"Let go! Let go of me!"
"Blasphemy! This is blasphemy!"
Before Hestia could finish spouting her twisted reasoning.
Tsubaki stepped forward and grabbed the back collar of her white divine robe, as though picking up a disobedient kitten.
Then.
She gave a slight tug.
"Huh, huh, huh?!!"
Hestia's entire body rose into the air, her limbs flailing helplessly.
"Let me go!"
"Tsubaki, you insolent wretch!"
"I'm a god! I'm an exalted goddess-aaah!"
"Yes, yes, exalted Lady Hestia."
Tsubaki completely ignored the struggling goddess in her hand, carrying her outside while beckoning to the girls still standing there in a daze.
"What are you still standing around for?"
"Let's go!"
"The sooner we leave, the sooner we're back!"
"Ah... right!"
Only then did the girls come to their senses and hurry after her.
Just before they left.
Hestia still refused to give up, clawing at the doorframe as her blue eyes gazed pitifully at Haimo.
"Haimo-!"
"Make sure you wait for me!"
"I'll definitely be back-!!"
She made it look like they were being parted by life and death.
Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was being abducted.
"..."
Haimo said nothing, smiling as he waved.
"Then we'll be going now, Lord Haimo."
"See you in a bit."
Tsubaki waved.
The girls likewise waved goodbye at the doorway.
The black bear Fierce Man and its cub also waved their paws with a goofy air.
"All right, off you go."
Haimo stood on the steps, watching the group leave.
The clamor gradually faded into the distance.
Until the last figure disappeared around the street corner.
The smile on Haimo's face.
At that moment, it slowly faded like an ebbing tide.
"..."
Standing on the steps, Haimo turned his head slightly and gently tapped the spear in his