The town was in a festive state. Banners of different colors hung on the walls, bards sang their songs nearby the stall that sells meat and drinks.

The princess was coming, who would not be excited?

Patrols seem busier than usual as they bustle through the crowd. They could not allow anyone to cause a scene.

In front of the gate of the town, guards lined up carrying their spear and sword, shield at the side, they are ready for war.

Before them is a man wearing white heavy armor, decorated with a colorful rainbow feather. His shield and sword filled with sparkling gem and stone. His full steel helmet was replaced by a pure white one.

Darwyn gazes upon the hundreds of guards sent by His Majesty himself. Just what are they thinking? He wondered.

Why do they have to parade at this little town near the border? Today, he was assigned to protect the princess and to make sure that the festival would proceed smoothly.

Aversia, grant me strength and presence of mind, I need your presence and guidance... He recited a small prayer to his heart.

Then, from afar, he spotted several carriages surrounded by knights in horses.

“They are here!” Darwyn shouted at the top of his lungs so even the guards at the back can hear him, of which they do.

They said that paladins are chosen not because of their power but because of their charisma, and seeing Darwyn ordering the guards like a general hardened by wars, naturally, maybe there was some truth to those rumors.

When the carriage of the princess arrived, he saluted and said “Welcome to our humble town Princess Avellana! Shall I escort you then?”.

The first thing that came out from the carriage was not the princess but her retainers, assisting the princess carefully as they could.

A soft wavey silver hair, pale white skin, and blue deep eyes. Her body was slim, but the grace radiating from it made her rather fascinating.

She was the type that men would protect just because. Her face seems distant and dreamy, an expression that would capture heart regardless of sex.

The white dress sparkles as they reflected the rays of sunlight, the small crown at the top of her head was tilted slightly. Her earrings dangled as she exited the carriage.

“Thank you, Sir Darwyn, for agreeing to my father's whims.” She said softly.

“It is me who is grateful Princess Avellana,” Darwyn said with his usual deep voice.

“How was the armor sent by father?”

“It was a bit excessive, not suitable for combat.” He grunted.

“Fufufu, it is as the rumors say.” She chuckled to herself. Suddenly, a young man called to the princess with “Avellana!” while waving his hand.

A young man with black hair and black eyes, his face was not from this continent as it looked different.

“Hero Keizo.” The princess said.

Hero? What did she mean by that? Darwyn observed the young man who approached them with a smile on his face.

“Hello, my name is Keizo Kanno, nice to meet you, Sir Darwyn,” He said as he bows his head.

“You know me?”

“Yes! I've heard that you're one of the few A-ranked adventurers in this country.” Keizo replied.

“Sir Darwyn, I will explain to you later,” Avellana said.

“I see. Then... Guards!” He called out. “Go to your formation!”

***

The townspeople gathered to see the face of the famous Snow Princess, but who was that young man that stood beside her? Her fiance?

As such, rumors rose with the unfamiliar face of the young man. The peanut gallery turned its head to each other with questioning faces.

Then, an old man wearing a violet robe with roses sewn into it. A priest of Frye, the goddess of love, stood before the confused crowd.

“Everyone! I am disheartened to tell you, that the revival of the demon lord is near! And soon, his legion of vile demons would roam this planet!”

“Huh! Demon lord!”

“Demon lord!? Oh, shi—”

“That would explain the unusual sightings of demons in this material world”

The gallery roared to the unexpected news. The bliss from their faces was erased, and replaced by desperation and panic.

The priest smiled as if calming the crowd. “But worry not! Fyre did not abandon us!” He pointed at the black-haired man beside him and exclaimed “This is the Hero Keizo! Fyre sent him to defeat the demon lord!”

Even with that, the crowd didn't stop their clamor. How could a young man like him, who has not reached his prime yet, could defeat the demon lord?

The priest clenched his fist as he proclaimed “The goddess gave him a blessing! A certain power that only he has! Unlike us, the hero has infinite potential! He's not held by the boundaries of a mortal flesh! We the church of love, and His Highness, will train the hero into someone who will save us all!”

He fixed his gaze unto the other side of the crowd. “The demon lord has been defeated once! We can do it again, and this time, the hero will lead us all! ”

The priest managed to gain sympathy from the majority of town people, with them erupting in applaud and cheers.

Of course, there are some that did not buy his words and let some nasty remarks under his nose.

He managed to calm the crowd and raise the reputation of his church.

As expected of the follower of Fyre, they know how to handle people.

Blending in the crowd, a certain female wizard of pink hair was making a complicated face.

“Why are they here!? What should I do!?” She grasped her head in despair as she looked at the smiling face of the hero.

“Damn you Keizo! Don't drag me into this!” Liliana sneered at the innocent-looking hero.

