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The port city of Zant Port.

Its cityscape looked a lot like Wind Port, with plenty of sloping roads, but the harbor area was livelier than the city itself—so lively it felt as if the Adventurer Guild had been set up near the docks rather than inside the city.

There were differences, though. First, there were more wooden buildings here than in Wind Port. Maybe it was protection against the sea breeze, but the buildings were all painted in vivid colors. Street trees lined the city, and if you looked beyond the walls, you could see a lush forest.

Green everywhere. After growing used to the whites, grays, and browns of the Demon Continent, the sight felt dazzling.

It was only separated by a single sea, yet it felt like another world.

That said, maybe this was only to be expected of the Millis Continent. The people walking around didn't have the wildly chaotic, absurd variety of the Demon Race; instead, there were Beast Race people, humans, the Long-Ear Race, the Dwarf Race, and the Small-Person Race.

They were all races that looked more or less human.

The moment the ship docked, Aisha and Eris leapt off at incredible speed.

They stood on stable ground and took a deep breath.

For some reason, Aisha suddenly spoke slowly, like an old man.

"As I thought, breathing on steady ground is what makes me feel alive."

"Yes! I agree."

I had no idea where Aisha had learned to talk like that, and Eris just nodded along blankly.

I smiled and walked over to them.

"Anyway, shall we go to the Adventurer Guild first?"

Perhaps because we had left the Demon Continent, there were quite a few humans here. On the Demon Continent, you could barely see any humans at all.

We walked beneath the message board and started searching through the notices one by one.

Was it because this was the Millis Continent? There were so many more messages here... and they were all missing-person notices.

After looking for nearly half an hour, I found a message related to me... to our family. It was a message from Paul.

To Rudeus

Zenith and Aisha are both missing.

Norn and Lilia are under my protection.

I don't know where you are right now, but I believe you're capable enough to find your own way back, so I've postponed the search for you.

I will be going to the Millis Continent, because that is Zenith's homeland. I will also send word to Lilia's hometown and family to let them know she is safe.

Go to the northern part of the Central Continent and help search for people.

If you find anyone, write to the following address. Address: Millis Continent, Holy Country of Millis, capital Milishion, Adventurer Guild, party name [Buena Villager Search Party], group name [Fittoa Territory Search Group]

My own party is also at the address just given. If we leave, I will update this message.

Also, to those who know me and my family, as well as the former members of [Black Wolf's Fang], I hope you can help search for people.

Some of you have grudges against me. I won't ask you to forgive me. If you want to curse me, then curse me. If you want me to kneel down and lick your shoes clean, I'll do it. I've already lost all my possessions, so I can't offer any reward. I can only beg you to help me look for my family.

Written by Paul Greyrat.

I stood there in a daze for quite a while before I realized what it meant.

All the possibilities I had imagined before were true... But there was still good news... Paul, Lilia, and Norn were still alive...

Paul was in the capital of the Holy Country of Millis. From here, if we had a carriage, it would only take around three months to get there... In any case, I should first write him a letter to let him know I was safe and explain my current situation. Then we could rest for a few days, buy a carriage, and set off for the capital.

Get Aisha settled... Send Eris back to her homeland... Eris's home was on the way, so it didn't conflict with my heading to the Central Continent to search for people... That's right...

"Big brother..."

"Yeah. You saw it too, right?"

"Yeah..."

Then... what about Eris's family? Why wasn't there a message looking for Eris?

The worst possibility I could imagine was that they were all dead.

I turned to look at Eris. Her expression looked as if she hadn't realized anything at all.

"Eris... No matter what, I'll get you back to your homeland..."

Eris nodded woodenly.

"Rudeus, why are you suddenly saying that?"

"It's nothing... Let's go book an inn first, all right? We'll rest here for two days, and tomorrow I'll go buy a carriage."

"Mm!"

As expected, Eris had no idea what the current situation was... Should I keep it from her?

No, there was still a chance that my granduncle and Eris's father were alive, so it didn't count as hiding anything.

