The celebration went on late into the night. Today, Acheron and Vera were tired from hunting prey, so they climbed into bed early with Zoe.
The new recruits, one after another, also returned to their rooms after eating and drinking their fill. Only Bronya remained, still nibbling little bites of stew.
Emiya leaned against the cold wall, arms crossed, quietly watching Bronya. It wasn't that there was anything strange about Bronya herself, but rather that the attitudes of the three girls at home toward her felt off.
As a man with a normal brain, Emiya of course knew what those three girls in the house thought about him.
By all logic, they should be very hostile toward Bronya. After all, putting himself in their shoes, if he saw them getting close with another man, his heart would surely feel very upset.
But after observing these past few days, Emiya noticed that they almost seemed eager for him and Bronya to have something happen. Did they trust his character that much, or was there some other reason?
'Sigh, a woman's heart is truly like a needle at the bottom of the sea!'
Unable to figure it out, Emiya didn't bother thinking further. Seeing that Bronya looked like she would be eating for quite a while longer, he simply pulled out the Excalibur and stepped outside, planning to patrol a bit. But unexpectedly, Bronya immediately chased after him.
"What are you doing out here? At night not only is the weather colder, but it's also more dangerous." Emiya instinctively tried to send Bronya back inside, but she lowered her head, forcing her way past him.
"The cold-resistance potion still lasts for a long time. I'll patrol with you!" After saying this, Bronya walked straight ahead on her own.
"Hey, don't tell me you've fallen for me. We won't end well, you know!" Emiya instantly became alert.
On Azure Star, many had already reminded him, he was the type women found attractive. If he didn't feel the same way, he should say so right away.
"Pfft!" Seeing Emiya's serious face, Bronya couldn't help but laugh. She was at the most beautiful age of her life, and when her radiant smile blossomed, it was dazzling and bright like sunlight.
"Mr. Emiya, I didn't expect you to be so full of yourself!"
"Haha, people often say that about me!" Emiya laughed awkwardly, then took off his coat and draped it over Bronya before leading the way outside.
"Don't stray too far from me. Even though we clear out the rift monsters regularly, there are always some that slip through."
The snowy mountains at night held more chill and silence compared to the day, but Emiya really liked that atmosphere. He also liked the scene of endless snowfall and the harsh, uninhabited environment.
It made him feel all the more how blessed he was now, for he could return at any time to that warm home, where people were always waiting for him.
Bronya pulled the oversized coat tighter around herself, silently following behind Emiya. She realized that the dark nights she had always feared so deeply suddenly didn't seem so terrifying anymore.
Even the rift monsters that could appear at any moment didn't feel worth worrying about.
This tall, strong man seemed to have some mysterious presence, just looking at him gave her peace of mind.
In fact, Bronya remembered her memories before fainting very clearly.
Back then, Emiya's broad body shielded her from the blizzard, his handsome face and clear eyes so close to her own. For the first time in her life, Bronya understood what it meant for a young girl to harbor a crush.
'In all of Belobog, there probably wasn't a girl better than me. If only he would stay here, then I surely could…'
"Ah, what am I thinking!" Suddenly realizing the outrageous thoughts in her mind, Bronya couldn't help but cry out.
"What is it? Enemy attack?" The girl's sharp cry pierced the night. Emiya instinctively thought something had happened.
"No, nothing, I just..."
Clang!
The crisp sound of metal striking metal cut off Bronya's words. She looked up in shock and realized that at some point, she had been surrounded by the Silvermane Guards.
Gepard was holding up his shield-case, launching an attack on Emiya together with three Silvermane officers.
"It really is Lady Bronya, you're alive!" Several fully armored guards rushed to her side.
They carefully examined her from head to toe before daring to confirm that she was indeed the Bronya they thought had fallen in battle.
"Gepard, stop! You're attacking an ally!" Bronya, quick-witted as always, instantly realized what had happened.
Surely Gepard had brought men to search the mountains, at least to recover her body. But then they saw the strange black towering tree, crept closer in the dark to investigate, and just happened to hear her scream, so they mistook Emiya for an enemy.
This farce ended without danger, though it gave everyone quite a scare. Seeing their comrade, once thought dead, alive again left the Silvermane Guards overjoyed. Only Gepard sat silently in the corner, full of sorrow.
"Bronya, are you sure that guy is really just a cook?"
Gepard sorrowfully fiddled with the sundered remains of his geocrystal arm-guard.
Since the day he had received it, he had gone through countless battles, and it had only ever gotten shallow scratches. He never imagined it would be destroyed in a single strike today.
As one of Belobog's strongest warriors, Gepard knew full well, that sword strike had held back.
The fact that it could slice cleanly through the arm-guard without even grazing the clothes inside, such control was something even he could never hope to match. That man was absolutely a master swordsman.
"It's true. The ones in charge of fighting in the Emiya household are the two girls, but they've already gone to bed. And there's also the youngest little girl, now she's really something else…"
Seeing Gepard again left Bronya so excited she could barely contain herself. She hurriedly recounted all of her strange experiences during this time, one by one, hoping he would help her introduce the Emiya family to Supreme Guardian Cocolia.
"This isn't something I can decide on my own. We'll have to go back and hold a meeting first." Gepard understood clearly, opportunity and danger always came together. If those people harbored ill intentions, Belobog might face total destruction.
Bronya noticed Gepard's hesitation and quickly patted her chest in reassurance. "I'll stake my own head on it! The Emiya family are absolutely good people. With them, Belobog has hope. Don't let them feel unwelcome!"
"Here, have something hot to eat!" Emiya handed Gepard a flatbread and a steaming bowl of stew, then looked at Bronya. "Are you still hungry?"
"No, no more!" Bronya shook her small head like a rattle-drum. Earlier, in order to wait for a chance to be alone with Emiya, she had nearly stuffed herself sick. Now she didn't even dare drink water.
"Mr. Emiya, I was too rash just now. I'm sorry!" Gepard forced himself to set aside his grief, stood up, and bowed deeply to Emiya.
"Thank you for rescuing Bronya and the others. Once we return to the city, I'll report to the Supreme Guardian and make sure you receive the reward you deserve!"
"Forget the reward for now. Hand me that treasure of yours, let me see your arm-guard."
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