves her unable to maintain consciousness, collapsing like a doll like this.
Held in my arms like a puppet with cut strings.
Estia lay limply with her eyes hazily open.
"Heh, heheh... uh, heheh..."
"Such symptoms from just one bottle. The effects of holy water aren't that strong, yet..."
If the amount of holy water she drank today had been a regular drug sold on the market, it would have approached a lethal dose.
However, Estia didn't die, nor did any particular abnormalities appear in her body.
"Then, is the most dangerous symptom of holy water its 'addictiveness'?"
Addictiveness.
The body continuously craves holy water, and if you don't consume it, pain occurs.
Things with such strong addictiveness cannot be quit through one's own strength, and the more you take, the more your mind gets scraped away.
"Holy water with strong addictiveness that gives harmless happiness to the human body..."
Even my future self couldn't overcome it.
The addictiveness of holy water is certainly lethal.
More than that...
"Now, I've been by your side long enough, so how about sleeping in bed, Estia?"
"Eheheh... heeuuk...?"
Was that an answer?
Rather than sleeping held in my arms, sleeping in bed would be much more comfortable.
Holding Estia, I carefully laid her down on the bed.
"Ah, auut... heeh..."
As if pleasure was transmitted even from small movements, Estia let out a pleased voice.
To think the Saint of the Hero Party is in such a state.
The future is truly bleak.
After laying Estia on the bed, I removed the hood she was wearing.
"This should make it a bit easier to breathe."
"Heh, heheh... uheheh..."
"...I'll take that as thanks."
In this state, even if she wakes up like last time, she won't remember.
Now I need to look for a house to live in at Henencia.
I turned around to leave the room.
However...
"...Estia?"
"Uh, uuh... heuh..."
"...Let go of my hand, I'm busy."
Had her unconscious manifested?
Estia grabbed my hand as I tried to leave and wouldn't let go.
Squeeze—
As if she absolutely didn't want to lose me, she held on desperately with all her strength.
I muttered quietly toward Estia, though she couldn't hear me.
"Let go of my hand and rest comfortably, Estia."
"Eeh..."
Can't be helped.
I carefully extracted my hand from Estia's grasp.
Then I gently placed it on her chest.
A somewhat more comfortable breathing sound flowed from her mouth.
She had finally lost consciousness and fallen asleep.
"Sleep well, Estia."
"..."
If possible, may you have the best dreams.
Leaving behind a small whisper, I carefully left the room.
In front of it waited the person whose gaze I'd been feeling for a while.
A girl watching me through the crack in the door.
Hare.
I asked Hare as if nothing had happened.
"...Hare, do you have something to say?"
"Mister, I saw everything."
"...From where to where?"
"From beginning to end."
...I hope she didn't misunderstand.
Hare's expression was ominous.
Lifeless, murky red eyes stared at me.
If I had to describe it, it felt similar to a rose before it withers.
With such despairing eyes, Hare looked at me and asked.
"Mister, Hare is a good child, right...?"
"...Of course. You are a good child, Hare."
If after seeing this situation, she doesn't harbor other feelings toward Estia.
She can remain a good child.
Hare nodded at that answer and continued speaking.
It was a bit eerie.
"A good child. Hare wants to be a good child, Mister..."
"...I see, I hope you remain a good child."
"If Mister likes it, I like it too... Th-then, for Hare to remain a good child... I should pretend I didn't see what just happened, right...?"
"Pretend you didn't see?"
There's no need to pretend not to know.
Estia was just in pain, and I only held her to comfort her.
Though the story would be different if Hare viewed this not as 'mister' and 'child,' but as 'man' and 'woman.'
Just in case, I explained.
"Hare, just in case, let me say this. What you saw is a misunderstanding. Estia was in pain, so I held her to comfort her."
"...I understand, Mister. Th-that's what you want me to say, right...?"
No.
That's not it.
