Chapter 240: Transient Happiness

“Ryuushin-sama, please have this too.”

“T-Thanks.”

Right now, Hinata’s village is currently holding a reception for me, the one who saved them from that evil dragon.

Hinata sat beside me as she served the dishes that the villagers prepared to me.

She (yeah, a girl!) was really close to me so my heart is pounding.

I did request that they serve me some food whenever I visit this place to play in exchange for my protection, but they hurriedly prepared a feast to celebrate the village’s liberation as well as to express their gratitude to me.

That scum dragon had ruled over this place for a long time and the four villages’ interactions were restricted by his minions, so they didn’t have a wide array of dishes.

Still, the food’s quality wasn’t so bad.

The evil dragon wanted to eat delicious humans, so he would order his underlings to bring ingredients and daily necessities to the villages that were under his dominion.

Even if they were just minions of that scum dragon, some of them could morph into humans; in fact, they would bring the ingredients while in their human form.

“Ryuushin-sama, I’ll go get something to drink since there’s no more here. What do you wish to have?”

“Oh, I want the red, sweet one that I drank earlier. It’s delish. Do you still have that?”

“Rouvier, is it. Yes, I will get some!”

Hinata left after saying that.

The villager tended to Hinata’s wounds after we saved the village up to the time the feast started.

The women half-forced her to take a bath to cleanse away the dirt on her body

They help groom her, and after they’re done, Hinata was so lovely when he appeared again before me.

Her hair that turned blackish because it was caked with sand, dirt and blood turned into smooth, chocolate brown tresses.

Nobody here could use more advance healing magic than a mid-tier level, so there were still traces of wounds on Hinata’s face and body, but her skin looked translucent, it’s really beautiful.

I decided to ask Halt or Ryuka to heal her wounds.

Those two’s recovery magic could even heal a few years’ old scar.

“Ryuushin-sama, I am really grateful that you saved our village this time.”

The village chief striked a conversation while I was waiting for Hinata.

“No worries. There’s something I want to ask, is that okay?”

“Yes, by all means.”

“Hinata’s family…are they perhaps gone?”

I haven’t met a single person who could possibly be her family ever since I took her home.

Since I saved their family and their daughter, I was pretty sure they’d definitely call out to me.

“...Four years ago, Hinata’s parents set out to fight against the evil dragon when it was decided that she would be the next sacrifice. They were then killed.”

The sacrifices were chosen by the evil dragon himself through his minions.

The lot fell onto Hinata.

Her parents were both killed, so Hinata fell into depression for a while, but the scum dragon’s underling told her that the entire village would be annihilated if she didn’t become the sacrifice as planned.

Since then, she obediently obeyed the underlings.

“Ryuushin-sama, you are the benefactor who freed our village, and at the same time, you are also the one who avenged her parents.”

“...I see.”

It would be great if we could revive her parents, but it’s been years since they died so it would be impossible even with Ryuka’s [Resurrection].

Besides, their remains had been carried to the scum dragon’s lair and was eaten, apparently.

Their bones were probably among the ones I saw at his cave back then.

We should probably take all those remains away from there and hold a memorial service as soon as possible.

The former Saintess Seira who just recently became Halt’s wife could probably guide the souls of the humans that that evil dragon killed to the place they must go.

Alright, let’s discuss this with the chief after this feast.

“Ryuushin-sama, thanks for waiting.”

Hinata returned with a new dish along with the drinks.

“Hinata has returned, so I will take my leave. Ryuushin-sama, please enjoy yourself.”

“Yeah, thanks, will do that.”

The chief left.

Maybe it’s because I declared that I like Hinata.

The seats of the other villagers were also situated a bit farther from where Hinata and I were sitting.

Nobody tried to approach us while we’re talking.

Seemed like they’re being considerate, I guess.

By the way, Hinata —

“Ryuushin-sama, this one is my favorite. Please do try it.”

“Yup, thanks.”

She had become very cheerful.

Her smile is so adorable.

Not only that, she’s really close to me.

Half-way through the feast, she’s started to cling to me.

I’ve rarely been touched by a girl other than my older sis Ryuka, so my heart was racing.

Why do girls have to smell this nice?

And Hinata’s hair, it looks really smooth, probably feels really nice, too.

…Is it okay to touch it?

Just a bit is fine, right? I’m her savior, after all.

I gently stroked her.

Hinata was shocked by my sudden movement, and her body trembled slightly.

“Ah, s-sorry.”

“No, it’s alright. Ahm… I’m really happy that Ryuushin-sama touched me…”

I hurriedly took my hand back, but it seemed that she wasn’t disgusted by it.

“My parents also praised my hair, and I’m really proud of it. If it’s okay with you, would you like to touch it more, Ryuushin-sama?”

She asked me to touch her.

Then, there’s no helping it, right.

I stroked her hair.

Yeah, just as I thought, it’s really smooth and feels really great.

“...Ryuushin-sama.”

Hinata leaned her head on my body.

FuooooOOOHHHHH!!!!

W-what’s with this girl? Isn’t she way too cute!?

I saw Halt flirting with his wives in the classroom from time to time.

There’s an outsider like me watching them, so I wonder whether they don’t get shy, but —

I got it now.

From the standpoint of the parties involved, they don’t care about the others’ gazes.

Such a pretty girl is clinging on me.

Ahhh, what bliss.

To heck with whatever’s happening around us.

I enjoyed this time with Hinata for a while.