I finally made it back to the village.
It was just past noon, but after pulling an all-nighter, I headed straight to my room and collapsed onto my bed. I had the Healthy Body gifted to me by God, but I knew better than to abuse it by living recklessly. My hope was to wake up in time for dinner and then go back to sleep immediately afterward. Of course, there was a chance I’d sleep straight through and ruin my daily rhythm, but I’d deal with that when the time came.
The way the trip home had transformed into a parade still baffled me. The Demon King and the others had insisted on seeing us off, and the man’s popularity was truly staggering. Just by walking, he drew thunderous cheers from the crowds. He certainly lived up to his title.
I found myself wondering what the people thought of me, walking out in front of him. Maybe they took me for some kind of guide? I wasn't sure if a guide would normally be riding a Flying Carpet, but I figured it didn't really matter.
Dos and Draim had actually asked to join the procession in their dragon forms, but I turned them down, which left them pouting. It couldn't be helped—the streets of Shashato City weren't wide enough for dragons to go strolling through. We went with Miyo’s suggestion to have them wait on either side of the Teleportation Gate instead. They seemed to cheer up after that, so I suppose they were satisfied.
I’d worried the locals might panic at the sudden appearance of dragons, but they were remarkably unfazed. Draim’s Nest is nearby, after all, so I suppose they’ve grown accustomed to seeing them. I found myself envying their composure.
I did make one oversight regarding the Goroun Company. Since Shashato City is Michael-san's home turf, he gave me a stern talking-to for not keeping him in the loop. He told me he’d wanted to be notified whether it was for the search party or the parade.
Even so, regarding the search, I had only gone as a helper, so it hadn't been my place to make contact. That should have been handled by someone related to Count Pugyal or Magistrate Ifuls. As for the parade, I hadn't intended to hold one in the first place; it had just happened spontaneously. Still, since I was in the city anyway, it might have been better to at least send Michael-san a quick message. By the time he found out I was there and came to see me, it was already lunch, so we didn't have much time to talk. He did, however, make sure to join the return parade. He mentioned it would have been "dangerous" if he hadn't, though I wasn't entirely sure what he meant by that. I couldn't imagine there being any real danger in missing it.
Once I was back in the village, I was treated to the sight of the Angels in their full battle regalia. I couldn't exactly look away. They had been eager to march into Shashato City fully armed, but they’d been stopped out of respect for the Demon Kingdom’s national sentiment. Apparently, the two races had been at war until just a few centuries ago, and many demons have very long memories. It was a wise call to hold them back. Even just looking at them, I could feel their intense bloodlust radiating out. I definitely wanted to avoid inviting unnecessary trouble.
It struck me then that the gear Granmaria, Kudel, and Corone usually wore was actually quite modest. Their true armor was fashioned entirely from gold. Ordinarily, gold is a relatively weak metal, but this equipment possessed a mystical aura that defied physical logic. Apparently, it dated back to the era when they called themselves God-kin. On closer inspection, even their wings had gold embedded in them. It wasn't just for show, either; it served as a form of Magic Defense.
Their clothing was also different from their usual attire. To complement the golden equipment, they wore white and black outfits inscribed with magical patterns. It seemed these clothes alone offered significant protection. The thought of the Angel Race flying through the sky as enemies in this gear was genuinely terrifying, though they were certainly reliable as allies.
What really caught me off guard, though, was seeing Aurora, Tia’s second daughter, in a similar set of armor. It fit her tiny frame perfectly. When I asked when they’d had time to make it, it turned out to be the very gear Tia herself had worn as a child. It looked wonderful on her. I gave her a pat and told her as much. When she asked if she’d get a formal set when she grew up, and mentioned preparing equipment for Tiselle and the others, I couldn't bring myself to refuse. When it’s described as Angel Race Traditional Equipment, it’s hard to say no. I gave my permission to prepare sets for Rosemaria, Laladel, and Tolmane as well. I realized I needed to be more attentive to these racial traditions rather than leaving everything to Lu and the others.
I managed to wake up in time for dinner. Though I’d gone to sleep alone, I found Kuro and Yuki had snuck into the bed with me. They were both fast asleep on their backs, looking entirely too defenseless for fearsome wolves. Someone had even placed protective covers on their horns before they climbed in. I suspected Zabuton’s Children were behind that.
Sure enough, a row of the little spiders was lined up on the ceiling beams. I offered them a quiet "good morning." I told them I’d be heading back to sleep after dinner, but that I’d make time to play with them tomorrow. No sooner had I said it than Kuro and Yuki peered up at me, having woken at the sound of my voice. I gave them a nod. I’d play with them too, of course.