Chapter 23

"Recently, monster attacks have been quite active."

"Yeah, that's true."

I was eating lunch while dealing with the monsters that appeared in the yard.

Sitting next to me, Sakura and I checked, and it turned out to be the same boar-type monster as the other day.

While doing something else, the accuracy drops quite a bit, but for a weak opponent, this is enough. If I instruct the golems to 'blow away anyone with hostility,' they will do so on their own, either blowing them away or throwing them.

Outside the window, the apple trees were clearly in a great dance.

By the time I finished lunch,

"Hmm, is it over?"

There was no movement left in the yard.

"Good work, Master."

"No, thank you for the lunch—wait, what?"

There seems to be a humanoid life reaction in the yard.

Since the golems didn't blow it away, it must be someone without hostility, perhaps a visitor.

"Let me go check. Sakura, can you clean up for me?"

"Yes, I'll take care of it. Have a good trip."

●●●

Leaving the dishes to Sakura, I went out to the yard and quickly found the source of the life reaction.

"—That's—"

In the apple orchard, there was a little girl.

I recognized her face, but... for some reason, her hair and clothes were white.

The last time, they were as black as if she had been splashed with ink—

"Hey, it's Hestia, right?"

When I called out, she looked at me and nodded.

"Hmm."

Even though it looks like a two-tone color, it's still her.

Among the people I've met in this world, Hestia is the closest to a normal person.

She's wearing the opposite of what she wore last time, perhaps a change of image.

"The last time, it was a disguise and makeup."

What changes with just the color of hair and clothes?

"It changes quite a bit. My hair is apparently very noticeable."

"Ah, it's white, after all."

It's so white that you can spot it in the forest at a glance.

"This is my natural look and casual wear. But when I travel in white, everyone gets noisy. I even get hassled by weirdos. The last time, I came straight after dyeing my hair black with my companions."

I see.

If a little girl like this is traveling, she probably has companions to take care of her.

"But you don't have to hide anymore, right? Did you find a place to settle down?"

"...Yes."

Hestia nodded firmly.

She must have changed from black to white because her travels are over.

I think that's a good thing, but—

"Hmm?"

For a moment, Hestia's appearance looked like she was wearing funeral attire.

Noticing my gaze, Hestia tilted her head.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with my clothes?"

"No, I just thought of similar clothes. They're worn by people close to death..."

"This is my only set of clothes."

Her tone was slightly pouting.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it badly."

"But it's fine. You're not wrong. I only wear this when I have to make a big, life-or-death decision."

A big decision, huh.

Settling down is indeed a big decision.

"Are you living around here?"

"Yes. Today... I came to greet you and thank you for the apples."

This kid is also here to say thanks.

The princess witch and this kid, people in this world seem to be unusually polite.

Well, that princess who wet herself did attack me at first.

"Do you have time now?"

"Hmm, I don't have anything to do today."

"Then, here."

Hestia handed me a piece of paper. It was a—

"...map?"

"Instead of a gift. A simplified world map. The forest next to this is Prussia. The witch's country. I started from here and traveled the world. The Holy Knight's country, the Kingdom, the Beast Country, and many others."

"Wow."

She pointed to the map and started naming places.

"Um... so the thanks are for teaching me about this world?"

"Yes. I've traveled a lot, so I know a lot. If there's something you don't know, I can tell you. Or do you already know all of this?"

"No, I don't know anything at all."

In fact, I thought it was better not to know.

However, I have no intention of leaving this house, but it's not a bad idea to know about the world. It's not good to always ask Sakura for information just because I don't know something.

"You and this land are very strong. I can tell that too."

And this kid seems to have noticed my magic power.

"—But even if you're strong, it's not a bad idea to have knowledge. So, about magic, creatures, and magic power, ask me anything you want to know."

"Alright, teach me, Teacher Hestia."

And so, from that day on, I began to absorb knowledge from this small teacher.

A caring female teacher (young dragon).