Chapter 61

A few days after the battle with the Dungeon Master.

I was busy with construction work around my house.

"Hmm, should I plant some trees around here?"

The forest had been devastated by the aftermath of the battle. Especially the area I had entrusted to Hestia was reduced to white ash. It seemed that it had been burned to the ground with fire halfway through.

"I was doing it in this form until halfway, but there were too many, so I burned them all at once."

"It would have been helpful if you had considered the cleanup as well."

While talking like this, Hestia and I were using golems to transport the ash. It was then that—

"Hello! I came to greet you!"

"Huh, Anne?"

Anne had come to visit, the first time since the banquet.

"What brings you here? If it's a greeting, are you leaving?"

Anne was a messenger from the Armed City. Now that the threat of the Dungeon Master was gone, there was no reason for her to stay in this area.

So, I thought it was a farewell greeting, but—

"No, that's not it. This time, I will be living in Procia."

"Wh-What!?"

"I've been given land on the outskirts of Procia, close to this forest, and I've decided to open an item shop."

Hestia's movements froze. It seemed to be quite a shock, but I'll put that aside for now.

"Really? What's the reason for this sudden change?"

Weren't you in a pretty good position in the Armed City?

"Well, that's true. But I can give instructions from Procia, and more importantly, I want to get back to making and selling items."

"Come to think of it, you were originally an item seller, right?"

"Yes. And more than anything... huff... huff... I can be closer to Her Highness... I want to breathe the air near Her Highness..."

She said this while blushing.

Hestia took a slight step back at her expression, and this is serious.

In fact, I see. The item shop is just a pretext, isn't it?

"Ah, but it's not just Her Highness. Being near... um... Daiti-sama, I feel a light touch of the magic vortex, and it's really, really addictive... I've never felt such incredible power before..."

Ah, this is really bad.

I'm getting dragged into it too.

When I looked at Hestia, she seemed to sympathize with me a little.

Well, as long as she doesn't cause me any trouble, I don't mind what kind of fetish she has.

"Huff... I got off track. Um, so, as a token of our acquaintance, I'm distributing potions."

"Potions... Oh, right. The one I got last time, I used it on Diania, and it worked really well."

"Really?! ...Could it be that the land for the item shop was given to me thanks to Daiti-sama...?"

She mumbled something, but it seems she's getting along well with Diania. That's good.

"But that medicine is really amazing. It almost instantly healed the wounds."

"It's my masterpiece. Oh, right. If you've run out, I'll replenish it for you."

"Huh? Diania said it was valuable, is it okay?"

When I asked, Anne smiled.

"Yes! For me, the chance to be near Her Highness is more valuable!! If you let me hug you a little, I'll replenish it as much as you want!"

Saying this, she approached excitedly.

Of course, her gaze was on Hestia.

Hestia looked up at me with a resigned expression.

"Every time someone talks to me, I feel like I'm being hugged."

"Well, what's the problem? If it gets really bad, just tap and come to me."

After hugging Hestia, Anne replenished the medicine and left.

And it seems we have a new neighbor.

Although, it's a bit far to call them a neighbor.