After we booked an inn, Aisha and Eris went to bathe together, while I sat at the table and wrote a letter to Paul.

"Rudeus, it's your turn!"

"Coming."

I put the letter I had finished writing back into the drawer.

"Hm? Where's Aisha? Getting ready to scrub my back again?"

"Looks like it!"

For some reason, I reached out and stroked Eris's cheek.

The moment I realized what I was doing, I quickly pulled my hand back.

"Sorry... It was reflex..."

Why?

Was it because I felt sorry for Eris?

If Eris knew I had touched her for a reason like that, she would definitely hit me.

"It's... it's fine!"

Eris sat down on the bed, her face red.

I was just about to step closer and chat with Eris for a bit when—

"Brother! Hurry up and come here!"

"Got it."

Seeing Eris's cheeks flushed bright red, I still chose the bathroom. Mainly because I felt like I probably needed to calm down...

In the bathroom, the two siblings showered stark naked.

Aisha washed my hair and scrubbed my back.

"Aisha, is there something you want to ask me for? Why are you trying so hard today?"

Aisha's hand suddenly stopped scrubbing my back.

"Mm..."

"What is it? Whatever it is, as long as I can do it, I'll agree."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I... after we get to the capital of the Holy Nation... I want to go to the Central Continent with you too, Brother..."

"Uh... can I ask why?"

"Because I like you, Brother~"

Aisha said it without the slightest hesitation, leaving me stunned for several seconds, wanting only to nod.

But I immediately came back to my senses.

"Don't joke around like that. What's the real reason?"

"That is the real reason... And besides, I'd just be causing Dad trouble..."

"If you're with me... it'll be dangerous."

"I'm about to become an advanced magician! And didn't you say so yourself, Brother? My shortened incantations are amazing! The swordsmanship Sister Eris has been teaching me has reached intermediate level too!"

"But you're only six."

"I'll be seven soon! Brother, didn't you leave home to become a teacher when you were eight? As long as you're strong enough, isn't that fine? It has nothing to do with age!"

I took a deep breath, not knowing how to answer.

Aisha started scrubbing my back again.

After a long silence—

"I... I'm afraid you'll get hurt... When I get to the Central Continent, I have to look for someone. I might become an adventurer, commission people all over the place... and search on my own at the same time."

"You can just protect me, Brother. And I'm really strong too. Back on the Demon Continent, you promised me you'd go adventuring with me."

"That was for when you grew up... Fine. But when the time comes, we'll have to talk to Father. If..."

"Yay! Brother, you're the best!"

Aisha ran right in front of me, wrapped her arms around my face, and gave me a kiss.

The scent of soap.

Honestly...

After washing up and leaving the bathroom, Eris had already fallen asleep.

I walked to her bedside.

"Why are you all so much trouble? Falling asleep without even drying your hair."

I helped Eris sit up.

She sat there drowsily while I used magic to dry her hair. When I turned my head, I found Aisha staring at me with eyes full of expectation.

"Didn't you already learn this spell?"

"I still want you to blow-dry it for me, Big Brother~"

"Fine, fine. Sit over here."

"Mm!"

After I dried Aisha's hair in my arms as well, I took that letter out of the drawer and glanced at the sky outside the window.

"Aisha, I'm going out to have this letter sent. If you get hungry, just tell the inn's front desk downstairs. We booked the most expensive room, so they'll bring food up."

"Got it~"

After saying that, Aisha yawned and lay straight down.

I smiled, left the inn alone, and headed to the Adventurer Guild, where I entrusted the written letter to the front desk.

In this world, letters were delivered by birds. I didn't know what kind of birds they were, but they could deliver one within a week, which was still pretty fast.

When I returned to the inn, Aisha and Eris were still asleep.

"You two haven't even eaten yet..."

I felt more and more like a mother, taking care of these two...

After thinking it over, I decided to let it go. Because of the boat ride, the two of them really probably hadn't slept well.

I went downstairs alone to eat, then returned to the inn and lay on the bed, thinking about our itinerary from here on.