The bright Gekko shone through the window, spilling onto the bed.
The bed was against the window, and the Sword Saintess leaned against the wall.
However.
Under the reflection of the Gekko, the Sword Saintess's graceful curves and stunningly beautiful face had a faint, glowing, hazy quality in the dim room, highlighting an untouchable sanctity.
Two extreme contrasts were perfectly integrated into one girl at this moment.
"Come… come here…"
The Sword Saintess's cheeks became even rosier, and her slender, fair hand patted the bed.
Naruto, seeing her for the first time, was a little dazed and only snapped back to reality when the Sword Saintess called out to him. He slowly lay down, feeling nervous.
Although separated by a priestess robe, his neck could still touch the side of the Sword Saintess's thigh. The touch was cool and smooth, like winter panna cotta, yet somehow different.
Naruto didn't know how to describe it, but in short… it was comfortable!
From his perspective, he should have been able to see her face, but an irresistible obstruction completely covered the Sword Saintess's features.
"…"
Naruto was truly enlightened.
At the same time, the Sword Saintess was also nervous, her heart pounding.
Instantly, she remembered Naruto was an orphan, and the slight romantic feelings in the Sword Saintess's heart vanished, replaced only by goddess-like compassion.
"Sleep, sleep~"
The Sword Saintess continuously stroked Naruto's head.
At this moment, it felt as if any pain could be soothed.
With the Sword Saintess's gentle hum, like a lullaby, in his ears, Naruto closed his eyes. Though not tired, he slowly drifted into slumber due to the peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Hearing a steady and prolonged breathing sound, the Sword Saintess knew Naruto was asleep.
"What an incredible young man."
The Sword Saintess couldn't resist secretly touching Naruto's face.
She had long been curious about the fox whiskers on Naruto's cheeks, and only when she actually touched them did she realize there was nothing unusual; they seemed to be just ordinary patterns, as if drawn with the finest quill.
After touching his face, the Sword Saintess took out the Underground City party emblem, shaped like an angel's wing, and admired it carefully. The more she looked, the more she liked it, feeling delighted in her heart.
The night was quiet, and the Gekko was like water.
Gradually, she also felt sleepy and leaned against the wall to sleep.
…
"Ooh ooh ooh~!"
The farm rooster's crow woke Naruto.
Naruto opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was still two white-and-blue-edged priestess robes.
"I slept like this all night?"
Naruto was surprised, startled, and quickly got up.
After being pressed down all night, the Sword Saintess's legs must have been completely numb.
"Ugh…"
The Sword Saintess, who had been sleeping with her head tilted against the wall, let out a dreaming sound. After the pressure was removed from her legs, she instinctively adjusted her posture, her upper body slowly tilting against the wall, and slid down onto the bed.
Naruto saw that the Sword Saintess hadn't woken up and was still sleeping soundly on her side. He couldn't help but smile, covered her with the blanket, and quietly left the room.
"Naruto, you're awake."
Mama Rhine was busy by the fireplace, using a wooden shovel to put the baked apple pies into the oven.
Hearing movement on the stairs, she turned around and saw Naruto coming down.
"Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
Mama Rhine said, scanning the kitchen and living room, subconsciously looking for other Narutos.
Yesterday, she had seen several Narutos and thought she had seen a ghost, fainting directly. Only after waking up and hearing the Cattle Herding Girl's explanation did she realize they were Naruto's clones.
"Well, I slept very comfortably last night, so I woke up early."
Naruto replied.
Mama Rhine smiled and said, "My little sleepyhead is still sleeping."
"Oh right, the village chief said you could go find him when you woke up. Thanks to you last night, for helping us eliminate the Goblins and protect Iron Water Village, the village chief gathered the reward overnight."
"Our whole village is very grateful to you. Many villagers went to the farmlands and orchards early this morning to pick fruits and vegetables, preparing to give them to you."
"Hahaha, it's nothing."
Naruto laughed heartily, scratching the back of his head.
Mama Rhine pulled out the wooden shovel from the oven, casually closing the iron oven door, and shook her head, saying, "Naruto, for you, it might just be an ordinary commission, but for our Iron Water Village, it prevented a catastrophe."
"You are our hero!"
Although Mama Rhine hadn't experienced a Goblin attack on the village, she had grown up hearing about the Goblins' evil reputation.
Once ordinary villagers were caught by Goblins, their fate could only be described as utterly miserable.
Mama Rhine wiped her hands on her apron and smiled, saying, "Dinner will be a little while longer. You can go for a stroll outside and get some fresh air first."
Naruto was just thinking of leaving the Goblin Slayer World and returning to Konoha Village to take a look, but hearing Mama Rhine's invitation, he was moved.
"Eating instant noodles all the time isn't good."
"Anyway, there's no rush for now. It's not too late to go back after breakfast."
With a change of thought, Naruto agreed.
Leaving Rhine's house and walking on the country road, the grass was green, and Western fantasy-style village houses were scattered around. Many villagers were already awake and starting to get busy.
Some went to the stone well to fetch water.
Some were washing clothes by the stream.
Some were picking fruits and vegetables.
Some were swinging hoes to dig the ground.
No matter what they were doing, when they saw Naruto, they would stop their work and, with smiling faces, call him "Little Hero."
That treatment was worlds apart from Konoha Village!
Iron Water Village wasn't big. Naruto took a stroll around and returned with a chicken in his left hand, a duck in his right, a large string of garlic around his neck, and a wicker basket on his back, filled with various fruits and vegetables—everything imaginable.
Mama Rhine smiled when she saw this.
"Naruto, I told you to go for a walk, not to go shopping, did I?"
She teased him, helping Naruto unload the chickens, ducks, fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, and eggs from his person.
"Everyone is too enthusiastic."
"The old village chief forced over a hundred silver coins on me, the tailor in the west of the village wants to make me new clothes, the blacksmith in the south of the village wants to forge me plate armor, and someone even wants to marry their daughter to me, but I… I'm still young, how can I get married?"
Naruto kept talking about his experiences.
Mama Rhine was indignant: "The one who wants to marry off her daughter is indeed going too far!"
"Exactly."
"Too impatient!"
"That's right."
Mama Rhine patted Naruto's shoulder seriously: "When you're older, I'll marry Rhine to you."
"What?"
Naruto was stunned, feeling something was wrong.
"Mom…"
The Cattle Herding Girl, hugging a rabbit doll with one hand and rubbing her sleepy eyes with the other, walked out of the room.
Mama Rhine jokingly asked, "Little Rhine, do you want to be Naruto's future bride?"
"Yes!"
"I want to be Brother Naruto's bride!"
The Cattle Herding Girl instantly woke up, skipped over to Naruto, held up her rabbit doll, and in a tender and sweet voice, asked, "Brother Naruto, can I marry you?"