Chapter 17: A Sudden Visitor
About five months after coming to the Selenia Republic.
On an autumn afternoon when the mountains were dyed red and yellow.
Lydia was harvesting pumpkins in the garden.
In the small field, orange pumpkins far larger than her head were lined up.
As she snipped the vines with scissors and harvested them, she felt warm and pleased.
“Fufu, they look sweet and delicious.”
Since Leohart loved pumpkins, she had put extra effort into growing them.
She took out her magic staff and poured magic power into it.
The pumpkins floated gently into the air.
Then, guiding them softly into the house’s storage room, she let out a breath.
“I’ve gotten much better.”
Before, she had too much magic power and wasn’t good at controlling it.
Once, when she tried to carry watermelons, she had banged them into everything and ended up splattered with juice.
But after coming here and gaining experience maintaining the house and jointly developing magic tools at the adventurers’ guild, she had improved a great deal.
She harvested pumpkin after pumpkin.
Under the clear autumn sky, orange pumpkins floated softly.
And just as she finished carrying the last one and stretched in relief—at that moment.
Chirin, chirin.
The bell attached to the gate rang.
‘Who could it be?’
Lydia walked up to the sturdy wooden gate.
She flipped open the small window set into the door.
“Yes, may I ask who you are?”
There stood a slender young man wearing a hood.
He was a handsome youth with blond hair and green eyes, a bright demeanor, wearing understated but clearly expensive clothes, and holding an impressive staff.
When he saw Lydia, he looked surprised.
“Uh, um, I was told at the adventurers’ guild that this is Leohart’s house, so I came, but…”
So he came from the adventurers’ guild, Lydia thought, smiling gently.
“Yes, Leohart lives here. May I ask who you are?”
The young man straightened his posture politely.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Erdo, a mage who worked together with Leohart in the Dean Empire.”
“Oh my, together?”
“Yes. I happened to be nearby, so I thought I’d stop by. Is he perhaps not home?”
“Yes,” she answered, thinking as she did so.
If he was Leohart’s former colleague, then he must be someone who had helped him.
She couldn’t very well leave him waiting outside the gate.
‘He’s someone Leohart knows, so it should be fine.’
Lydia unlatched the sturdy lock and opened the gate.
“Leohart is out at the moment, so please come inside and wait.”
Erdo’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Huh? Um, is it really okay for me to come in?”
“Yes. You’re an acquaintance of Leohart’s, right?”
“…Yes, that’s true, but I was just thinking it’s awfully trusting to let someone you just met into your home so easily…”
Muttering quietly to himself, Erdo entered hesitantly.
Then he looked around at the charming garden full of flowers and the house, his eyes going wide.
“…Um, excuse me, this is a very cute house, but is this really Leohart’s home?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Uh, Leohart is the black-haired, red-eyed man, right? With the scary glare?”
Lydia tilted her head.
“Yes, black hair and red eyes. I think his eyes are gentle, though.”
“Gentle…?”
With a confused expression, Erdo was guided to a white round table set beneath a grape arbor.
After inviting him to sit, Lydia said, “I’ll bring something out,” and went inside the house.
‘This is the first time one of Leohart’s acquaintances has come to visit.’
He had said he worked as a knight in the Dean Empire.
That meant Erdo was likely a mage affiliated with the knight order.
Then, carrying sweets and a tea set back outside, Lydia spoke to the oddly fidgety Erdo.
“I’ll pour the tea.”
“Thank you very much.”
As she poured tea into the cups, she heard—
Kiiii.
The sound of the gate opening behind her.
‘Oh, he’s back.’
As she looked up while pouring tea, she saw Erdo sitting across from her, frozen pale as he stared toward the gate.
His face was colored with shock and fear.
From behind her, a prickling, icy pressure seemed to drift through the air.
‘Eh? What is this?’
As she was about to turn around, Erdo threw off his hood, raised both hands, and sprang to his feet.
“It’s me! It’s Erdo! I’m not an enemy!”
“…Erdo, huh.”
A low voice came from behind, and the tense air suddenly relaxed.
Lydia set down the teapot and turned around to see Leohart standing there.
She smiled brightly at him.
“Welcome back, Leohart. You’re early.”
Leohart softened his expression and smiled.
“I’m home, Lydia. I heard from the adventurers’ guild that a suspicious man had come by, so I hurried back.”
Watching their exchange, Erdo stared blankly.
“So… Leohart can make that kind of face…”
Leohart cast him a cool look.
“So, why are you here?”
“I asked at the adventurers’ guild.”
According to Erdo, he was currently traveling to broaden his knowledge and had happened to come through this area.
“I went to the adventurers’ guild to take a request, and they told me there was a guy named ‘Leohart’ with a scary glare who’s devilishly strong, so I knew right away.”
“…Is that true?”
“It is. Didn’t you wipe out a stray wyvern recently? You’re apparently super famous.”
“…I see.”
After letting out a sigh, Leohart turned to Lydia.
“I’ll introduce him. This is Erdo, a former colleague of mine.”
Erdo smiled cheerfully at Lydia.
“Nice to meet you again. I’m Erdo. I hope we get along.”