"That's not it, Hare. Really, Estia was in pain—"
"Ah, I understand, Mister... Hare understands everything... S-so... you can stop talking now."
Hare's tone was cold as she cut off my words, as if she didn't want to hear any more.
She looked like she'd fallen into her own world.
And as if she wouldn't give me a chance to clear up the misunderstanding, Hare began running away toward her room in the distance.
Leaving behind just one sentence.
"Mister. If... if you need someone to hold... please hold Hare instead of Estia... I, I've never done it before, but... I've, I've seen it a lot so I'm prepared..."
"Hare! It was a normal hug! That's not it, it's a misunderstand—"
Bang—!
Hare closed the door and hid in her room.
I understand what kind of misunderstanding she had.
But isn't it too much not to even give me time to clear it up?
*'More than that, I think this is the first time Hare has cut off my words.'*
Was she that shocked?
Well, witnessing that scene while harboring such feelings for me.
It's natural she'd be shocked.
Still, it doesn't particularly matter.
*'If Hare truly repented for her wrongdoing, she won't do anything. However, if she only pretended to understand her mistake, she'll surely harm Estia.'*
This is an opportunity to confirm Hare's true feelings.
Whether Hare is a 'good child' or a 'bad child.'
If Hare is a bad child...
Giving her time alone to think again wouldn't be bad either.
The next day.
Estia opened her eyes to a noisy sound.
"Uh, uuum... my head... where is this again...?"
What?
Why am I lying here?
Looking around, an unfamiliar room, an unfamiliar bed.
It was a very well-maintained room.
Estia shouted in surprise at such an unfamiliar room.
"N-no way! Kidnapped again?! Was I kidnapped again?!"
More than that, seeing how refreshed my body feels, I must have drunk holy water?!
Estia got up from the bed and headed toward the door.
In front of the door stood a girl she'd seen somewhere before.
"Was her name... Hare?"
"..."
Why is she here?
Hare was quietly, without saying anything.
Leaning against the wall with her eyes closed.
"Wh-what...? Anyway, I wasn't kidnapped again... Is she sleeping? She won't be happy sleeping standing up."
Well, I don't need to worry about it, she'll handle it herself.
Estia tried to leave to ask the mister what had happened.
One step.
Two steps.
And three steps.
When she stood in front of Hare...
Thud—
"Ah, aaak—!!"
Crash—!
With a loud noise, Estia fell right there.
A feeling like her leg caught on something.
"Wh-what? What did I trip on...?!"
There wasn't anything to trip over!?
There were no objects around that could cause a fall.
If there was anything to trip over...
About Hare's leg.
"Y-you...!! Hare! You just tripped me, didn't you!?"
"..."
"Apologize! You bad child! Th-the Goddess won't overlook your sin! You'll definitely pay for it!"
"..."
Will she really?
Hare slowly began to open her closed eyes.
The emotions hidden in those eyes were anger, jealousy.
However, unlike before, they were calmly controlled emotions.
Hare tilted her head and asked Estia.
"You're saying I tripped you...?"
"Y-yes! The Goddess must have seen everything!"
"...It's okay."
"...What?"
"Even if that Goddess saw, it doesn't matter..."
Hare looked down at Estia, who was relatively short.
With a cold expression filled with hatred.
Estia was momentarily terrified.
"If Mister didn't see it. That's enough for me..."
"Y-you...! I thought you were nice when I first saw you...!!"
"Hare is a good child..."
Just not to you.
You wag your tail at Mister and try to steal him from me.
You're my enemy.
Hare brought something small she was holding to Estia's neck.
"You committed the sin first yesterday... I didn't want to get angry like this either..."
"Yesterday? Wh-what sin did I...!? U-uaah...? A, a knife...?"
"So. Don't tell Mister about today."
Hare wants to remain a good child.
You can do that, right?
While thinking in her room, how could she avoid being caught by Mister?
After that contemplation, Hare came up with 'silencing through threats.'
And today was the moment to put that thought into practice.