Well, she didn't realize that this was what she called "flag" of her reuniting with the princess and the hero.

***

The day has passed and the festival went as expected. The princess and the hero are now resting inside a mansion located in the middle of the town.

Of course, tons of guards are patrolling the area. With tight security, no thief or rouge could enter the place.

Inside the mansion, both the princess and the hero could be seen eating together along with several important people.

Darwyn was standing near the door with his full armor on, making him look like an armor decoration nobles often have.

“The event was quite a success, we introduced the hero well! Cheers!”

They raised their glass in unison. Though the hero didn't have any alcoholic drink with him, he still raised his glass.

Then they proceed to talk politics, of which Darwyn could not care about. Though he was looking at them, he did not listen.

He stood firm, not fazed by the heaviness of his armor that he wore for the entire day.

Still better than fighting monsters. He thought.

Knock knock knock.

The door opened slowly. “Excuse me, but there seems someone calling for Sir Darwyn.” The servant said. He looked for the princess for approval, Avellana nodded with a smile.

“Allow me to excuse myself,” He said, then followed the servant.

His loud footstep echoed the hallway as he strode violently. Now that there are no nobles around him, he could act the way he used to.

Reaching the entrance of the mansion, several guard straighten up their back and saluted at him with his arrival.

It was the middle of the night, the moon and the star tainted everything with their light, the sound of laughter and cheers from the townies a far entered his ear.

What waiting for him was a girl who he knew well.

Wearing priestess clothes of Aversia, she glanced at him nervously.

“This girl said that she was a follower of Aversia, and said that handout from the goddess came”

“I see, I will handle this, you should go back to your post”

““Yes sir!””

The two were alone and Liliana approached Darwyn with an apologetic expression.

“Erm... I mean no disgrace to your goddess...”

“...”

She knows that wearing clothes of certain religions but having no association with it could be taken as an insult.

“I don't mind. Aversia is forgiving and merciful... To some extent.”

“To some extent!” She shouted. Her legs trembled in fear as she bit nails comically. “I-I won't be cursed right!?” She said.

“No... I think”

“You think! Oh, what should I do! I didn't anger her right!?”

“Aversia would not be angry at something like this... Perhaps.”

“Give me a clear answer!”

“Anyway, what are you doing here?”

“You're still not answering my question!”

She remembered quite well how a certain old priestess approached her and listened to her. She was kind and caring and even helped her with her problem.

“Just say my name to Darwyn, I'm sure that he will help you.” The old woman's voice rung to her head.

“You see... An old priestess with the name of Sinthia approached me and said that you can help me...”

“Mother said that?” He could see that happening.

“As long as it's not illegal, then I won't mind helping.” He said.

“It's quite long... Will you hear me out?”

***

Near the mansion, a wooden bench was built, and there, Liliana sat. The luminescence of stars and the moon was the only light they have.

“Are you sure you don't want to sit?”

“No, the bench will be destroyed.”

The mere weight of him could easily break any bench, what more if his armor is added?

“Right... So it started when I was still a child. I have always liked magic since then you see, so my parents decided to teach me magic.”

“I see...”

“I did well in my study, I passed the magic academy with honors. I did all of that because I love magic” She said.

“But then they informed me that a hero that was given to us by the gods appeared, and the wanted me to be his party member. I'm like “Sure” but when I saw the hero... I just couldn't do it...”

“...Can you tell me exactly why?”

Her hands clenched into a fist, grappling the hem of her clothes tightly. After taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes.

“That hero bastard... I heard him talking to himself... I heard him...” Her voice trembling.

“What?”

Then with an angry face, she looked at him.

“That bastard wants to create a harem of his own! I don't want to be a part of it!”

“...Huh?”

“Keizo! You highschool pervert! You read to much light novel you—Errg! I didn't know that I could feel this much anger!”

After venting her frustration on the ground by stomping her feet on the ground, she stood up.

“Please don't tell them that I'm here! No matter what, no matter when! I'm begging you Darwyn!”

“...So this is what true disappointment feels like...”

“Ha? Are you listening to me? This problem is much more than the demon lord! My purity as at stake! Who knows what will that pervert do to me!”

What is a harem? He wanted to ask but he has a feeling that it will be a pointless question.

“Is that it? Then I won't tell them about you.”

Her face bloomed like a flower in spring. “Thank you, Darwyn!” With her arms open wide, overwhelmed by gratitude, she hugged him.

“You're cold!” She said.

“...”

Her warmth did not reach Darwyn as he was covered in metal.

“Is that all?” He said with his usual deep voice.

Still hugging him, she looked up. “Hhmm, I guess that's it, hehe!” Revealing her white teeth with a smile, she closed her eyes in delight.