"Shido-san," Rumia called out as she walked toward him, her voice laced with concern.
Although she trusted Shido and knew just how strong he was, she couldn't help but worry, especially now that he was going up against an army of tens of thousands of undead.
"Careful!" Shido said quickly as Rumia stumbled slightly. He caught her in his arms before she could fall, steadying her with ease. Rumia's face was flushed, both shy and quietly happy in his embrace.
"...Sorry." she murmured, but made no effort to pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer, allowing herself to feel the warmth of his presence.
Her emotions had started to shift over time. What began as a relationship of master and summon slowly deepened. Over the past three months together, that bond had grown, first into friendship, and now... something more. Strange, unfamiliar and fluffy feelings had begun to blossom in her heart for the man who had once simply summoned her into this world.
Although their time together hadn't been very long, Rumia already knew she could trust Shido. She wanted to stay by his side for as long as she could. Deep down, she also understood that a man like Shido wouldn't be bound to just one woman, but she didn't mind. As long as she had a place in his heart, that was enough for her. If possible, she wanted Sistine to also have the same man as her so they could monopolize him together.
"Why are you apologizing?" Shido asked gently. "You were a great help earlier. I was able to defeat all those undead swiftly because of your support. So don't apologize. You are strong, Rumia."
He reached out and patted her head, his touch gentle and reassuring. His words weren't just comfort, he really meant them. Rumia had been an invaluable support, offering buffs, healing, and even well-timed distractions during the battle.
"Mn!" Rumia nodded, her eyes shining up with joy. Even if part of her knew he was consoling her, she treasured every word. That was more than enough. With renewed determination, she decided to work hard in the future to help Shido better.
"Well, let's head back and report the quest completion," Shido said, releasing Rumia from his arms.
"Ah! Un!" Rumia nodded quickly. "You're going to be promoted to Adamantite after this, right, Shido-san?" she added, her voice filled with excitement. The thought made her genuinely happy.
After all, eliminating thousands of undead would've been a near-impossible feat for most adventurers, even among the higher ranks. But for Shido, it was a piece of cake.
"Yeah." Shido replied with a small sigh. "It's been a while since my last promotion, so it's about time." He thought back to the countless missions he had taken over the past three months, all just to reach this point.
Still, with this promotion, another major quest would be completed, leaving only two simple ones and two that would require real effort.
"Let's go back. Tuare's probably already preparing a celebration for us," Shido said, shaking his head slightly. "And Clementine… she's probably bored out of her mind at the house by now."
"Fufu, leaving Tuare aside, I can already imagine Clementine-san sulking," Rumia giggled. "She always complains about having nothing to do when she's stuck guarding the house."
"Forget about her. She'll calm down after venting a bit." Shido replied with a smirk.
Not wanting to linger any longer in the abandoned city, Shido activated Accompany and the two instantly vanished, returning to the capital where their companions awaited.
...
"Congratulations! You have officially been promoted to Adamantite-rank adventurer, Acheval-san!" the receptionist announced cheerfully, her voice filled with admiration.
"Thank you." Shido replied with a calm nod and a small smile. Although, he didn't feel as much excitement from the promotion, Shido felt excited by the rewards that would be given to him by the system.
Rumia stood proudly by his side, her eyes sparkling with joy as she shared in his moment of triumph.
Around them, the adventurers who had gathered in the guild hall watched in awe and amazement. They knew exactly how difficult the quest had been. Eliminating tens of thousands of undead was considered a near-impossible task, even for the strongest of adventurers. Yet, Shido had returned not only alive but completely unharmed and victorious.
Whispers spread through the crowd, and admiration filled the air. Shido's name, already known by many, had just etched itself even deeper into the hearts and respect of the adventurer community.
"Amazing…"
"If it were us who took that quest, I'm sure we'd have no choice but to run," one adventurer said with a defeated sigh.
"Yeah… I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to be that strong, coming back without a single scratch."
"Well, he had the 'Maiden of Compassion' with him. No surprise he didn't get hurt, just a bit of dust and dirt on his clothes."
The other adventurers spoke in hushed voices, filled with awe and admiration as they glanced toward Shido and Rumia. Though their tones were quiet, Shido and Rumia could still hear every word.
Shido remained unfazed, as usual. Praise and rumors had long become background noise to him.
But Rumia, on the other hand, flushed bright red the moment she heard her nickname. Maiden of Compassion, just hearing it made her want to sink into the ground and disappear. She fidgeted awkwardly, trying to hide her flustered expression, wishing she could burrow her head into Shido's cloak or vanish behind him entirely.
Shido glanced at her and smiled softly. "You've really become popular, huh?" he teased in a low voice.
"P-Please don't tease me, Shido-san…" Rumia mumbled, her voice almost a whisper as she buried her face in her hands.
But then, a familiar question began circulating again among the gathered adventurers—something they had speculated about more than once.
"Are those two… dating?"
It wouldn't be surprising. Shido was always protective of Rumia, and no man with questionable intentions dared approach her, especially after receiving one of Shido's cold, soul-piercing stares.
As whispers spread through the guild, they didn't go unnoticed. Yet, Shido paid them no mind. He had more important things to focus on, like the celebration waiting for him at home.
With the promotion of another Adamantite-ranked adventurer, the balance of power within the kingdom would undoubtedly shift. Political tensions might stir, factions might move, but for now, none of that concerned Shido.
"Welcome back, Acheval-san, and congratulations on your promotion to Adamantite rank!" Tuare greeted them at the door with a bright, genuine smile.
The house they now called home was no ordinary residence, it was a former property of the Eight Fingers. Though technically referred to as a house, its size and grandeur easily classified it as a mansion. Shido had decided to relocate here rather than continue staying at an inn. With his companions now living alongside him, it made more sense to have a proper base of operations, and a place that could accommodate them all comfortably.
"Thank you, Tuare." Shido said with a smile as he gently patted her head.
Tuare closed her eyes, a soft blush rising to her cheeks as she basked in the gentle affection. That simple gesture filled her with bliss, and though she didn't say anything, her heart fluttered with quiet happiness.
Behind them, Rumia smiled at the scene, feeling a sense of calm as they returned to the place they now considered home.
"Master, I'm hungry~! Let's go inside and eat already!" Clementine suddenly appeared at Shido's side, latching onto his arm and speaking in a teasing, coy tone.
Without missing a beat, Shido responded with a light chop to her head.
"Ow!" Clementine yelped, rubbing the spot with a pout.
Shido didn't say a word and simply walked inside, Rumia and Tuare following close behind. Both girls couldn't help but chuckle at Clementine's antics, especially Tuare, who found her exaggerated behavior oddly amusing.
Clementine trailed behind them, still sulking a little, but deep down, she was content. Compared to her days on the run, living as a fugitive in the shadows, this life, peaceful, warm, and full of laughter wasn't that bad at all.