*'I'll make sure you can never cling to Mister again...'*
As soon as she woke up in the morning, she took a dining knife from the kitchen and waited in front of Estia's room.
Though it was her first time using it in practice, she threatened Estia very skillfully.
And to that threat...
*'A, a knife... I, I don't like it... I'm, I'm scared...'*
Estia had no choice but to submit.
She nodded her head slightly in fear.
Then, Hare smiled as if satisfied and left.
Estia slumped down and blankly watched Hare leave.
—Everyone pack your things. I found a house, so we'll be moving residences.
Even though Mister's voice could be heard.
She couldn't properly collect herself.
"Th-this...!! Wh-what sin did I commit...! I, I didn't do anything...?! Wh-what! That heretic! Y-you, the Goddess won't let you get away with this! You bad child!"
Unable to remember the previous day.
She found the current situation utterly unfair.
However.
*'So. Don't tell Mister about today...'*
Because Hare holding a knife to her throat was too frightening, she decided to keep this matter in her heart.
Estia was a coward.
The day before, I walked around Henencia looking for houses with suitable properties.
From places with good commercial districts nearby but too small for five people to live.
To houses that weren't cleaned but just right for five people.
*'Take me too! I, I don't want to hear hallucinations!'*
I walked around Henencia with Luna, who didn't want to be separated from me.
*'Mister—! I want to eat that!'*
*'That too—!'*
*'This too!'*
...It cost quite a lot of money, so I won't take her out next time.
Anyway, I could say Luna enjoyed the city of Henencia in her own way.
And our new house selected after walking around like that.
It was very cheap because it wasn't in good condition.
Luna whispered quietly while looking at the house she saw yesterday.
"...Mister. This is the worst of all the houses we saw yesterday."
"It'll be good once we clean it."
"Th-the lawn is so overgrown! And the mansion is completely shabby!"
"It'll be good once we fix it."
"Uaaak—!!"
Luna screamed.
Judging by the others' reactions, Luna was the only one opposed.
"Waah... Mister and a mansion..."
Hare liked it.
"..."
Saten was reading a book without saying anything.
"O-Oppa! L-look at this!"
"Oppa...?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant..."
Estia had no thoughts.
She also seemed frightened of something.
She didn't seem to clearly remember yesterday's events.
"Anyway, we'll be staying here from today. It's a very nice place with six rooms and even a yard."
"Wait a minute—!!"
Does she have some complaint?
Luna objected loudly and asked.
"Then! Who's going to clear all this lush grass!"
"You can do it, Luna."
"Eh...?"
I have things to do.
Luna can pull the grass as physical training.
As for Estia, who has a risk of running away while I'm gone...
Hare would be perfect in the sense of reflection.
"I'll be going somewhere for a bit. Hare. Please watch Estia well."
"Yes!"
Hare seems to have organized her thoughts well yesterday.
Her answer was full of confidence, without negative emotions.
*'She didn't understand it was a misunderstanding... but resolved it in a different way?'*
Anyway, Estia's reaction was a bit lukewarm.
Before moving in earnest.
I had to visit the library for a while to properly learn about her past.
I decided to explain this to the children.
"I'll fix the house after I return, so you all rest in the yard for a while. And Luna."
"Eh?"
"Since it's physical training you haven't done for a while, do it diligently. Pull all the grass before I return. You can do it, right?"
"I can't! How am I supposed to do all this! When Mister leaves, I hear hallucinations too!"
Of course you can't.
That's how much I'm telling you to pull.
I spoke so Luna could focus on training.
"When I return, if even one blade of grass is visible to my eyes, I'll increase the intensity of your training."
"Ps-psychopath! I take back thinking you were nice! Mister is totally bad! Too much!"
"..."
What's so surprising about that?
Leaving behind Luna's voice.
I thought about Estia.
*'Even if not a complete cure, I can at least alleviate it somewhat.'*
To see Estia's past and find a solution.
I moved to meet Minerva after a long time.